How much prize money do NHL players earn in Stanley Cup playoffs
How much prize money do NHL players earn in Stanley Cup playoffs (Image Source: ESPN/X)
Most people are curious if NHL players receive paychecks during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The quick answer is: not quite the same as during the regular season. NHL players cease their regular paychecks once the 82-game season concludes.
They can continue to make money via playoff bonuses, though. Playoff bonuses are derived from a pool of money the league has allocated aside. The further a team advances in the playoffs, the higher its players' paychecks.
NHL Prize Money for Playoff Winners
All NHL players are compensated according to their contracts during the regular season. But that's over when the playoffs begin. Instead, a playoff bonus pool is paid out to the players. For the 2025 season, that pool totals $23 million.
All 16 playoff teams share that money.
The amount of the bonus varies depending on how far the team makes it. For instance:
First-round losers receive $250,000 apiece.
Second-round losers receive $500,000.
Teams losing in the Conference Finals receive $1.25 million.
The Stanley Cup loser receives $2.25 million.
The Stanley Cup winner receives $3.75 million to split.
In 2017, when the Pittsburgh Penguins were the Cup winners, they received more than $4.3 million in bonus money.
For stars such as Steven Stamkos and others who earn $5–10 million annually, such bonuses are peanuts. But for a league-minimum earner like $775,000, a playoff bonus is worth 25–30% of their salary for the regular season.
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No Salary Cap in NHL Stanley Cup playoffs sparks controversy especially with LTIR players
Something key to be aware of is that the salary cap in the NHL is not in place in the playoffs. That's because players are no longer receiving their regular paychecks. This policy has caused a little controversy throughout the years.
Four years back, the Tampa Bay Lightning placed star winger Nikita Kucherov on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) throughout the whole season. This allowed the team to save on salary cap space and bring in other players.
Kucherov returned at the last moment for the playoffs when there wasn't any cap and assisted Tampa Bay in winning the Stanley Cup.
At that time, the team's pay was $18 million above the regular-season cap. Most fans and teams were angry, but the action was entirely legal. Due to examples like this, some would like to see the NHL impose a playoff salary cap. Others believe that wise planning and shrewd action should pay off.
For the time being, the rule stays the same. Teams are allowed to call back high-paid players during the playoffs without fear of cap constraints.
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