Top 25

Gary Bettman is #1 in the NHL/hockey fortunes accumulated. Among players, Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are in the Top 3 and are all still active. How is your 401k/RSSP doing?

Top 25 NHL Fortunes

Montreal won the Stanley Cup while Guy Lafleur had the most goals and points with Bryan Trottier following in total points and Mike Bossy as the second goal-scorer with 53. Bobby Orr missed the whole season with an injury.

Top 25 Salaries: 1977-78

Mario Lemieux had the highest NHL base salary, but Wayne Gretzky led the NHL with 142 points and, by far, had more lucrative endorsement deals. They were the only NHLers, with Steve Yzermand, earning $1M+ a year in base salary.

Top 25 Salaries: 1989-90

Mario Lemieux, who missed most of the season, won his first Stanley Cup while falling behind Wayne Gretzky as the best-paid NHLer. Seven players were now making more than a million per season, up from two the previous year.

Top 25 Salaries: 1990-91

Wayne Gretzky was still the best-paid NHLer, but his LA Kings were eliminated in the first round while Mario Lemieux won a second Stanley Cup in a row. There are now 16 NHLers making more than $1M per season.

Top 25 Salaries: 1991-92

Rookie Eric Lindros is the best-paid NHLer, while Teemu Selanne wins the Calder Trophy and breaks the rookie scoring record with 76 goals. For the first time, everybody in the Top 25 NHL salaries is making over $1M.

Top 25 Salaries: 1992-93

For the second year in a row, and the last, Eric Lindros is the best-paid NHLer. Wayne Gretzky and Pavel Bure, respectively, lead the league in points and goals, and the Rangers win the Stanley Cup. 12 NHLers now earn over $2M.

Top 25 Salaries: 1993-94

In this lockout year, a 48-game season ends up being played, and New Jersey wins the Cup. Rookie Paul Kariya is the best-paid NHLer.Jagr and Lindros have the most points, with 70, while the 2nd best-paid NHLer, Gretzky, gets only 48.

Top 25 Salaries: 1994-95

This is the first season that some NHLers were paid over $4M/year, with 8 players in that category, although some would have in 1994-95 without a lockout. Colorado, with Patrick Roy as goalie, won the Stanley Cup. Mario Lemieux led the NHL in goals and points.

Top 25 Salaries: 1995-96

Detroit won the Stanley Cup in a final series against the Flyers. Mario Lemieux got the most points, while Anaheim's Selanne and Kariya finished second and third in points, but were not among the Top 25 best-paid NHLers.

Top 25 Salaries: 1996-97