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Olympic salary Cap Breakdown: What the rosters are really worth

Måns Karlsson
Måns Karlsson
Feb 11, 2026, 11:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 11, 2026, 11:57 EST
Olympic salary Cap Breakdown: What the rosters are really worth
Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

This story appeared on hockeysverige.se this week and has been translated from Swedish to English.

The NHL salary cap is set at $95.5 million for the 2025–26 season. If that same cap had applied to the Olympics, the top nations wouldn’t even have been able to fit their forwards under the limit.

So how much are the NHL players on each Olympic roster actually worth? Here’s a breakdown of the countries — from top to bottom.

United States

Goaltenders

  • Connor Hellebuyck, Winnipeg Jets — $8.5 million
  • Jake Oettinger, Dallas Stars — $8.25 million
  • Jeremy Swayman, Boston Bruins — $8.25 million

Total: $25.0 million

There is broad consensus that the United States has the strongest goaltending group at the Olympics. In fact, all three selected goalies would have had a strong chance to be the No. 1 netminder for virtually every other nation in the tournament. That’s how good this trio looks on paper

It therefore comes as no surprise that this is also, by a wide margin, the highest-paid goaltending unit. All three American goalies earn more than $8 million per season, making them the three highest-paid goaltenders in the tournament. The closest challenger is Juuse Saros at $7.74 million.

Defensemen

Total: $58.155 million

The U.S. blueline is the strongest on paper, and the payroll reflects that. This is the most expensive defense corps in the tournament, edging out both Canada and Sweden.

This is despite the fact that high-paid defenseman Seth Jones declined to participate and was replaced by Jackson LaCombe. While LaCombe has signed a massive $9 million AAV contract starting next season, he is still earning his rookie salary of $925,000 this year.

Zach Werenski is the highest-paid U.S. defenseman, but he is far from the only star on this unit. Virtually the entire American blueline consists of players who log first-pair minutes for their NHL teams, and that clearly shows on the salary sheet. In pure dollars this season, however, Charlie McAvoy is actually the top earner.

Forwards

Total: $116.215 million

This is not the highest-paid forward group in the tournament — Canada edges the U.S. by a small margin. But the difference is minimal, far smaller than one might expect.

Looking at the names, it’s no surprise that the Americans are right there with Canada. The U.S. has two of the ten highest-paid forwards in the entire tournament, both earning $10 million or more, and Auston Matthews carries the second-highest cap hit in the NHL this season.

Unlike Canada, the U.S. does not have any forwards on entry-level contracts bringing the total down. Vincent Trocheck, at $5.625 million, has the lowest cap hit among American forwards — the highest “floor salary” of any nation in the tournament.

Total (USA): $199.37 million

The United States’ total cap hit is almost exactly $200 million — more than double the NHL salary cap. That says a lot about the star power of the roster they’re bringing to the 2026 Olympics.

One could argue that this is the best and most star-studded U.S. team ever assembled. Most observers agree they have the best goaltending and defensive units in the tournament — and the forward group is hardly lacking star quality either.

Still, it may come as a slight surprise that the U.S. roster is actually worth more than Canada’s.

Canada

Goaltenders

Total: $17.1 million

Goaltending has been highlighted as Canada’s weakness, yet they still have the second-most valuable goaltending group in the tournament — with Finland right on their heels.

Canada still brings three NHL starters to the Olympics, but compared to the legendary goaltending depth they had from 1998 to 2014, the difference is obvious. Back then, they could choose from superstars like Patrick Roy, Martin Brodeur and Curtis Joseph (1998), Brodeur, Joseph and Ed Belfour (2002), or Roberto Luongo, Brodeur and Marc-André Fleury (2010). The era of Carey Price as a clear-cut superstar (2014) is also gone.

That shift is reflected in the salaries: none of Canada’s current goalies are among the very highest earners. That said, both Kuemper and Thompson have played at a world-class level at times over the past two seasons, and Binnington was outstanding when it mattered at the 4 Nations tournament.

Still, they trail the U.S. by a significant margin.

Defensemen

  • Drew Doughty, Los Angeles Kings — $11.0 million
  • Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche — $9.0 million
  • Shea Theodore, Vegas Golden Knights — $7.425 million
  • Devon Toews, Colorado Avalanche — $7.25 million
  • Colton Parayko, St. Louis Blues — $6.5 million
  • Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets — $6.25 million
  • Travis Sanheim, Philadelphia Flyers — $6.25 million
  • Thomas Harley, Dallas Stars — $4.0 million

Total: $57.675 million

Drew Doughty was already part of Canada’s Olympic gold-winning team in Vancouver in 2010. Sixteen years later, he’s not only still on the roster — he’s also the highest-paid defenseman on the team. Granted, it’s a contract he signed quite some time ago, but it still says something.

This blueline sits just behind the United States in total salary, and it’s worth noting that the U.S. has a defenseman on an entry-level contract. In Canada’s case, Thomas Harley is the lowest-paid defenseman at $4 million. Still, the overall star power and elite edge — offensively and defensively — is not quite on the same level as the American unit, with the notable exception of the Toews–Makar pairing.

Interestingly, the Canadian defensemen with the highest cap hits this season are Evan Bouchard and Noah Dobson — neither of whom made the Olympic roster. That alone speaks volumes about the depth of talent available.

Forwards

  • Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche — $12.6 million
  • Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers — $12.5 million
  • Mitch Marner, Vegas Golden Knights — $12.0 million
  • Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning — $9.5 million
  • Mark Stone, Vegas Golden Knights — $9.5 million
  • Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins — $8.7 million
  • Sam Reinhart, Florida Panthers — $8.625 million
  • Bo Horvat, New York Islanders — $8.5 million
  • Sam Bennett, Florida Panthers — $8.0 million
  • Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens — $7.875 million
  • Brandon Hagel, Tampa Bay Lightning — $6.5 million
  • Tom Wilson, Washington Capitals — $6.5 million
  • Brad Marchand, Florida Panthers — $5.25 million
  • Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks — $975,000

Total: $116.775 million

This is the most star-studded position group of any team at the Olympics — without question. Superstars are everywhere you look. And the forward group is worth just slightly more than the U.S. unit, despite Macklin Celebrini playing on an entry-level contract.

Nathan MacKinnon has the highest annual cap hit of any player in the tournament, both in terms of this season’s salary and total cap hit. Connor McDavid is right behind him, with Mitch Marner also clearing the $12 million mark — a strong indicator of their standing in the NHL.

It’s also worth noting that Sidney Crosby, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and still the face of Canadian hockey, ranks “only” sixth among Canadian forwards in internal salary.

Total (Canada): $191.55 million

Yes, Canada’s roster is also worth more than double the NHL salary cap. The forward group alone earns well above the league’s $95.5 million ceiling — which is almost absurd. But given the names involved, it makes perfect sense.

That said, the United States still edges Canada by a few million dollars in total value. And the difference is almost entirely found in goal. Among skaters, the two teams are eerily close.

All three American goaltenders earn more than their Canadian counterparts and would almost certainly have been the No. 1 option for the Maple Leaf had they been born on the other side of the border.

Sweden

Goaltenders

  • Jacob Markström, New Jersey Devils — $6.0 million
  • Filip Gustavsson, Minnesota Wild — $3.75 million
  • Jesper Wallstedt, Minnesota Wild — $2.2 million

Total: $11.95 million

Sweden has the third-most expensive roster at the Olympics overall, but ranks only fifth at the goaltending position. That said, Filip Gustavsson will increase his salary by $3 million per year starting next season, and Jesper Wallstedt will likely see an even larger raise next year.

Jacob Markström remains one of the higher-paid goaltenders in the tournament, while both Minnesota goalies are currently earning well below their market value. In fact, Sweden’s highest-paid goalie is Linus Ullmark. Had he been selected instead of Wallstedt, Sweden would have had the second-most expensive goaltending group.

Defensemen

  • Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins — $11.5 million
  • Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres — $11.0 million
  • Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning — $8.0 million
  • Hampus Lindholm, Boston Bruins — $6.5 million
  • Gustav Forsling, Florida Panthers — $5.75 million
  • Philip Broberg, St. Louis Blues — $4.58 million
  • Rasmus Andersson, Vegas Golden Knights — $4.55 million
  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Toronto Maple Leafs — $3.5 million

Total: $53.38 million

Sweden is a clear third here. Together with Canada and the United States, they operate on a completely different level than the rest of the field. Fourth-ranked Finland barely reaches half of Tre Kronor’s value on defense, which says a lot about the gap between the top three nations and the rest.

Erik Karlsson and Rasmus Dahlin are not only the two highest-paid Swedish players, but — along with Drew Doughty — also two of the highest cap hits among all NHL defensemen. They stand out clearly within the Swedish roster, followed by a fairly steep drop to Victor Hedman and then Hampus Lindholm.

That said, Forsling, Ekman-Larsson, and Andersson are all currently playing on contracts well below their true market value.

Forwards

  • Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks — $11.6 million
  • William Nylander, Toronto Maple Leafs — $11.5 million
  • Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers — $8.5 million
  • Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators — $8.5 million
  • Lucas Raymond, Detroit Red Wings — $8.075 million
  • Jesper Bratt, New Jersey Devils — $7.875 million
  • Elias Lindholm, Boston Bruins — $7.75 million
  • Gabriel Landeskog, Colorado Avalanche — $7.0 million
  • Adrian Kempe, Los Angeles Kings — $5.5 million
  • Joel Eriksson Ek, Minnesota Wild — $5.25 million
  • Alexander Wennberg, San Jose Sharks — $5.0 million
  • Rickard Rakell, Pittsburgh Penguins — $5.0 million
  • Pontus Holmberg, Tampa Bay Lightning — $1.55 million
  • Marcus Johansson, Minnesota Wild — $800,000

Total: $92.55 million

Tre Kronor’s forward group sits just below the NHL’s total salary cap. Had William Karlsson been healthy, Sweden would have been above that mark.

The highest-paid players are Elias Pettersson and William Nylander, both among the NHL’s top earners. They are followed by Mika Zibanejad and Filip Forsberg, who are tied around 50th in NHL cap hits. Sweden therefore has only two truly elite, top-tier earners among its forwards.

Leo Carlsson would obviously have been the lowest-paid player had he been selected, as he is on an entry-level contract, but he was replaced by Marcus Johansson, who now holds that distinction. Johansson is playing on a deal far below his actual value, which naturally pulls down Sweden’s total roster value. That said, regardless of Johansson’s contract, Sweden would still trail the U.S. and Canada by a significant margin.

Total (Sweden): $167.88 million

Sweden is a clear third overall and is actually closer to the United States than to Finland below them. The roster features several of the world’s highest-paid players at their respective positions, along with a large group of players in the middle salary tier. There are very few players on truly low-cost contracts — essentially only Johansson and Holmberg.

Put simply, Sweden has a roster filled with high-status players.

Finland

Goaltenders

  • Juuse Saros, Nashville Predators — $7.74 million
  • Kevin Lankinen, Vancouver Canucks — $4.5 million
  • Joonas Korpisalo, Boston Bruins — $4.0 million

Total: $16.24 million

Finland was forced to make a change at the goaltending position. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen declined to participate and was replaced by Joonas Korpisalo, which lowered the team’s total value by $750,000. However, it did not affect Finland’s position in the goalie salary rankings — they would have ranked third regardless.

They are also not far behind Canada, and as mentioned earlier, Saros is the highest-paid goaltender at the Olympics outside of the three Americans.

That said, the question remains whether Saros is the undisputed starter. Kevin Lankinen actually took over the No. 1 role during the 4 Nations tournament. However, Saros has been clearly superior to Lankinen over the course of the season.

Defensemen

  • Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars — $8.45 million
  • Esa Lindell, Dallas Stars — $5.25 million
  • Rasmus Ristolainen, Philadelphia Flyers — $5.1 million
  • Olli Määttä, Utah Mammoth — $3.5 million
  • Henri Jokiharju, Boston Bruins — $3.0 million
  • Niko Mikkola, Florida Panthers — $2.5 million
  • Nikolas Matinpalo, Ottawa Senators — $875,000

Total: $28.675 million

This unit is almost entirely about one player: Miro Heiskanen. Finland’s only truly elite defenseman missed the 4 Nations tournament, and now that he is back, everything naturally revolves around him. He is likely the only Finnish defenseman who would have cracked the lineup for Sweden, the U.S., or Canada.

His superior status is clearly reflected in his contract, as he earns more than $3 million per year more than Esa Lindell, who ranks second among Finnish defensemen.

Overall, this is a Finnish blueline that lacks elite depth. Finland’s defensemen earn roughly half as much as Sweden’s. It should be noted that Mikko Lehtonen is not included here since he plays in Switzerland, but his salary would have barely moved the needle anyway.

Forwards

  • Mikko Rantanen, Dallas Stars — $12.0 million
  • Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes — $9.75 million
  • Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars — $8.45 million
  • Mikael Granlund, Anaheim Ducks — $7.0 million
  • Teuvo Teräväinen, Chicago Blackhawks — $5.4 million
  • Anton Lundell, Florida Panthers — $5.0 million
  • Kaapo Kakko, Seattle Kraken — $4.525 million
  • Artturi Lehkonen, Colorado Avalanche — $4.5 million
  • Eeli Tolvanen, Seattle Kraken — $3.475 million
  • Erik Haula, Nashville Predators — $3.15 million
  • Eetu Luostarinen, Florida Panthers — $3.0 million
  • Joel Armia, Los Angeles Kings — $2.5 million
  • Joel Kiviranta, Colorado Avalanche — $1.25 million
  • Oliver Kapanen, Montreal Canadiens — $925,000

Total: $70.925 million

Every forward on Finland’s roster plays in the NHL, yet the total cap hit is still roughly $20 million lower than Sweden’s. Given the overall quality of the roster, that feels reasonable — at least on paper.

That said, Finland does have Mikko Rantanen, who ranks fifth in the NHL salary cap standings. He is one of only six NHL forwards earning $12 million or more, placing him just ahead of Pettersson and Nylander. With Aleksander Barkov absent, Rantanen is clearly Finland’s biggest offensive star.

Sebastian Aho’s near-$10 million salary is also notable, and Roope Hintz is very well compensated as well — he would rank in the upper half even among Swedish forwards.

Total (Finland): $115.84 million

In terms of NHL salaries, Finland is roughly as far behind Sweden in third place as they are ahead of Czechia in fifth. They are essentially isolated in fourth place, which feels appropriate given the absence of Russia.

Aleksander Barkov would have significantly increased Finland’s total value, but even with him, they would still have trailed Tre Kronor by a wide margin.

Finland’s roster includes a large number of players earning salaries typical of a third defensive pair or a third- or fourth-line role in the NHL.

Czechia

Goaltenders

  • Lukáš Dostál, Anaheim Ducks — $6.5 million
  • Karel Vejmelka, Utah Mammoth — $4.75 million
  • Dan Vladar, Philadelphia Flyers — $3.35 million

Total: $14.6 million

This is the only position where Czechia has an all-NHL group — and here they actually rank ahead of Sweden in total contract value. Lukáš Dostál is the highest-paid of the three and is also the likely starter in the tournament, although both Vladar and Vejmelka are having solid NHL seasons.

Czechia has a long tradition of strong goaltending, and while they don’t have a Dominik Hašek to throw into the mix, this is likely their strongest position relative to the competition.

Defensemen

  • Filip Hronek, Vancouver Canucks — $7.25 million
  • Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks — $4.0 million
  • David Špaček, Minnesota Wild — $862,500

Total: $12.113 million

Czechia only carries three defensemen in its Olympic roster, and it should be noted that Špaček is not even a full-time NHL regular — which is clearly reflected in his contract. It stands out that the goaltenders earn more than the defensemen.

And once we get to the forwards, we’ll see that David Pastrňák alone earns almost as much as Czechia’s entire blueline.

Filip Hronek is, unsurprisingly, the clear top earner on defense. In fact, only two players on the entire Czech roster earn more than the Vancouver defenseman.

Forwards

  • David Pastrňák, Boston Bruins — $11.25 million
  • Tomáš Hertl, Vegas Golden Knights — $8.137 million
  • Martin Nečas, Colorado Avalanche — $6.5 million
  • Ondřej Palát, New York Islanders — $6.0 million
  • Radek Faksa, Dallas Stars — $2.0 million
  • David Kämpf, Vancouver Canucks — $1.1 million

Total: $34.987 million

Czechia doesn’t have the deepest forward group in the Olympics. But the top-end talent is very comparable to that of Sweden and Finland — something clearly reflected in the salary figures.

Following Pavel Zacha’s withdrawal, Czechia still has six solid NHL forwards on the roster, four of whom earn $6 million or more per year. Three of them can reasonably be considered world-class players.

Pastrňák is, of course, the clear top earner. He is one of the greatest players in Czech hockey history and ranks 12th in the NHL in terms of cap hit. Looking specifically at this season’s actual salary, he ranks even higher — ninth overall at $12.5 million.

Total (Czechia): $61.7 million

Czechia is a clear fifth in this ranking. They are, however, much closer to sixth and seventh place than they are to the top four nations.

This is largely due to the fact that they have significantly fewer NHL players than most other teams. Only four nations at the Olympics have rosters where all or nearly all players compete in the NHL. Czechia sits at roughly half a roster.

The star power they had in the late 1990s and throughout much of the 2000s is no longer there.

Switzerland

Goaltenders

  • Akira Schmid, Vegas Golden Knights — $875,000

Total: $875,000

One of Switzerland’s three goaltenders at the Olympics plays in the NHL, and we’ll see whether he also ends up being the starter. That’s likely, but not guaranteed.

As you can see, Schmid is earning close to the NHL minimum salary this season.

Defensemen

  • Roman Josi, Nashville Predators — $9.059 million
  • Jonas Siegenthaler, New Jersey Devils — $3.4 million
  • Janis Moser, Tampa Bay Lightning — $3.375 million

Total: $15.834 million

With Lian Bichsel injured and not expected to return until just after the Olympic break, Switzerland only has three NHL defensemen on its Olympic roster. That said, they are relatively well compensated — and Roman Josi is, in fact, one of the highest-paid defensemen in the entire tournament.

It should also be noted that Janis Moser has signed a new contract that will pay him $6.75 million per year for eight years starting next season.

Forwards

  • Timo Meier, New Jersey Devils — $8.8 million
  • Kevin Fiala, Los Angeles Kings — $7.875 million
  • Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils — $7.25 million
  • Pius Suter, St. Louis Blues — $4.125 million
  • Nino Niederreiter, Winnipeg Jets — $4.0 million
  • Philipp Kurashev, San Jose Sharks — $1.2 million

Total: $33.25 million

Switzerland doesn’t have many NHL forwards, but those they do have are largely high-profile players. Timo Meier is the top earner at $8.8 million per year, though one could argue that Fiala and Hischier are the true centerpiece stars.

Still, Switzerland trails Czechia by a fair margin here.

Total (Switzerland): $49.959 million

Switzerland comes in at roughly $50 million — just over half of the NHL salary cap. And that’s worth remembering, given that fewer than half of the players on the roster compete in the world’s top league.

Germany

Goaltender

  • Philipp Grubauer, Seattle Kraken — $5.9 million

Germany has a solid goaltending tradition in the NHL, and fittingly, Philipp Grubauer has rebounded with a strong season. As a result, Germany will once again have a reliable goaltender at the Olympics.

At $5.9 million, Grubauer is among the higher-paid starting goaltenders in the tournament.

Defensemen

  • Moritz Seider, Detroit Red Wings — $8.55 million

Total: $8.55 million

Germany has only one NHL defenseman — but it’s a significant one. Moritz Seider is now a bona fide world star, and his paycheck reflects that.

Few countries in this tournament have a top defenseman as strong as Germany’s. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him play 30 minutes per game.

At $8.55 million, Seider is one of the highest-paid defensemen in the tournament.

Forwards

  • Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers — $14.0 million
  • Tim Stützle, Ottawa Senators — $8.35 million
  • JJ Peterka, Utah Mammoth — $7.7 million
  • Nico Sturm, Minnesota Wild — $2.0 million
  • Lukas Reichel, Vancouver Canucks — $1.2 million
  • Josh Samanski, Edmonton Oilers — $975,000

Total: $34.225 million

Here he is: the highest-paid player in the NHL. Kirill Kaprizov will pass him next season, but for now, Leon Draisaitl tops the league — both in cap hit ($14 million) and in actual salary this season, where he earns $16.5 million.

But it’s not just Draisaitl. Both Stützle and Peterka are also very well paid, hovering around the $8 million mark. Germany does have three additional NHL forwards, but they don’t move the total value significantly.

Still, Germany’s forwards actually earn more than Switzerland’s.

Total (Germany): $48.675 million

Germany has at least one well-paid player at every position, and they rank ahead of Switzerland at both goaltender and forward. However, Seider is a bit too alone on the blueline, which drags down the overall value.

All told, Germany comes in about $1 million behind Switzerland.

Denmark

Goaltenders

  • Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes — $2.75 million
  • Mads Søgaard, Ottawa Senators — $775,000

Total: $3.5 million

Denmark actually has two NHL goaltenders — plus Frederik Dichow. It’s a goaltending group that holds up reasonably well in international comparison.

That said, Søgaard is not an established NHL regular and moves between leagues, while Andersen is no longer the world-class goaltender he once was — something reflected in his salary. There was a time when he earned at least twice what he does now.

Defensemen

  • None

Forwards

  • Nikolaj Ehlers, Carolina Hurricanes — $8.5 million
  • Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tampa Bay Lightning — $5.4 million
  • Lars Eller, Ottawa Senators — $1.25 million
  • Oscar Fisker Mølgaard, Seattle Kraken — $891,666

Total: $16.07 million

Denmark has three forwards who are regular NHL players and two who move between leagues. Unfortunately, one of them — Jonas Røndbjerg — was forced to withdraw just before the tournament.

The clear superstar is Nikolaj Ehlers, who also earns by far the most. Oliver Bjorkstrand is also well compensated. That said, Denmark’s biggest hockey icon may still be Lars Eller, who became the first Dane to win the Stanley Cup in 2018 — though his cap hit no longer reflects star status.

Total (Denmark): $19.57 million

Denmark doesn’t quite reach the $20 million mark. They are, of course, well behind the seven medal contenders — but still enter the tournament ranked seventh, which feels refreshing in its own way.

And Nikolaj Ehlers would be among the highest-paid players on every roster except those of the United States and Canada.

Slovakia

Goaltender

  • Samuel Hlavaj, Minnesota Wild — $875,000

Hlavaj hasn’t played in the NHL, and since he is based in the AHL, he will not actually earn $875,000. However, since this analysis is based on cap hits rather than actual salary, that figure is still used here.

Hlavaj was Slovakia’s starting goaltender in Olympic qualifying and in recent World Championships, and he is likely to be the choice again at the Olympics.

Defensemen

  • Erik Černák, Tampa Bay Lightning — $5.2 million
  • Martin Fehérváry, Washington Capitals — $2.675 million
  • Šimon Nemec, New Jersey Devils — $918,330

Total: $8.793 million

Slovakia has three NHL defensemen, with Erik Černák clearly leading the way financially. He recently signed a new eight-year deal with an average annual value of $5.2 million.

Fehérváry also signed a major new contract this summer — seven years at $6 million per season — but it doesn’t kick in until next season. For now, he remains at $2.675 million.

Nemec is also due for a massive extension after the season, having had a strong year in New Jersey while still playing on his entry-level deal.

Slovakia’s defensemen earn more than Germany’s, but less than Switzerland’s. Had this analysis been done this summer, Slovakia would likely have ranked ahead of Switzerland as well.

Forwards

  • Juraj Slafkovský, Montreal Canadiens — $7.6 million
  • Martin Pospíšil, Calgary Flames — $1.0 million
  • Dalibor Dvorský, St. Louis Blues — $886,666
  • Pavol Regenda, San Jose Sharks — $775,000

Total: $10.261 million

This clearly illustrates the decline Slovakia has gone through in recent years. Once a nation overflowing with star forwards, Slafkovský is now the only Slovak forward making a real impact in the NHL — something reflected in the salaries.

The other three forwards earn $1 million or less, while Slafkovský alone earns $7.6 million.

Total (Slovakia): $19.93 million

It’s striking that the proud hockey nation of Slovakia doesn’t even reach $20 million — roughly one-tenth of the totals for the United States and Canada.

Denmark’s Olympic roster is actually worth more than Slovakia’s.

Latvia

Goaltenders

  • Elvis Merzļikins, Columbus Blue Jackets — $5.4 million
  • Artūrs Šilovs, Pittsburgh Penguins — $850,000

Total: $6.25 million

Latvia has always produced strong goaltenders dating back to the Artūrs Irbe era, and it has almost become tradition for a Latvian goalie to stand on his head in a major tournament and nearly upset a powerhouse nation.

In Sochi, that was Kristers Gudļevskis — who is also on the roster this time, though he is likely to be the third goaltender. Merzļikins is clearly the most established option, even if he isn’t a lock as the starter.

Defensemen

  • Uvis Balinskis, Florida Panthers — $850,000

Total: $850,000

Latvia has several NHL players, but only one defenseman — and he earns close to the league minimum, as do many of their forwards.

Forwards

  • Teddy Blueger, Vancouver Canucks — $1.8 million
  • Anri Ravinskis, Vancouver Canucks — $872,500
  • Dans Ločmelis, Boston Bruins — $860,000
  • Sandis Vilmanis, Florida Panthers — $855,000
  • Zemgus Girgensons, Tampa Bay Lightning — $850,000

Total: $5.237 million

In terms of quantity, Latvia holds up well compared to other Olympic teams. But as the salaries show, all of these players earn at the very low end of the NHL scale, which reflects their current status in the league.

That said, several of them are young and could sign much more lucrative contracts in the future. Many also sit right on the NHL–AHL bubble.

Total (Latvia): $12.337 million

Latvia is well behind Slovakia, but also well ahead of France. Elvis Merzļikins is the only player with a truly competitive NHL salary, which keeps the overall total very low.

France

Forwards

  • Alexandre Texier, Montreal Canadiens — $1.0 million

Total: $1.0 million

France has a single NHL player on its Olympic roster — Alexandre Texier — with a cap hit of exactly $1 million.

Well, at least it’s more than Italy, right?

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