It might be surprising, but during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL players do not receive their “normal” salary, as the regular season pay ends at the conclusion of the 82 game season.
The system the National Hockey League uses to pay their players is based on a ‘playoff bonus pool’. A fund set aside each year in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This pool is distributed among the 16 playoff teams following a merit system, with teams that advance futher earning more money.
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For the 2024-2025 season, the total pool is set to be around $23 million, split across teams based on the system explained above.
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How Much Does the Champion Get?
While the exact payouts vary annually, recent figures provide a clear picture of what players can expect.
For the Stanley Cup winning team, the total playoff bonus pool is approximately $3.75 million, which is divided among the players. The runners-up will receive around $2.25 million, with bonuses decreasing progressively for teams eliminated in earlier playoff rounds.
Although these bonuses may seem modest compared to the salaries of the NHL’s highest paid stars, they represent a significant financial boost for players earning the league minimum, which sits at roughly $775,000. For these players, a strong playoff performance can result in a bonus that equals 25 to 30 percent of their annual income.
In summary, while playoff bonuses are an added perk for all players, they hold particular importance for those at the lower end of the pay scale, providing meaningful financial rewards for their contributions in the postseason.
How Much Do the Rest of the Teams Receive?
According to the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the bonuses are distributed this way:
First round losers share a total pool of $2 million (about $250,000 per team across eight teams); Second round losers split another $2 million (roughly $500,000 per team among four teams); The two teams eliminated in the conference finals receive $1.25 million each, totaling $2.5 million.
This news was originally published on this post .
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