Every summer, once a Stanley Cup champion has been crowned and teams look toward next season, millions of dollars are handed out in free agency.

Teams lock up Wesley Walker Jerseys their star players to extensions or find new players to bolster their roster, with money being one of the many methods of persuasion in landing a free agent.

A wave of new contracts will kick in this coming fall, in particular deals for young defensemen who previously agreed to contract extensions. In fact, five new players will enter the top 25 in terms of highest annual average values (AAV) in the 2022-23 season.

But the newest addition is a forward, Johnny Gaudreau, who shocked the hockey world with his decision to sign with the Blue Jackets for seven yeas and $68.8 million. It's no surprise to now see him on the list, but many thought he would agree to a contract with the Devils or Islanders.

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The Sporting News lists the NHL's 25 highest-paid players for the 2022-23 season. (This list will be updated as contracts are signed throughout the 2022 offseason.

NHL's highest-paid players 2022-231. Connor McDavid, C, OilersAnnual salary: $12.5 million

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the best player in the NHL makes the most. The Oilers locked up McDavid with an eight-year, $100 million deal after a 2016-17 season that saw him win his first Art Ro s, Hart and Ted Lindsay. Since then, he's added three more Art Ro s Trophies, two Ted Lindsay Awards and a Hart Trophy. He' Bart Scott Jerseys s fresh off back-to-back 100+ point seasons.

2. Artemi Panarin, LW, RangersAnnual salary: $11.642 million

Panarin was the belle of the ball during free agency in 2019 and elected to sign with the Rangers on a seven-year, $81.5 million deal. There were reports that he would have gotten more money from the Islanders, but chose their rivals instead. Since the signing, Panarin has 249 points in 186 games with New York spanning over three seasons.

3. Auston Matthews, C, Maple LeafsAnnual salary: $11.64 million

Matthews is one of a few members of the Maple Leafs on this list, but he's proven to be worth every penny. Toronto signed Matthews to a five-year extension in February of 2019, carrying an AAV of around $11.64 million. He's coming off his second consecutive Art Ro s Trophy, leading the league in goals. He became only the third player in the salary cap era to hit 60 goals when he did so this past season.

4. Erik Karl son, D, SharksAnnual salary: $11.5 million

After the Sharks acquired him Nick Mangold Jerseys in a trade with the Senators, San Jose inked Karl son to an eight-year contract worth $92 million. At the time, he was one of the premier offensive defensemen in the league. However, his time in San Jose has been riddled with injuries and underwhelming performances on the ice, with Karl son failing to hit 40 points the last two seasons. To make matters worse, he's already 32 years old and still has five years left on the deal.

T5. Drew Doughty, D, KingsAnnual salary: $11 million

Similarly, to Karl son, when Doughty signed his big ticket (eight-years, $88 million) with the Kings, he was coming off a career year with 60 points. Unfortunately for the Kings, he hasn't come close to finishing a season with the kind of production since. He was just under a point-per-game this season but only played in 39 games due to a right knee injury and then wrist surgery. He's 32 years old and has another five years on his contract.

T5. John Tavares, C, Maple LeafsAnnual salary: $11 million

One year prior to the Panarin deal, the Islanders once again lost out on a top free agent, this time with Tavares. The captain elected Brandin Echols Jerseys to sign with his hometown Maple Leafs on a seven-year, $77 deal. In his first year in Toronto, he set a new career high in goals (47) and points (88). He's been a reliable second-line center for the team since signing, as Tavares has recorded 274 points in 280 games as a Leaf.

7. Mitch Marner, RW, Maple LeafsAnnual salary: $10.903 million

Just a few months after Matthews signed his extension, the Maple Leafs locked up Marner on a six-year, $65.3 million deal to keep him in Toronto. He had just broken out for 94 points the season prior. Marner has been worth the big deal, averaging over a point per game the three seasons following his deal. He has 455 points in 427 career games with the team.

T8. Patrick Kane, RW, BlackhawksAnnual salary: $10.5 million

One of the biggest cap hits that could potentially be on the move is Kane and his $10.5 million. He has one year left on his monster eight-year, $84 million deal he signed back in 2014. With the Blackhawks facing a rebuild and very likely competing for the worst record in the league next season, it's unlikely Kane wants to be around for that. He's coming off a 92 points season, his fourth season averaging over a point per game.

T8. Jonathan Toews, C, BlackhawksAnnual salary:$10.5 million

Toews signed the same exact contract Kane did on the same day back in 2014, eight years with a total value of $84 million. Like Kane, Toews likely wants a chance to win somewhere else rather than play for Zach Wilson Jerseys the Blackhawks next season. However, his value is not nearly as high as Kane's. He mi sed the 2020-21 season with health i sues and is coming off a 37-point campaign this past season. He's certainly not worth the $10.5 million cap hit, but it's only one year before he's a free agent.

T8. Carey Price, G, CanadiensAnnual salary: $10.5 million

Price comes in as the goaltender with the highest AAV at $10.5 million. He and the Canadiens agreed to an eight-year, $84 million extension in the summer of 2017, just two seasons removed from winning the Hart as league MVP, a rarity for a goalie. He was 30 when he signed the deal and as some expected, age is catching up with Price. He mi sed a majority of this season recovering from knee surgery and his status going forward is unknown. Price still has four years left on his contract.

T11. Anze Kopitar, C, KingsAnnual salary: $10 million

After helping the Kings to two Stanley Cup wins, Kopitar cashed in on an eight-year. $80 million contract extension in 2016. The organization has endured some tough years since then, but the elite two-way center has been a consistent force down the middle for Los Angeles. The Kings captain has two years left on his deal.

T11. Jack Eichel, C, Golden KnightsAnnual salary: $10 million

When Eichel signed his eight-year, $80 million deal in 2017, the Sabres were locking up their star of the future. Or so they thought. After some tension with the organization that stemmed from a neck surgery, the two sides elected to go their separate ways when he was traded to the Golden Knights this past fall. When healthy, Eichel has shown Lamarcus Joyner Jerseys he can be one of the bright young stars in the game, and the Golden Knights are hoping that he can be the elite center the Sabres had hoped for when they gave him his huge deal