Riding on Sam Reinhart’s four-goal effort, the Florida Panthers clinched their second consecutive Stanley Cup title on Tuesday, defeating Edmonton 5-1 in the crucial Game 6.
To many people’s surprise, NHL players do not receive their regular salaries during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as standard pay concludes at the end of the 82-game regular season.
Instead, playoff compensation comes from a ‘playoff player fund’ established annually through the league’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
This fund is distributed among the 16 playoff teams based on performance, with teams progressing further into the postseason receiving a larger share of the bonus money. The system rewards success, meaning the further a team advances, the more they earn from the pool.
Live EventsFor the 2024–2025 season, the NHL’s playoff player fund is set at approximately $23 million. This fund is divided among the 16 postseason teams according to the merit-based system outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
HOW MUCH NHL CHAMPION GET?
While exact playoff payouts can vary from year to year, the player fund allocation for the Stanley Cup 2025 champions is approximately $3.75 million, which will be divided among the team’s players. The runners-up receive about $2.25 million, with bonus amounts decreasing for teams eliminated in earlier rounds.
Though these bonuses may seem modest compared to the multimillion-dollar salaries of NHL stars, they provide a big boost for players who are on minimum contracts – currently around $775,000. For them, a deep playoff run can mean a bonus worth 25–30% of their annual salary.