Jack Hughes and Auston Matthews attend a celebration of the USA Men’s Hockey Team’s Olympic Gold at E11EVEN Miami on February 23, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for E11EVEN Miami) At the start of 2026, the two largest brands in the National Hockey League are still leading both on the field and on the balance sheet. Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils are not only franchise cornerstones but also are among the highest-paid players in the league.Both stars have managed to accumulate booming fortunes in the form of blockbuster contracts and endorsement portfolios. Whereas Matthews is already an NHL elite veteran in his prime, Hughes is the new breed of superstars to get rich through long-term security and the escalating salary cap.
Is Jack Hughes Worth His 8-Year $64M Extension? | SDP
NHL star Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes net worth breakdown for 2026
The net worth of Auston Matthews in 2026 is estimated to be between $30-50 men. In 2023, he agreed to a four-year, $53 million extension with the Toronto Maple Leafs with an average annual value (AAV) of 13.25 million. The agreement strengthened his position as one of the highest-paid players in the NHL, and it adds flexibility to him as the salary limit of the league keeps increasing.Leverage Matthews is known to negotiate shorter-term contracts with hefty signing bonuses to optimize present and future income and leverage. In addition to salary, he has the advantages of endorsement partnerships and international exposure as the head of an Original Six franchise.Meanwhile, Jack Hughes has a net worth ranging between 3 million and 15 million. The forward of the New Jersey Devils is under an eight-year contract with a total of 64 million dollars signed in 2021 and goes on through 2030, and has an AAV of 8 million.Although Hughes is currently losing to Matthews in terms of overall wealth, his agreement is highly considered team-friendly considering his high-level output. At the close of the transaction, his career earnings will be within the range of over $66 million, not counting other endorsements by the brand Bauer and other national campaigns.Both of these continue to feature in the news roundups of the NHL, as well as the preview of NHL matches, not only through the on-ice influence they possess, but also through the monetary standards that they continue to establish throughout the league.