Vegas Leads NHL in Projected 2026-27 Defense Spending
Vegas is projected to spend $41.1 million on its defensemen in 2026-27, the most of any NHL team in the figures provided. The Golden Knights’ lead reflects a roster built around several high-priced veterans, while the next four clubs sit within about $1 million of one another.
The comparisons come as the league’s salary cap is set at $104 million. Colorado, by contrast, ranks 14th in defense spending for 2026-27, though its projected blue-line payroll rises to nearly $42 million in 2027-28. That figure includes a record eight-year, $163.2 million contract for Cale Makar, carrying a $20.4 million average annual value. It eclipsed the previous $18.8 million marks set this offseason by Macklin Celebrini and Leo Carlsson. A future deal for Quinn Hughes could reset that benchmark.
Vegas sets the pace
Vegas Golden Knights — $41.1 million. The largest listed commitments are Alex Pietrangelo at $8.8 million, Rasmus Andersson at $8.5 million, Shea Theodore at $7.425 million and Noah Hanifin at $7.35 million. Jeremy Lauzon ($4 million) and Brayden McNabb ($3.65 million) round out the other notable contracts.
Vegas has long used trades and spending to bring in top talent, but its cap position is tight: the team is reported to be $8 million over the limit despite trading Pavel Dorofeyev this offseason. Pietrangelo is in the final year of his 2020 contract and is on injured reserve; the club could use long-term injured reserve to get under the cap.
Four teams close behind
New York Rangers — $36.75 million. Adam Fox leads the group at $9.5 million, followed by Vladislav Gavrikov at $7 million and Sean Durzi at $6 million. Marcus Pettersson and Braden Schneider each carry a $5.5 million AAV.
New York reshaped its defense this offseason, bringing in Durzi in the trade involving Vincent Trocheck and acquiring Pettersson from Vancouver. William Borgen, whose AAV was $4.1 million, went to Boston. The incoming contracts represent a $6 million increase over the outgoing blue-line commitments, and four Rangers defenders, Schneider among them, are on one-year deals.
New Jersey Devils — $36.5 million. Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes each account for $9 million. Other notable cap hits include Brett Pesce at $5.5 million, Brenden Dillon and Johnathan Kovacevic at $4 million apiece, and Jonas Siegenthaler at $3.4 million.
New Jersey traded former second-overall pick Simon Nemec to Calgary, which signed the 22-year-old to a five-year extension at a $7.25 million cap hit. Had Nemec stayed in New Jersey on those terms, the Devils would top this ranking. Luke Hughes, also 22, is under contract through 2032, giving the team a long-term anchor on the back end.
Veteran contracts meet younger anchors
Los Angeles Kings — $35.88 million. Drew Doughty carries an $11 million AAV, about 30% of Los Angeles’ blue-line payroll. Brandt Clarke is next at $7.4 million, followed by Cody Ceci ($4.5 million), Michael Anderson ($4.125 million), Brian Dumoulin ($4 million) and Joel Edmundson ($3.85 million).
The Kings made few defensive changes this offseason. Doughty’s contract has one year remaining, leaving the team’s future allocation for his cap hit uncertain. Clarke, a former eighth-overall pick, begins a five-year extension and is positioned to take on a larger role.
Minnesota Wild — $35.58 million. Brock Faber is at $8.5 million, Quinn Hughes at $7.85 million, Jared Spurgeon at $7.575 million and Jonas Brodin at $6 million. Olli Maatta is listed at $3.5 million.
Faber is the only Minnesota defender in this group signed beyond 2028. Two of the top four are set to become unrestricted free agents, putting attention on Quinn Hughes’ next contract after Makar’s record-setting deal. Hughes produced 76 points in 2025-26, the highest total among the defenders listed here; measured against his AAV, that works out to roughly $107,000 per point.
The next five teams are tightly grouped: Montreal Canadiens at $35.06 million, Edmonton Oilers at $35.02 million, Washington Capitals at $34.65 million, Tampa Bay Lightning at $34.27 million and Boston Bruins at $33.55 million. The ranking’s clearest split is between Vegas at the top and a crowded field in the mid-$30 million range, where contract duration and upcoming extensions could quickly change the order.
