The top paid players in the KHL and what they make

Salaries can be tough to chase in the KHL. The Russia-based hockey league, generally considered the second best in the world behind the NHL, isn't as transparent with its salaries as its North American counterpart. However, Championat has published a list of the top 13 paid players in the KHL by salary. The list includes some very recognizable names, while others are fairly obscure unless you follow the league. There is a total of five pay levels. These figures include salaries only. Bonuses are usually not tracked by the KHL as part of its salary cap rules.

5. 65 million rubles per season ($1.1 million USD)

Slava Voynov (Ak Bars), Albert Yarullin (Traktor), Kirill Semyonov (Ak Bars), Sergei Andronov (Lokomotiv)

The most recognizable name in this category is likely Voynov, and not necessarily for good reasons.. Voynov played parts of four seasons in the NHL before heading back home to Russia.


Yarullin is a 29-year-old defenceman who was never drafted in the NHL and has spent his entire professional career in the KHL, mostly with Ak Bars.

Semyonov may sound familiar to some. He wasn't drafted, but played three games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2021-22, as well as nine with the Toronto Marlies. He then headed back home to play.

Adronov was drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Blues. The 32-year-old forward spent parts of two seasons in the AHL from 2012 to 2014, but then returned to Russia to resume his career.

4. 70 million rubles ($1.2 million USD)

Nikolai Prokhorkin (SKA), Mikhail Grigorenko (CSKA), Anton Slepyshev (CSKA)

Prokhorkin tried his hand in North America in 2019-20, playing 43 games with the LA Kings, the team that drafted him in the fourth round (141st overall) in 2012. He was back in Russia for the very next season where he's spent the vast majority of his career.

Grigorenko would be a recognizable name to most NHL fans. He's a former 12th overall pick for Buffalo, and played 249 games in the NHL with the Sabres, Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Slepyshev was drafted by Edmonton in 2013, and played for the Oilers between 2015 and 2018. He managed a total of 102 games in the NHL before going back to Russia.

3. 75 million rubles ($1.25 million USD)

Vladimir Tkachev (Traktor), Alexei Marchenko (Lokomotiv), Damir Zhafyarov (SKA)

Tkachev spent last season in the LA Kings organization despite never being selected in the NHL draft. However, the 26 year old spent the bulk of his time with the Ontario Reign on the AHL, and signed a contract back in Russia for 2022-23.

Marchenko is a recent second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the 21 year old will likely come to North America at some point to see if he can stick.

Zhafyarov is a veteran who was never drafted in the NHL and has never played professional hockey outside of the KHL.

2. 80 million rubles ($1.33 million USD)

Vadim Shipachyov (Ak Bars Kazan), Alexander Radulov (Ak Bars)

Both of these guys will be known to NHL fans. Shipachyov tried his hand in North America with the Vegas Golden Knights, but played just three games with the team before the two sides mutually agreed to split. He has been among the highest paid KHL players for some time and is usually among the league's top scorers.

Radulov will start his fourth and likely last stint in the KHL in 2022-23. Despite being the oldest on this list at 35, the veteran of 524 NHL games will be among the highest paid in the league.

1. 90 million rubles ($1.5 million USD)

Maxim Shalunov (Lokomotiv)

Shalunov, surprisingly, stands alone as the highest paid player (by salary) in the KHL. A former fourth-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, Shalunov came to North America in 2013-14, but spent his entire time in the AHL and ECHL. Shalunov has had some solid seasons in the KHL, but faltered a bit in his first year with Lokomotiv, getting just 15 points in 32 games.

It was noted by Championat that Nikita Gusev and Canadian Corbin Knight are currently free agents but will almost certainly fall into one of the categories on this list once they sign. Gusev is attempting a comeback to the NHL. Knight has been playing in the KHL since 201920.

One thing that will likely catch a lot of eyes is the fact that the highest paid players in the league appear to be split amongst a handful of teams, most noticeably CSKA, SKA and Ak Bars. That is not uncommon for the KHL. There will be 22 teams taking part in the 2022-23 KHL season, but only a few have a legitimate chance at the Gagarin Cup and those teams don't vary much from year to year.