Who Was The First Hockey Player To Make $1,000,000 A Year? The Million Dollar Man Revealed

It’s fascinating to think about how much NHL players make today compared to what they used to earn. Bernie Parent and Bobby Hull were the first players to earn $1,000,000 a year, and their contracts were groundbreaking. The 1977-78 season marked a turning point in professional sports, with these landmark deals ushering in a new era of high salaries.

It’s important to note that Parent and Hull weren’t the first hockey players to earn a million dollars. Hull, for example, had earned $1,000,000 for his time with the Winnipeg Jets in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. However, it wasn’t until 1977-78 that an NHL player received a $1,000,000 contract while playing in the NHL.

Parent signed his contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, marking a pivotal moment for both the player and the team. As a goaltender, Parent was known for his exceptional skill and leadership, and his contract reflected his value to the Flyers. Hull signed his million-dollar deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, a team he had played for earlier in his career. The Blackhawks were eager to bring back their legendary forward, and they were willing to pay a hefty sum to secure his services.

The arrival of $1,000,000 contracts in the NHL was a sign of the league’s growing popularity and financial success. It also signaled a shift in the way players were valued, as teams recognized the importance of attracting and retaining top talent. This was just the beginning of a trend that would continue to escalate in the years to come, with players eventually signing contracts worth tens of millions of dollars.