'It’s nice to have a little cash': On the Bruins’ longest trip of season, the per diem adds up (2024)

Some time ago, Tuukka Rask reached for a suit in his closet. He noticed a skinny envelope in one of his pockets. It contained more than $100, a payout from a long-forgotten per diem.

“I think it was from 2015,” Rask said.

Rask had no trouble neglecting his latest payout. On Feb. 13, when the Bruins departed for their five-game, 11-day road swing, Whitney Delorey, team travel and services manager, distributed envelopes to Rask and his teammates aboard their charter flight. Each envelope was stuffed with $880 in cash.

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The Bruins just finished their longest road trip of the season, with stops in Anaheim, Los Angeles, San Jose, Las Vegas and St. Louis. It represents the most generous compilation of the dough they’re due per the collective bargaining agreement.

The number fluctuates each season based on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This season, the NHL’s per diem is $110, the daily meal allowance granted to each player accompanying his club while away from its home city. They are paid $55 on game days. They also receive $55 on days they leave from their home city after 12 p.m.

It is a tidy amount, especially considering the number of meals the team provides. On Feb. 13, when the Bruins departed for Anaheim, the players ate on the airplane. On game days, they are provided breakfast, lunch, pregame snacks and postgame food, either at their hotel or on their plane. On the mornings after road games, the team provides breakfast at the hotel.

So on this trip, the players were fully responsible to address their own meals on two of the 11 days: Feb. 14 in Anaheim and Feb. 22, when they traveled from Las Vegas to St. Louis. A disciplined player could make his per diem add up.

“The wise thing to do is not to spend it recklessly,” said Zdeno Chara. “You have to respect the money, what it’s worth, what it means to a lot of people. That’s one thing I’ve been taught since a very young age. Don’t disrespect the money the way you earn it and the way you’re making it. There’s millions and millions of people who have to work really, really hard — so much harder, probably, than we do to earn a living.”

On the road, Chara uses his credit card for meals and other items he purchases. He does not open his per diem envelopes. This might be a function of being a 41-year-old who could approach $100 million in earnings by the time his career concludes.

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It is not so easy, on the other hand, for a young player to ignore the stack he receives at the start of a road trip. Matt Grzelcyk, 25, considers $880 in hand a neat and accessible bundle compared to the bi-monthly paycheck ($1.4 million average annual value) deposited into his account.

“It’s kind of always nice,” Grzelcyk said. “Because when you do get paid, it goes right into your account. It’s nice to have a little cash. If you do go to a casino or something and it’s gone, at least you know it wasn’t too much. It’s nice to have something on you.”

Grzelcyk sometimes accesses his per diem to bring his family presents from the road. Other times, the card sharks on his plane relieve him of his spending money.

As a first-year pro, Jake DeBrusk never even got that far. Players receive per diem at the start of training camp. It is very much needed, considering they are not paid their salaries until the regular season.

In the fall of 2015, DeBrusk and fellow first-round pick Zach Senyshyn reported for their first NHL training camp. The 18-year-old DeBrusk could not believe the payout he received before camp even started.

“I remember my first training camp, we got it all up front,” DeBrusk recalled. “I remember me and Zach Senyshyn, we were so fired up about it that we were like, ‘Wow, let’s go get PlayStations and stuff!’ We instantly went and bought stuff.”

One PlayStation, several games and some clothes later, DeBrusk’s wallet was lighter than he expected. He soon learned a refill was not coming. Later that month, the Bruins returned DeBrusk to Swift Current, his junior team.

“I asked Whit when our next one was. She didn’t like that one too much,” DeBrusk said. “I learned pretty quickly that you’ve got to kind of preserve it.”

This season, if DeBrusk never touched his per diem, he would have approximately $5,500 in regular-season money. This would be supplemented by the per diem he received in training camp.

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This lump sum is what ex-NHL player Sean Avery terms practically free money. By dining on the team’s dime and being otherwise cautious with in-season spending, Avery concludes that it would be enough for a 10-year player to use as a down payment on a home in the Hamptons.

“It’s kind of smart,” DeBrusk said. “I didn’t know (Avery) said that. But there was a couple guys last year who told me to save a few envelopes here and there. You can use it. You can use it for summer training, vacations. It’s a good amount of money. There’s different ways you can save your money. We’re all pretty good at that. I know I’m pretty safe with my money, especially with the per diem. I’ve saved a couple envelopes. Not this big one, though. That envelope was nice to see.”

This trip included roadblocks. It’s easy to spend dough in Southern California. An off day in Las Vegas would put anybody down. Had Joe Thornton scored a fourth goal in the Bruins’ 6-5 overtime win in San Jose, the Bruins would have been obligated to reach into their envelopes and make it rain.

Thankfully, a hat trick made Thornton just as happy.

[screaming] pic.twitter.com/mwz6p3hscD

— NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) February 19, 2019

(Top photo of Zdeno Chara:Brian Babineau / NHLI via Getty Images)

'It’s nice to have a little cash': On the Bruins’ longest trip of season, the per diem adds up (2024)

FAQs

How much per diem do NHL players get? ›

(ii) Per Diem: $110 USD (which shall include all expenses for telephone, laundry, dry cleaning, tips and gratuities). (iii) Tickets: Two (2) complimentary game tickets for each game worked.

What is the lowest you can get paid in the NHL? ›

The NHL salary cap is $82.5 million for the 2022-23 campaign. The minimum wage is $750,000 for the 2022-23 season.

What is the minimum AHL salary? ›

What Is the Minimum AHL Salary? As of 2021, the minimum salary for American Hockey League (AHL) players is $51,000 USD.

Why do NHL players make less money? ›

The primary reason NBA teams pay their players more money than NHL teams pay their players is due to revenue. The main two sources of revenue for pro sports teams are broadcasting rights for television and game ticket sales. The NHL receives a much smaller share of revenue from the different TV broadcasting networks.

Do NHL players get free meals? ›

The number fluctuates each season based on the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). This season, the NHL's per diem is $110, the daily meal allowance granted to each player accompanying his club while away from its home city. They are paid $55 on game days.

Do NHL players get their own hotel room? ›

The collective-bargaining agreement now rules that only players on three-year, entry-level contracts have roommates. After that, every player gets his own room on the road. Poulin doesn't think that's a good thing.

How many years do you have to play in the NHL to get a pension? ›

NHL Service

Full Service: You've been in the league for ten years and have received 82 games per season for pension purposes. If you reach this threshold, you will receive the maximum pension benefit, currently $255,000 per year. Partial Service: You've spent time with the big club, but also in the minors.

How much do NHL refs make? ›

How much are NHL referees paid? While NHL ref salaries do not come close to player salaries, the tedious job is definitely worth the check. According to FanBuzz, on average, a full-time NHL referee gets paid anywhere from $165,000 - $360,000 annually.

Do retired hockey players get paid? ›

Players earn one quarter of a year's benefits for every 20 credited games, and they are vested in their benefits as soon as they earn them. A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law.

Do AHL players get signing bonuses? ›

Compensation Details

the maximum AHL salary. Young players can receive up to 13 times more on their paychecks by accumulating days on the NHL roster. There is also a maximum signing bonus of 10 percent of your salary (up to $92,500) during each year of the contract.

Does ECHL pay for housing? ›

Like the AHL, ECHL players continue to be paid during the playoffs, and you can see why. They'd run out of money for food if they weren't. The ECHL is required to provide accommodation for players, which mitigates the low salaries somewhat.

What's the average AHL salary? ›

As of Jan 11, 2023, the average annual pay for the AHL jobs category in the United States is $54,189 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $26.05 an hour.

Is NHL losing viewership? ›

According to Sports Business Journal, the NHL All-Star Game only had 1.15 million viewers this year in the United States, yet another drop in viewership within the last five years. Although this is a US-based rating, it's safe to say similar ratings are coming out of Canada.

Do NHL players get paid weekly? ›

Teams withhold the specified amount of a player's cumulative salary and bonuses in each pay period (players are paid on a bi-weekly basis, which equates to 12 paychecks a season), that is calculated by multiplying a player's earnings by the applicable escrow percentage for that period.

Who makes the most money in hockey? ›

1. Connor McDavid
  • Total Earnings: $15.3 million.
  • On-Ice Earnings: $10.8 million.
  • Off-Ice Earnings: $4.5 million.
Oct 4, 2022

Do hockey players eat after a game? ›

Successful professional hockey players eat, drink, sleep and train with purpose. In the arena of sports nutrition, significant attention is given to pre-game meals when instead, the arguably most vital meal may be after the game.

What do hockey players eat? ›

A hockey player's diet should be based around lean proteins for muscle repair and recovery and appropriately timed carbohydrate for fuel. In addition, fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds and dairy foods provide important vitamins and minerals, along with some healthy fats.

How many hours of sleep do NHL players get? ›

Some players need only seven hours while others need eight or nine plus a pregame name. When you find that sweet spot, that perfect amount of sleep you need to recover from a long day and rest for the next, making sure you can get that amount each and every night is something athletes emphasize.

Do NHL locker rooms smell? ›

They are small, cinder-block rooms where the smell is concentrated because it has nowhere to go. There's one rink in the Ivy League with a subterranean locker room that Ross describes as “gross.”

Do NFL players have to sleep in hotels for home games? ›

The experience varies between players and teams, but some things remain constant. When I played for the Buccaneers and the Jets, the players had to stay in a hotel the night before the game, whether we were at home or away. Sometimes you also had to have a roommate, especially the younger guys.

Do NHL players nap before games? ›

Home or away, family man or bachelor, every professional hockey player takes a nap before that night's game, almost without exception.

How long does an NFL player have to play to get a pension? ›

How Long Do You Have to Play in the NFL to Get a Pension? NFL players must play for three seasons before they can be eligible to receive a pension. That's when he'll be considered vested. Meaning he's eligible to receive benefits negotiated under the CBA.

What do most NHL players do after retirement? ›

What Do NHL Players Do When They Retire?
  • A Tough Transition. First and foremost, retiring from professional hockey is a difficult transition for many. ...
  • Some Pursue a Hobby. A professional hockey career brings with it some serious bucks. ...
  • Others Stay in the Field of Hockey. ...
  • Some Find a Different Line of Work.

What is the pension for a 10 year MLB player? ›

If you've got ten years of service, you get the maximum whether you're a superstar, a utility infielder or a bullpen coach. This averages out to an expected pension of$7500 per month for today's ten year player still in the game.

Do NFL refs get paid per game? ›

NFL referees are paid a per-game amount as well as a substantial pension plan on top of a flat fee per season. Postseason games offer higher earnings, with double the amount paid compared to games during the regular season.

Do NFL refs get paid? ›

The NFL does not release salary figures for referees but, according to Sporting News, the highest paid NFL refs make $250,000 annually. NFL referees on average usually make about $205,000 per year.

Do NHL refs get paid per game? ›

Referees earn an incremental yearly increase and are expected to officiate up to 73 games per season. However, most refs will end up officiating between 50-73 games, earning between $1,500 and $5,000 each game, depending on their seniority level.

How much does a NHL scout make? ›

Hockey Scout Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$64,500$5,375
75th Percentile$45,000$3,750
Average$42,360$3,530
25th Percentile$28,500$2,375

Do NHL players get paid every game? ›

An NHL player is paid between Oct. 15 and Apr. 15, based on a payment schedule that runs between 186 and 192 days; not every team plays 82 games in the same number of days. The checks typically arrive on the 15th and the last day of the month.

Do fired NHL coaches still get paid? ›

An NHL coach's salary ranges from about $1 million to $5 million with an average in the $2.5 to $3.0 million USD. A coach's salary is guaranteed and if they get fired they will still get paid out the entirety of the contract.

Do NFL signing bonuses get paid up front? ›

Players receive a signing bonus upon signing their contract with a team and it is fully guaranteed. The player usually receives payment in the first year after signing with a team. The team can pay the player the whole amount at once or spread the payments out over the length of the contract to reserve cap space.

Do AHL players pay escrow? ›

Players in the AHL on one-way NHL contracts will be paid the same way they are in the NHL with the 10% deferral and the 20% Escrow.

Do players in the Nahl get paid? ›

What do NAHL teams pay for? NAHL teams pay for all players' ice time (practices and games), as well as all travel costs incurred while traveling for games and tournaments, including meals and hotels.

Is ECHL better than AHL? ›

The ECHL (formerly the East Coast Hockey League) is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Shrewsbury, New Jersey, with teams scattered across the United States and Canada. It is a tier below the American Hockey League (AHL).

What is the average salary for an ECHL hockey player? ›

East Coast Hockey League employees earn $62,500 annually on average, or $30 per hour, which is 5% lower than the national salary average of $66,000 per year.

How much do ECHL players make a year? ›

The ECHL is the third highest level of professional hockey in North America. ECHL rookies make an average of $42,000 per year. However, the average salary for an ECHL player is $52,000 per year.

Who gets paid more NHL or AHL? ›

Because the NHL is the world's premier professional ice hockey league, NHL players often earn significantly higher wages and their minimum salaries are usually greater than AHL players as well.

Do AHL teams fly private? ›

Teams could charter a private jet, of course, and have a faster flight, but AHL call-ups typically fly commercial.

Do minor league players get paid a lot? ›

According to Front Office Sports, as of 2022, MLB Players make an annual average of $4.41 million, while the average salary of a minor leaguer paid can be anywhere from $4,800 to $14,700.

What city is hockey most popular in? ›

Best Hockey Cities
Overall RankCityNHL
1Boston, MA2
2Pittsburgh, PA1
3Detroit, MI3
4St. Louis, MO4
68 more rows
Jun 2, 2022

Is NHL bigger than NFL? ›

NFL vs NHL: Summary

There's no real comparison between the NFL and the NHL when it comes to which league draws more fans and which creates more revenue – the NFL is the hands-down winner of that competition since the NHL's numbers are just a fraction of its football counterpart.

Is NHL bigger than NBA? ›

Last year, the NBA averaged 17,319 fans at their games. The NHL, on the other hand, averaged 17,126. Most people may be surprised that the NHL is this close to the NBA in terms of attendance. However, when one looks at the numbers deeper it becomes clear that the NHL actually has the advantage.

Do NHL players get free tickets? ›

Virtanen, who averages between six and 15 personal visitors per game, simply tells friends to text his dad if they want tickets, though the NHL's collective bargaining agreement only gives two complimentary seats per player on the home team.

Do NFL players get paid once a week? ›

Long story short, each NFL player under contract gets paid every week from the start of the season and up to its end. Game checks are usually deposited into the players' bank accounts on Monday mornings, although the exact day of the week when they get paid could vary from week to week.

How much tax do hockey players pay? ›

**Based on a $9,500,000 contract, and it doesn't consider agent fees, escrow and travel taxes. ***
TEAMFEDERAL RATEESTIMATED TAX RATE
Philadelphia Flyers39.14%46.12%
Pittsburgh Penguins39.14%45.21%
San Jose Sharks39.14%52.20%
St. Louis Blues39.14%46.14%
28 more rows

Who was the first hockey player to make $1000000 a year? ›

1971: Bobby Orr becomes the NHL's first million-dollar man when he signs a new contract with the Boston Bruins. Orr, coming off a record-setting 139-point season in 1970-71, is already the NHL's highest-paid player.

How much do NHL ice crew make? ›

$33,996. How accurate does $33,996 look to you? Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.

Do hockey players make millions? ›

The maximum salary cap is $82.5 million for the 2022-23 campaign, and the average NHL salary is just over $3.5 million. NHL betting isn't directly impacted by how much players make, but it's interesting to see where certain individuals stand in earnings.

Do NHL players get free tickets for family? ›

Virtanen, who averages between six and 15 personal visitors per game, simply tells friends to text his dad if they want tickets, though the NHL's collective bargaining agreement only gives two complimentary seats per player on the home team.

Do NHL players all get paid in USD? ›

Every NHL player is paid in American dollars, including those playing in the seven Canadian cities. So can Canadian players, who live year round in Canada, make up the tax gap by being paid in US funds.

Do professional athletes get per diem? ›

But the players also get paid, albeit a fraction of what they could receive in an NBA contract. According to Jake Fischer of SI.com: "Players receive a total of $1,500 in per diem during the 12-day league.

How much do NHL players make off endorsem*nts? ›

That includes $10.8 million in salary and signing bonus as well as an estimated $4.5 million off the ice from endorsem*nts, memorabilia and other business endeavors. Combined, the NHL's ten highest-paid players stand to make $117.7 million this season.

Can you bring a baby to an NHL game? ›

Children under 3 will be allowed entry without ticket, must sit with accompanying adult.

Do NHL players get free tickets for away games? ›

Contrary to what fans might think, NHL players do not get an unlimited amount of free tickets to games. As per the rules in the collective-bargaining agreement, a player gets two free tickets to home games and must buy from the 50 allotted (100 during the playoffs) to each team for road games.

Can you take a 2 year old to a hockey game? ›

As luck would have it, there is no minimum age limit for bringing a child to an NHL® game, and most teams/stadiums even allow children below a certain age or height to attend the games for free if they sit in their guardian's lap.

Do NHL players get paid biweekly? ›

Teams withhold the specified amount of a player's cumulative salary and bonuses in each pay period (players are paid on a bi-weekly basis, which equates to 12 paychecks a season), that is calculated by multiplying a player's earnings by the applicable escrow percentage for that period.

Do NHL players get paid after they retire? ›

About The Plan

Players earn one quarter of a year's benefits for every 20 credited games, and they are vested in their benefits as soon as they earn them. A player who has earned 10 full years of benefits will have earned the maximum benefit payable by law.

Do NHL players still get paid when bought out? ›

If the player is under 26 years old, then the team may pay the player just one-third of the remaining contract value. In ordinary-course buyouts, the team's NHL salary cap hit for the player is stretched over a period of twice the remaining length of the contract.

Do professional athletes get their own hotel rooms? ›

Unless it's a very well-known athlete traveling by themselves, most players don't get special rooms, especially if it's an entire team traveling together. Sometimes, rookie players will even have to share rooms.

How is per diem paid out? ›

Per diem is Latin, but its meaning couldn't be simpler. Employees paid per diem receive pay by the day. This is usually the daily stipend given to employees who travel for work. It's also used when employees on short-term contracts are assigned a daily rate.

Is per diem considered a bonus? ›

Many employers consider per diem to be a bonus to their employees and any amount that is leftover after meals and incidentals can generally be kept by the employee.

What percentage of AAA players make it to the NHL? ›

That means that at the highest level of amateur hockey, just 4.7 percent of players end up playing in the NHL. Some of those rosters, though, had 25 or more players on them, so I decided to base the numbers on an average of 18 players per team -- which is how many would typically suit up for a game.

Who is the highest paid endorsem*nt? ›

20 overall. Injuries and a break from tennis limited her on-court earnings to $1.2 million, but she banked an estimated $52 million from more than 20 endorsem*nt partners.
...
2022 Highest-Paid Athlete in Each Sport.
Overall Rank1
AthleteLeBron James
Sport🏀
Salary/Winnings$36.9M
Endorsem*nts$90M
9 more columns
May 11, 2022

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