Jarret Stoll Contract Overview and Career Earnings
Jarret Stoll is a former NHL forward whose most notable contract was a six-year, $24.9 million extension signed with the Los Angeles Kings on July 1, 2012, carrying an average annual value of $4.15 million and a cap hit of $4.15 million per season through the 2017-18 season. The deal included a no-movement clause for the first year and standard no-trade provisions thereafter, making it a front-loaded structure with higher base salaries in the early years. Stoll's total NHL earnings across his career are estimated at over $35 million in salary alone, excluding bonuses and playoff incentives, based on publicly reported contract figures and team salary cap data. His career earnings profile is frequently referenced in discussions of NHL player compensation and contract structuring, as detailed by sources such as CapFriendly and Hockey-Reference.
The contract was structured to provide Stoll with a stable income stream during his peak playing years, with base salaries ranging from approximately $4 million to $4.5 million per season and limited performance bonuses. The Kings absorbed a significant portion of the cap hit during the later years of the deal, which became relevant when Stoll was placed on waivers and ultimately bought out in June 2016, reducing the team's future cap obligations. Buyout calculations followed NHL rules, with two-thirds of the remaining cap hit spread over twice the remaining contract length, a standard mechanism for managing long-term salary commitments. The financial details of this buyout are documented in team salary reports and NHL salary cap databases.
Contract Terms, Cap Hits, and Buyout Details
The original six-year extension with the Kings was designed to retain Stoll as a third-line center and penalty killer, with annual cap hits fixed at $4.15 million from 2012-13 through 2017-18. The contract included a full no-movement clause for the first season, after which the Kings held standard no-trade rights, giving the team control over any potential trade scenarios. Cap hits remained constant throughout the term, which is typical for NHL contracts structured with even annual salary distributions and minimal bonus triggers. The consistency of the cap hit made the contract a predictable element of the Kings' salary cap management during that period.
When Stoll was bought out in June 2016, the Kings were charged a compliance buyout provision under the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, which allowed teams to buy out players without counting the full cap hit against the salary cap in the year of the buyout. The financial terms of the buyout resulted in Stoll receiving two-thirds of the remaining salary owed over a longer period, while the Kings were relieved of the remaining cap hit obligations. Buyout provisions are governed by specific rules outlined in the NHL CBA, which are publicly available through the NHL Players' Association and team filings. The buyout also affected Stoll's post-retirement financial planning, as the extended payment schedule provided a steady income stream beyond his playing career.
Post-Retirement Financial Status and Public Perception
After retiring from professional hockey following the 2015-16 season, Jarret Stoll's contract obligations were fully resolved through the Kings' buyout, leaving him with no further team salary cap liabilities. His post-retirement financial status is largely based on the salary and bonuses earned during his NHL career, supplemented by the extended payments from the buyout agreement. Public discussions of his finances often reference his career earnings and the structure of his final contract as a case study in NHL player compensation and contract management. Financial transparency in professional sports contracts is maintained through league filings, team disclosures, and public salary databases.
Stoll's career trajectory, from his early draft selection to his final contract and buyout, provides a clear example of how NHL