Artemi Panarin became the highest paid Russian player in NHL history. He overtook Alexander Ovechkin

Russian hockey player Artemy Panarin signed a contract with the NHL club New York Rangers, which will receive 81.5 million dollars over seven years. With an average salary of $11.6 million per season, Panarin became the highest paid Russian hockey player in league history.

Panarin's former teammate in the Columbus Blue Jackets, Sergei Bobrovsky, also changed teams on July 1, moving to the Florida Panthers. He signed a contract for 7 years worth $70 million.

• The highest paid Russian hockey player in the NHL before the new contracts of Panarin and Bobrovsky was Alexander Ovechkin. At the Washington Capitals, he averages $9.54 million a year. The total value of his contract - 127 million (for 13 years) still remains a record among Russians.
• Canadian Connor McDavid has the largest average annual salary in the NHL - $ 12.5 million.