In 1977-78, the Montreal Canadien lost only 10 games in the regular season and won a second Stanley Cup in a row. Guy Lafleur had the most goals (60) and points (132) in the season with Bryan Trottier following in total points and Mike Bossy as the second goal-scorer with 53 goals. Bobby Orr missed the whole season with a knee injury - he came back the next season but only played 6 games before retiring.
| Rank | Player | Team | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ |
| 1 | Bobby Hull | Winnipeg (WHA) | $1,000,000 | $4,133,663 |
| 2 | Bobby Orr | Chicago (injured all season) | $500,000 | $2,066,832 |
| 3 | Phil Esposito | New York Rangers | $325,000 | $1,343,441 |
| 4 | Marcel Dionne | Los Angeles | $300,000 | $1,240,099 |
| 5 | Brad Park | Boston | $250,000 | $1,033,416 |
| 5 | Walter Tkaczuk | New York Rangers | $250,000 | $1,033,416 |
| 7 | Gilbert Perreault | Buffalo | $200,000 | $826,733 |
| 7 | Stan Mikita | Chicago | $200,000 | $826,733 |
| 7 | Tony Esposito | Chicago | $200,000 | $826,733 |
| 10 | Garry Unger | St.Louis | $175,000 | $723,391 |
| 10 | Wayne Dillon | New York Rangers | $175,000 | $723,391 |
| 12 | Richard Martin | Buffalo | $170,000 | $702,723 |
| 13 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal | $169,200 | $699,416 |
| 13 | Ken Dryden | Montreal | $169,200 | $699,416 |
| 15 | Guy Lapointe | Montreal | $164,500 | $679,988 |
| 16 | Gerry Cheevers | Boston | $160,000 | $661,386 |
| 16 | Bobby Clarke | Philadelphia | $160,000 | $661,386 |
| 16 | Wilf Paiement | Colorado | $160,000 | $661,386 |
| 19 | Darryl Sittler | Toronto | $155,100 | $641,131 |
| 20 | Doug Favell | Toronto | $155,000 | $640,718 |
| 21 | Yvan Cournoyer | Montreal | $150,400 | $621,703 |
| 22 | Vaclav Nedomansky | Detroit | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Bill Barber | Philadelphia | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Dale Tallon | Chicago | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Denis Potvin | New York Islanders | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Jean Ratelle | Boston | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Rick MacLeish | Philadelphia | $150,000 | $620,050 |
| 22 | Syl Apps | Pittsburgh / Los Angeles | $150,000 | $620,050 |
Photo credit: O Pee Chee