| Rank | Player | Team | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) |
| 1 | Brad Richards | New York Rangers | $12,000,000 | $13,365,940 | $4,200,000 | 54% |
| 2 | Vincent Lecavalier | Tamba Bay | $10,000,000 | $11,138,284 | ||
| 2 | Ilya Bryzgalov | Philadelphia | $10,000,000 | $11,138,284 | $5,500,000 | 122% |
| 2 | Christian Ehrhoff | Buffalo | $10,000,000 | $11,138,284 | $6,600,000 | 194% |
| 5 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington | $9,000,000 | $10,024,455 | ||
| 5 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh | $9,000,000 | $10,024,455 | ||
| 5 | Evgeni Malkin | Pittsburgh | $9,000,000 | $10,024,455 | ||
| 8 | Zdeno Chara | Boston | $8,500,000 | $9,467,541 | $1,000,000 | 13% |
| 9 | Dany Heatley | Minnesota | $8,000,000 | $8,910,627 | ||
| 9 | Jason Spezza | Ottawa | $8,000,000 | $8,910,627 | ||
| 9 | Duncan Keith | Chicago | $8,000,000 | $8,910,627 | ||
| 9 | Joe Thornton | San Jose | $8,000,000 | $8,910,627 | $800,000 | 11% |
| 9 | Steven Stamkos | Tamba Bay | $8,000,000 | $8,910,627 | $7,125,000 | 814% |
| 14 | Marian Hossa | Chicago | $7,900,000 | $8,799,244 | ||
| 15 | Henrik Zetterberg | Detroit | $7,750,000 | $8,632,170 | ||
| 15 | Eric Staal | Carolina | $7,750,000 | $8,632,170 | $250,000 | 3% |
| 17 | Chris Pronger | Philadelphia | $7,600,000 | $8,465,096 | ||
| 18 | Scott Gomez | Montreal | $7,500,000 | $8,353,713 | -$500,000 | -6% |
| 18 | Marian Gaborik | New York Rangers | $7,500,000 | $8,353,713 | ||
| 18 | Rick Nash | Columbus | $7,500,000 | $8,353,713 | ||
| 18 | Shea Weber | Nashville | $7,500,000 | $8,353,713 | $3,000,000 | 67% |
| 22 | Mikko Koivu | Minnesota | $7,290,000 | $8,119,809 | $3,590,000 | 97% |
| 23 | Brian Campbell | Florida | $7,142,857 | $7,955,917 | ||
| 24 | Daniel Briere | Philadelphia | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | ||
| 24 | Jarome Iginla | Calgary | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | ||
| 24 | Marc Savard | Boston (paid but retired because of post-concussion syndrome) | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | ||
| 24 | Kevin Bieksa | Vancouver | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | $3,500,000 | 100% |
| 24 | Brent Seabrook | Chicago | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | $3,500,000 | 100% |
| 24 | James Wisniewski | Columbus | $7,000,000 | $7,796,799 | $3,750,000 | 115% |