This is the first season that some NHLers were paid over $4M/year, with 8 players in that category, although some would have in 1994-95 without a lockout. The Colorado Avalanche, freshly moved from Québec and with Patrick Roy as goalie, won the Stanley Cup. Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr led the NHL, first and second respectively, in goals and points.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | $6,545,363 | $13,010,831 | $2,808,204 | 75% | |
| 2 | Keith Tkachuk | $6,000,000 | $11,926,762 | $5,163,429 | 617% | |
| 2 | Mark Messier | $6,000,000 | $11,926,762 | $2,403,941 | 67% | |
| 4 | Mario Lemieux | $4,571,429 | $9,087,058 | $2,244,898 | 96% | |
| 5 | Pavel Bure | $4,500,000 | $8,945,072 | $1,928,571 | 75% | |
| 6 | Pat LaFontaine | $4,300,000 | $8,547,513 | $2,263,546 | 111% | |
| 7 | Eric Lindros | $4,182,000 | $8,312,953 | $2,102,000 | 101% | |
| 8 | Sergei Fedorov | $4,162,033 | $8,273,263 | $2,450,667 | 143% | |
| 9 | Brett Hull | $3,800,000 | $7,553,616 | $1,914,286 | 102% | |
| 10 | Alexander Mogilny | $3,750,000 | $7,454,226 | $2,321,429 | 163% | |
| 11 | Steve Yzerman | $3,703,803 | $7,362,396 | $1,880,677 | 103% | |
| 12 | Paul Coffey | $3,600,000 | $7,156,057 | $2,771,429 | 334% | |
| 13 | Brendan Shanahan | $3,475,000 | $6,907,583 | $1,475,000 | 74% | |
| 14 | Pierre Turgeon | $3,400,000 | $6,758,498 | $2,114,286 | 164% | |
| 15 | Jaromir Jagr | $3,250,000 | $6,460,329 | $1,650,000 | 103% | |
| 16 | Al MacInnis | $3,200,000 | $6,360,940 | $1,200,000 | 60% | |
| 16 | Scott Stevens | $3,200,000 | $6,360,940 | -$114,286 | -3% | |
| 18 | Mike Richter | $3,000,000 | $5,963,381 | $1,571,429 | 110% | |
| 19 | Kevin Stevens | $2,937,614 | $5,839,371 | $2,213,043 | 305% | |
| 20 | Patrick Roy | $2,929,997 | $5,824,229 | $1,472,156 | 101% | |
| 21 | Mike Modano | $2,921,875 | $5,808,085 | $1,386,161 | 90% | |
| 22 | Joe Sakic | $2,900,000 | $5,764,602 | $1,707,886 | 143% | |
| 23 | Chris Chelios | $2,750,000 | $5,466,433 | $1,235,714 | 82% | |
| 23 | Ed Belfour | $2,750,000 | $5,466,433 | $1,921,429 | 232% | |
| 23 | Teemu Selanne | $2,750,000 | $5,466,433 | $1,913,429 | 229% | |