The 2010–11 NHL season was a physical throwback that ended in a dramatic seven-game Final. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks, who had won the Presidents' Trophy. Boston's Tim Thomas put on one of the greatest goaltending displays ever, winning the Vezina and Conn Smythe. Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin won the Art Ross, following his brother Henrik's win the year prior. The season was also marked by the league's focus on player safety and concussions, leading to the introduction of Rule 48 regarding hits to the head.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | $10,000,000 | $13,890,672 | $2,500,000 | 33% | |
| 1 | Vincent Lecavalier | $10,000,000 | $13,890,672 | |||
| 3 | Alex Ovechkin | $9,000,000 | $12,501,605 | |||
| 3 | Evgeni Malkin | $9,000,000 | $12,501,605 | |||
| 3 | Sidney Crosby | $9,000,000 | $12,501,605 | |||
| 6 | Chris Drury | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | -$50,000 | -1% | |
| 6 | Dany Heatley | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | |||
| 6 | Duncan Keith | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | $6,100,000 | 321% | |
| 6 | Glen Sather | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | |||
| 6 | Jason Spezza | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | |||
| 6 | Scott Gomez | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | |||
| 6 | Wade Redden | $8,000,000 | $11,112,538 | |||
| 13 | Marian Hossa | $7,900,000 | $10,973,631 | |||
| 14 | Brad Richards | $7,800,000 | $10,834,724 | |||
| 15 | Henrik Zetterberg | $7,750,000 | $10,765,271 | $350,000 | 5% | |
| 15 | Henrik Lundqvist | $7,750,000 | $10,765,271 | $875,000 | 13% | |
| 17 | Chris Pronger | $7,600,000 | $10,556,911 | $1,350,000 | 22% | |
| 18 | Eric Staal | $7,500,000 | $10,418,004 | $1,500,000 | 25% | |
| 18 | Gary Bettman | $7,500,000 | $10,418,004 | $400,000 | 6% | |
| 18 | Marian Gaborik | $7,500,000 | $10,418,004 | |||
| 18 | Rick Nash | $7,500,000 | $10,418,004 | $500,000 | 7% | |
| 18 | Zdeno Chara | $7,500,000 | $10,418,004 | |||
| 23 | Joe Thornton | $7,200,000 | $10,001,284 | |||
| 24 | Brian Campbell | $7,142,857 | $9,921,909 | |||
| 25 | Daniel Briere | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | -$1,000,000 | -13% | |
| 25 | Dion Phaneuf | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | $500,000 | 8% | |
| 25 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | |||
| 25 | Jaromir Jagr | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | |||
| 25 | Jean-Sebastien Giguere | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | $1,000,000 | 17% | |
| 25 | Kimmo Timonen | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | |||
| 25 | Marc Savard | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | $2,000,000 | 40% | |
| 25 | Miikka Kiprusoff | $7,000,000 | $9,723,471 | |||