The 2023–24 NHL season was a year of redemption for the Florida Panthers. After losing in the Finals the previous year, they returned to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series. Led by Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, Florida’s physical style eventually wore down Connor McDavid, who nonetheless won the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort. During the season, Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon both eclipsed 140 points, while the Arizona Coyotes played their final season before the franchise’s assets were moved to Salt Lake City.
Following the eight-year contract he signed in September 2022, starting in 2023-24, Nathan MacKinnon is now the best-paid player in the NHL.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | $16,500,000 | $16,500,000 | $9,650,000 | 141% | |
| 2 | David Pastrnak | $13,000,000 | $13,000,000 | $6,600,000 | 103% | |
| 3 | Dougie Hamilton | $12,600,000 | $12,600,000 | $6,300,000 | 100% | |
| 4 | Alex Ovechkin | $12,500,000 | $12,500,000 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 4 | Kirill Kaprizov | $12,500,000 | $12,500,000 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 4 | Seth Jones | $12,500,000 | $12,500,000 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 7 | Alex Pietrangelo | $12,300,000 | $12,300,000 | $4,300,000 | 54% | |
| 8 | Adam Fox | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $1,000,000 | 9% | |
| 8 | Aleksander Barkov | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | |||
| 8 | Timo Meier | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $2,000,000 | 20% | |
| 8 | Zach Werenski | $12,000,000 | $12,000,000 | $2,000,000 | 20% | |
| 12 | Erik Karlsson | $11,500,000 | $11,500,000 | -$500,000 | -4% | |
| 12 | Roope Hintz | $11,500,000 | $11,500,000 | $7,050,000 | 158% | |
| 14 | Brayden Point | $11,250,000 | $11,250,000 | $2,250,000 | 25% | |
| 14 | Matthew Tkachuk | $11,250,000 | $11,250,000 | $2,250,000 | 25% | |
| 16 | Mikhail Sergachev | $11,050,000 | $11,050,000 | $3,850,000 | 53% | |
| 17 | Artemi Panarin | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 | -$1,500,000 | -12% | |
| 17 | Cale Makar | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 | $2,000,000 | 22% | |
| 17 | Charlie McAvoy | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 | $1,750,000 | 19% | |
| 17 | Connor McDavid | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 | -$1,000,000 | -8% | |
| 17 | Drew Doughty | $11,000,000 | $11,000,000 | |||
| 22 | Brady Tkachuk | $10,500,000 | $10,500,000 | $4,000,000 | 62% | |
| 22 | Jonathan Huberdeau | $10,500,000 | $10,500,000 | $4,300,000 | 69% | |
| 24 | Darnell Nurse | $10,400,000 | $10,400,000 | -$1,600,000 | -13% | |
| 25 | Elias Pettersson | $10,250,000 | $10,250,000 | $2,450,000 | 31% | |