The 1996–97 NHL season saw the Detroit Red Wings finally end their 42-year championship drought. Led by the "Russian Five" and captain Steve Yzerman, Detroit swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the Finals. This was the final year for Mario Lemieux before his first retirement, and he went out on top as the scoring leader. Buffalo’s Dominik Hasek achieved a rare feat, winning both the Vezina and the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Tragically, the season’s joy was tempered by a limousine crash six days after the Cup win that seriously injured Vladimir Konstantinov.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Mario Lemieux | $11,321,000 | $23,262,724 | $6,749,571 | 148% | |
| 2 | Mark Messier | $6,000,000 | $12,328,977 | |||
| 3 | Wayne Gretzky | $5,047,500 | $10,371,752 | -$1,497,863 | -23% | |
| 4 | Pavel Bure | $5,000,000 | $10,274,147 | $500,000 | 11% | |
| 5 | Pat LaFontaine | $4,600,000 | $9,452,215 | $300,000 | 7% | |
| 6 | Steve Yzerman | $4,492,349 | $9,231,011 | $788,546 | 21% | |
| 7 | Patrick Roy | $4,455,944 | $9,156,205 | $1,525,947 | 52% | |
| 8 | Brett Hull | $4,400,000 | $9,041,250 | $600,000 | 16% | |
| 9 | Sergei Fedorov | $4,200,000 | $8,630,284 | $37,967 | 1% | |
| 9 | Dominik Hasek | $4,200,000 | $8,630,284 | $1,474,701 | 54% | |
| 11 | Eric Lindros | $4,182,000 | $8,593,297 | |||
| 12 | Jaromir Jagr | $4,050,000 | $8,322,059 | $800,000 | 25% | |
| 13 | Brendan Shanahan | $3,975,000 | $8,167,947 | $500,000 | 14% | |
| 14 | Scott Stevens | $3,750,000 | $7,705,610 | $550,000 | 17% | |
| 15 | Peter Forsberg | $3,600,000 | $7,397,386 | $2,052,041 | 133% | |
| 15 | Mike Richter | $3,600,000 | $7,397,386 | $600,000 | 20% | |
| 17 | Alexander Mogilny | $3,500,000 | $7,191,903 | -$250,000 | -7% | |
| 17 | Al MacInnis | $3,500,000 | $7,191,903 | $300,000 | 9% | |
| 19 | Jeremy Roenick | $3,200,000 | $6,575,454 | $1,800,000 | 129% | |
| 20 | Joe Sakic | $3,100,000 | $6,369,971 | $200,000 | 7% | |
| 21 | Brian Leetch | $3,087,500 | $6,344,286 | $475,000 | 18% | |
| 22 | Rob Blake | $3,075,000 | $6,318,601 | $750,000 | 32% | |
| 23 | Pierre Turgeon | $3,000,000 | $6,164,488 | -$400,000 | -12% | |
| 23 | Alexei Zhamnov | $3,000,000 | $6,164,488 | $2,088,750 | 229% | |
| 23 | Pat Verbeek | $3,000,000 | $6,164,488 | $1,250,000 | 71% | |