The 1999–2000 NHL season marked the turn of the millennium with a return to defensive power. The New Jersey Devils won their second Stanley Cup by defeating the defending champion Dallas Stars in six games, featuring an iconic double-overtime winner by Jason Arnott. The Atlanta Thrashers joined the league as an expansion team, and the NHL moved to a four-division format. Jaromir Jagr won his third consecutive Art Ross Trophy, while Chris Pronger became the first defenseman since Bobby Orr to win the Hart Trophy as league MVP.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Jaromir Jagr | $10,359,852 | $18,837,791 | $5,371,361 | 108% | |
| 2 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 | $18,183,455 | $1,500,000 | 18% | |
| 3 | Peter Forsberg | $9,000,000 | $16,365,110 | $3,000,000 | 50% | |
| 4 | Eric Lindros | $8,500,000 | $15,455,937 | |||
| 4 | Theoren Fleury | $8,500,000 | $15,455,937 | $6,100,000 | 254% | |
| 6 | Mark Messier | $8,000,000 | $14,546,764 | $1,985,000 | 33% | |
| 6 | Pavel Bure | $8,000,000 | $14,546,764 | |||
| 8 | Patrick Roy | $7,500,000 | $13,637,592 | $2,386,740 | 47% | |
| 9 | Dominik Hasek | $7,000,000 | $12,728,419 | -$1,000,000 | -13% | |
| 9 | Mats Sundin | $7,000,000 | $12,728,419 | $652,836 | 10% | |
| 11 | Brian Leetch | $6,680,000 | $12,146,548 | $3,307,500 | 98% | |
| 12 | Curtis Joseph | $6,150,000 | $11,182,825 | $650,000 | 12% | |
| 13 | Doug Gilmour | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | |||
| 13 | Mike Modano | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | $1,000,000 | 20% | |
| 13 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | $3,950,000 | 193% | |
| 13 | Raymond Bourque | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | $2,000,000 | 50% | |
| 13 | Steve Yzerman | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | $1,200,000 | 25% | |
| 13 | Valeri Kamensky | $6,000,000 | $10,910,073 | $4,100,000 | 216% | |
| 19 | Brett Hull | $5,500,000 | $10,000,900 | $1,000,000 | 22% | |
| 20 | Teemu Selanne | $5,450,000 | $9,909,983 | $700,000 | 15% | |
| 21 | Rob Blake | $5,267,500 | $9,578,135 | |||
| 22 | Mark Recchi | $5,000,000 | $9,091,728 | $500,000 | 11% | |
| 22 | Mike Richter | $5,000,000 | $9,091,728 | -$100,000 | -2% | |
| 22 | Pierre Turgeon | $5,000,000 | $9,091,728 | $350,000 | 8% | |
| 22 | Ron Francis | $5,000,000 | $9,091,728 | |||
| 22 | Zigmund Palffy | $5,000,000 | $9,091,728 | $1,250,000 | 33% | |