The 2000–01 NHL season was centered on "Mission 16W" for Raymond Bourque. After 21 years in Boston without a Cup, Bourque was traded to the Colorado Avalanche late in 1999-2000, and they defeated New Jersey in a seven-game Final to give him a Stanley Cup in his final career game in 2000-01. Mario Lemieux shocked the world by coming out of retirement in December, scoring 76 points in just 43 games. Joe Sakic won the Hart Trophy, and the league expanded to 30 teams with the addition of the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 | $18,716,609 | |||
| 1 | Peter Forsberg | $10,000,000 | $18,716,609 | $1,000,000 | 11% | |
| 3 | Jaromir Jagr | $9,533,333 | $17,843,166 | -$826,519 | -8% | |
| 4 | Pavel Bure | $9,000,000 | $16,844,948 | $1,000,000 | 13% | |
| 5 | Keith Tkachuk | $8,300,000 | $15,534,785 | $4,000,000 | 93% | |
| 6 | Steve Yzerman | $8,000,000 | $14,973,287 | $2,000,000 | 33% | |
| 6 | Teemu Selanne | $8,000,000 | $14,973,287 | $2,550,000 | 47% | |
| 8 | Joe Sakic | $7,900,000 | $14,786,121 | $5,900,000 | 295% | |
| 9 | Brian Leetch | $7,680,000 | $14,374,355 | $1,000,000 | 15% | |
| 10 | Mats Sundin | $7,500,000 | $14,037,456 | $500,000 | 7% | |
| 10 | Patrick Roy | $7,500,000 | $14,037,456 | |||
| 10 | Dominik Hasek | $7,500,000 | $14,037,456 | $500,000 | 7% | |
| 13 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $7,250,000 | $13,569,541 | $1,250,000 | 21% | |
| 14 | Mike Modano | $7,000,000 | $13,101,626 | $1,000,000 | 17% | |
| 14 | Brett Hull | $7,000,000 | $13,101,626 | $1,500,000 | 27% | |
| 14 | John LeClair | $7,000,000 | $13,101,626 | $3,030,877 | 76% | |
| 17 | Brendan Shanahan | $6,500,000 | $12,165,796 | $2,500,000 | 63% | |
| 18 | Curtis Joseph | $6,150,000 | $11,510,714 | |||
| 19 | Theoren Fleury | $6,000,000 | $11,229,965 | -$2,500,000 | -29% | |
| 19 | Doug Gilmour | $6,000,000 | $11,229,965 | |||
| 21 | Mike Richter | $5,600,000 | $10,481,301 | $600,000 | 12% | |
| 22 | Ed Belfour | $5,500,000 | $10,294,135 | $2,000,000 | 57% | |
| 22 | Chris Chelios | $5,500,000 | $10,294,135 | $1,764,151 | 47% | |
| 22 | Raymond Bourque | $5,500,000 | $10,294,135 | -$500,000 | -8% | |
| 25 | Rob Blake | $5,267,500 | $9,858,974 | |||