The 2002–03 NHL season was a defensive battleground dominated by elite goaltending. The New Jersey Devils won their third Stanley Cup by defeating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in seven games. Despite the loss, Ducks goalie Jean-Sébastien Giguère won the Conn Smythe Trophy for one of the greatest playoff performances in history. Peter Forsberg won the Hart and Art Ross trophies, and Martin Brodeur took home his first Vezina. This season also marked the final games for Patrick Roy, the winningest goaltender at the time, signaling the end of an era in net.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Jaromir Jagr | $11,483,333 | $20,575,263 | $1,450,000 | 14% | |
| 2 | Keith Tkachuk | $11,000,000 | $19,709,251 | $2,700,000 | 33% | |
| 3 | Bobby Holik | $10,600,000 | $18,992,551 | $7,100,000 | 203% | |
| 4 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $10,500,000 | $18,813,376 | $1,900,000 | 22% | |
| 5 | Paul Kariya | $10,000,000 | $17,917,501 | |||
| 5 | Pavel Bure | $10,000,000 | $17,917,501 | |||
| 7 | Joe Sakic | $9,856,018 | $17,659,521 | $23,291 | 0% | |
| 8 | Brian Leetch | $9,680,000 | $17,344,141 | $1,080,000 | 13% | |
| 9 | Chris Pronger | $9,500,000 | $17,021,626 | |||
| 9 | Peter Forsberg | $9,500,000 | $17,021,626 | -$1,000,000 | -10% | |
| 11 | Rob Blake | $9,305,158 | $16,672,517 | $19,964 | 0% | |
| 12 | Mats Sundin | $9,000,000 | $16,125,751 | $1,500,000 | 20% | |
| 12 | John LeClair | $9,000,000 | $16,125,751 | |||
| 14 | Eric Lindros | $8,800,000 | $15,767,400 | $600,000 | 7% | |
| 15 | Bill Guerin | $8,732,891 | $15,647,158 | $3,632,891 | 71% | |
| 16 | Mike Modano | $8,500,000 | $15,229,875 | $500,000 | 6% | |
| 16 | Steve Yzerman | $8,500,000 | $15,229,875 | $850,000 | 11% | |
| 16 | Patrick Roy | $8,500,000 | $15,229,875 | |||
| 16 | Doug Weight | $8,500,000 | $15,229,875 | -$500,000 | -6% | |
| 20 | Jeremy Roenick | $8,000,000 | $14,334,000 | -$500,000 | -6% | |
| 20 | Curtis Joseph | $8,000,000 | $14,334,000 | $1,425,000 | 22% | |
| 22 | Al MacInnis | $7,500,000 | $13,438,125 | $2,000,000 | 36% | |
| 23 | Alexei Yashin | $7,400,000 | $13,258,950 | $850,056 | 13% | |
| 24 | Zigmund Palffy | $7,250,000 | $12,990,188 | $1,250,000 | 21% | |
| 25 | Brendan Shanahan | $7,000,000 | $12,542,250 | $900,000 | 15% | |