The 2007–08 NHL season featured the first of two consecutive Finals matchups between Detroit and Pittsburgh. The Detroit Red Wings, led by Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk, used their puck-possession mastery to defeat the young Penguins in six games. Alex Ovechkin had a historic year, winning the Hart, Art Ross, and Richard trophies with 65 goals. The season also introduced the Winter Classic, an outdoor New Year's Day game in Buffalo that became an instant sensation, helping the NHL reach new heights in TV ratings and marketing.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Daniel Briere | $10,000,000 | $15,544,516 | $5,000,000 | 100% | |
| 1 | Thomas Vanek | $10,000,000 | $15,544,516 | $9,057,600 | 961% | |
| 1 | Scott Gomez | $10,000,000 | $15,544,516 | $5,000,000 | 100% | |
| 4 | Jaromir Jagr | $8,360,000 | $12,995,216 | |||
| 5 | Sergei Fedorov | $8,000,000 | $12,435,613 | |||
| 5 | Kimmo Timonen | $8,000,000 | $12,435,613 | $5,720,000 | 251% | |
| 7 | Brad Richards | $7,800,000 | $12,124,723 | |||
| 8 | Nicklas Lidstrom | $7,600,000 | $11,813,832 | |||
| 9 | Zdeno Chara | $7,500,000 | $11,658,387 | |||
| 9 | Patrik Elias | $7,500,000 | $11,658,387 | |||
| 9 | Ryan Smyth | $7,500,000 | $11,658,387 | $4,000,000 | 114% | |
| 12 | Vincent Lecavalier | $7,166,667 | $11,140,237 | |||
| 13 | Bryan McCabe | $7,150,000 | $11,114,329 | |||
| 14 | Gary Bettman | $7,100,000 | $11,036,607 | $1,510,000 | 27% | |
| 14 | Chris Drury | $7,100,000 | $11,036,607 | $3,946,000 | 125% | |
| 16 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 | $10,881,161 | |||
| 16 | Marian Hossa | $7,000,000 | $10,881,161 | $1,000,000 | 17% | |
| 16 | Ed Jovanovski | $7,000,000 | $10,881,161 | |||
| 19 | Joe Sakic | $6,750,000 | $10,492,548 | $1,000,000 | 17% | |
| 19 | Scott Niedermayer | $6,750,000 | $10,492,548 | |||
| 19 | Nikolai Khabibulin | $6,750,000 | $10,492,548 | |||
| 22 | Pavel Datsyuk | $6,700,000 | $10,414,826 | $2,800,000 | 72% | |
| 23 | Joe Thornton | $6,670,000 | $10,368,192 | |||
| 24 | Marian Gaborik | $6,500,000 | $10,103,936 | $1,500,000 | 30% | |
| 24 | Roberto Luongo | $6,500,000 | $10,103,936 | $500,000 | 8% | |
| 24 | Wade Redden | $6,500,000 | $10,103,936 | |||