The 2010–11 NHL season was a physical throwback that ended in a dramatic seven-game Final. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks, who had won the Presidents' Trophy. Boston's Tim Thomas put on one of the greatest goaltending displays ever, winning the Vezina and Conn Smythe. Vancouver’s Daniel Sedin won the Art Ross, following his brother Henrik's win the year prior. The season was also marked by the league's focus on player safety and concussions, leading to the introduction of Rule 48 regarding hits to the head.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Vincent Lecavalier | $10,000,000 | $14,780,336 | |||
| 1 | Roberto Luongo | $10,000,000 | $14,780,336 | $2,500,000 | 33% | |
| 3 | Sidney Crosby | $9,000,000 | $13,302,302 | |||
| 3 | Alex Ovechkin | $9,000,000 | $13,302,302 | |||
| 3 | Evgeni Malkin | $9,000,000 | $13,302,302 | |||
| 6 | Glen Sather | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | |||
| 6 | Jason Spezza | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | |||
| 6 | Wade Redden | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | |||
| 6 | Duncan Keith | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | $6,100,000 | 321% | |
| 6 | Dany Heatley | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | |||
| 6 | Scott Gomez | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | |||
| 6 | Chris Drury | $8,000,000 | $11,824,269 | -$50,000 | -1% | |
| 13 | Marian Hossa | $7,900,000 | $11,676,465 | |||
| 14 | Brad Richards | $7,800,000 | $11,528,662 | |||
| 15 | Henrik Lundqvist | $7,750,000 | $11,454,760 | $875,000 | 13% | |
| 15 | Henrik Zetterberg | $7,750,000 | $11,454,760 | $350,000 | 5% | |
| 17 | Chris Pronger | $7,600,000 | $11,233,055 | $1,350,000 | 22% | |
| 18 | Gary Bettman | $7,500,000 | $11,085,252 | $400,000 | 6% | |
| 18 | Rick Nash | $7,500,000 | $11,085,252 | $500,000 | 7% | |
| 18 | Zdeno Chara | $7,500,000 | $11,085,252 | |||
| 18 | Marian Gaborik | $7,500,000 | $11,085,252 | |||
| 18 | Eric Staal | $7,500,000 | $11,085,252 | $1,500,000 | 25% | |
| 23 | Joe Thornton | $7,200,000 | $10,641,842 | |||
| 24 | Brian Campbell | $7,142,857 | $10,557,382 | |||
| 25 | Jaromir Jagr | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | |||
| 25 | Jarome Iginla | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | |||
| 25 | Daniel Alfredsson | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | -$2,100,000 | -23% | |
| 25 | Dion Phaneuf | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | $500,000 | 8% | |
| 25 | Daniel Briere | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | -$1,000,000 | -13% | |
| 25 | Marc Savard | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | $2,000,000 | 40% | |
| 25 | Kimmo Timonen | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | |||
| 25 | Jean-Sebastien Giguere | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | $1,000,000 | 17% | |
| 25 | Miikka Kiprusoff | $7,000,000 | $10,346,235 | |||