The 2017–18 NHL season was one of the most improbable in sports history. The expansion Vegas Golden Knights reached the Finals in their inaugural year, a feat never seen before. However, they were defeated by the Washington Capitals, as Alex Ovechkin finally won his first Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe. Ovechkin’s celebration became legendary, marking the peak of his career. Connor McDavid won his second Art Ross Trophy, and the league saw a significant jump in scoring as speed and youth continued to take over the game.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Patrick Kane | $13,800,000 | $18,145,153 | |||
| 1 | Jonathan Toews | $13,800,000 | $18,145,153 | |||
| 3 | Anze Kopitar | $13,000,000 | $17,093,260 | -$1,000,000 | -7% | |
| 3 | Jamie Benn | $13,000,000 | $17,093,260 | $7,250,000 | 126% | |
| 5 | Shea Weber | $12,000,000 | $15,778,394 | |||
| 6 | P.K. Subban | $11,000,000 | $14,463,528 | |||
| 7 | Sidney Crosby | $10,900,000 | $14,332,041 | |||
| 8 | Alex Ovechkin | $10,000,000 | $13,148,662 | |||
| 8 | Brent Burns | $10,000,000 | $13,148,662 | $4,240,000 | 74% | |
| 8 | Corey Perry | $10,000,000 | $13,148,662 | |||
| 8 | Jakub Voracek | $10,000,000 | $13,148,662 | |||
| 8 | Evgeny Kuznetsov | $10,000,000 | $13,148,662 | $6,600,000 | 194% | |
| 13 | Gary Bettman | $9,600,000 | $12,622,715 | |||
| 14 | Evgeni Malkin | $9,500,000 | $12,491,229 | |||
| 14 | Steven Stamkos | $9,500,000 | $12,491,229 | |||
| 16 | Mikko Koivu | $9,180,000 | $12,070,472 | $3,780,000 | 70% | |
| 17 | Ryan Getzlaf | $9,025,000 | $11,866,667 | -$225,000 | -2% | |
| 18 | Ryan Suter | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | |||
| 18 | Zach Parise | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | |||
| 18 | Henrik Lundqvist | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | -$500,000 | -5% | |
| 18 | Claude Giroux | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | |||
| 18 | Brent Seabrook | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | |||
| 18 | Phil Kessel | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | |||
| 18 | Ryan O'Reilly | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | -$2,000,000 | -18% | |
| 18 | Leon Draisaitl | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | $8,075,000 | 873% | |
| 18 | Aaron Ekblad | $9,000,000 | $11,833,796 | $8,075,000 | 873% | |