The 2018–19 NHL season featured the greatest "worst-to-first" story in hockey. The St. Louis Blues were in last place in the entire league in January but surged under coach Craig Berube and rookie goalie Jordan Binnington to win their first Stanley Cup. They defeated Boston in seven games. The regular season was a record-setter for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who won 62 games but were shockingly swept in the first round by Columbus. Nikita Kucherov won the Hart and Art Ross trophies with a staggering 128 points.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | John Tavares | $15,900,000 | $20,407,670 | $9,900,000 | 165% | |
| 2 | Carey Price | $15,000,000 | $19,252,519 | $8,000,000 | 114% | |
| 2 | Connor McDavid | $15,000,000 | $19,252,519 | $11,225,000 | 297% | |
| 4 | Jamie Benn | $13,000,000 | $16,685,516 | |||
| 5 | Anze Kopitar | $12,000,000 | $15,402,015 | -$1,000,000 | -8% | |
| 5 | Patrick Kane | $12,000,000 | $15,402,015 | -$1,800,000 | -13% | |
| 5 | Jonathan Toews | $12,000,000 | $15,402,015 | -$1,800,000 | -13% | |
| 5 | John Carlson | $12,000,000 | $15,402,015 | $8,000,000 | 200% | |
| 9 | Sidney Crosby | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | -$900,000 | -8% | |
| 9 | Alex Ovechkin | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | |||
| 9 | Brent Burns | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | |||
| 9 | P.K. Subban | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | -$1,000,000 | -9% | |
| 9 | Jack Eichel | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | $9,075,000 | 981% | |
| 9 | Evgeny Kuznetsov | $10,000,000 | $12,835,013 | |||
| 15 | Gary Bettman | $9,600,000 | $12,321,612 | |||
| 16 | Evgeni Malkin | $9,500,000 | $12,193,262 | |||
| 16 | Steven Stamkos | $9,500,000 | $12,193,262 | |||
| 18 | Jakub Voracek | $9,250,000 | $11,872,387 | -$750,000 | -8% | |
| 19 | Ryan Suter | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | |||
| 19 | Zach Parise | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | |||
| 19 | Corey Perry | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | -$1,000,000 | -10% | |
| 19 | Claude Giroux | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | |||
| 19 | Brent Seabrook | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | |||
| 19 | Leon Draisaitl | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | |||
| 19 | Evander Kane | $9,000,000 | $11,551,511 | $3,000,000 | 50% | |