The 2023–24 NHL season was a year of redemption for the Florida Panthers. After losing in the Finals the previous year, they returned to defeat the Edmonton Oilers in a thrilling seven-game series. Led by Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, Florida’s physical style eventually wore down Connor McDavid, who nonetheless won the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort. During the season, Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon both eclipsed 140 points, while the Arizona Coyotes played their final season before the franchise’s assets were moved to Salt Lake City.
| vs previous season | ||||||
| Rank | Player | NHL Salary ($US) | In today's $ | +/- ($) | +/- (%) | |
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnon | $16,500,000 | $17,453,069 | $9,650,000 | 141% | |
| 2 | David Pastrnak | $13,000,000 | $13,750,903 | $6,600,000 | 103% | |
| 3 | Dougie Hamilton | $12,600,000 | $13,327,798 | $6,300,000 | 100% | |
| 4 | Alex Ovechkin | $12,500,000 | $13,222,022 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 4 | Seth Jones | $12,500,000 | $13,222,022 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 4 | Kirill Kaprizov | $12,500,000 | $13,222,022 | $2,500,000 | 25% | |
| 7 | Alex Pietrangelo | $12,300,000 | $13,010,469 | $4,300,000 | 54% | |
| 8 | Aleksander Barkov | $12,000,000 | $12,693,141 | |||
| 8 | Zach Werenski | $12,000,000 | $12,693,141 | $2,000,000 | 20% | |
| 8 | Timo Meier | $12,000,000 | $12,693,141 | $2,000,000 | 20% | |
| 8 | Adam Fox | $12,000,000 | $12,693,141 | $1,000,000 | 9% | |
| 12 | Erik Karlsson | $11,500,000 | $12,164,260 | -$500,000 | -4% | |
| 12 | Roope Hintz | $11,500,000 | $12,164,260 | $7,050,000 | 158% | |
| 14 | Matthew Tkachuk | $11,250,000 | $11,899,819 | $2,250,000 | 25% | |
| 14 | Brayden Point | $11,250,000 | $11,899,819 | $2,250,000 | 25% | |
| 16 | Mikhail Sergachev | $11,050,000 | $11,688,267 | $3,850,000 | 53% | |
| 17 | Drew Doughty | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | |||
| 17 | Connor McDavid | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | -$1,000,000 | -8% | |
| 17 | Artemi Panarin | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | -$1,500,000 | -12% | |
| 17 | Mark Stone | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | $3,000,000 | 38% | |
| 17 | Charlie McAvoy | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | $1,750,000 | 19% | |
| 17 | Cale Makar | $11,000,000 | $11,635,379 | $2,000,000 | 22% | |
| 23 | Jonathan Huberdeau | $10,500,000 | $11,106,498 | $4,300,000 | 69% | |
| 23 | Brady Tkachuk | $10,500,000 | $11,106,498 | $4,000,000 | 62% | |
| 25 | Darnell Nurse | $10,400,000 | $11,000,722 | -$1,600,000 | -13% | |