The 2010–11 NHL season was the 94th season of operation (93rd season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Final 4–3 to win the Stanley Cup. It was the sixth Cup win in Bruins' franchise history. For the fourth consecutive season, the season started with games in Europe. The 58th All-Star Game was held at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, home arena of the Carolina Hurricanes, on January 30, 2011.

This was the final season of operation for the Atlanta Thrashers, who were sold to True North Sports and Entertainment out of Winnipeg, Manitoba, and moved from Atlanta to Winnipeg to become the Winnipeg Jets. Winnipeg previously had lost its NHL team, also called the Winnipeg Jets, after the 1995-96 NHL season to Phoenix, Arizona, and were renamed "Phoenix Coyotes". This is the second time the city of Atlanta, Georgia, has lost an NHL franchise, previously losing the Atlanta Flames to Calgary, Alberta, after the 1979-80 NHL season.

Ilya Valerevich Kovalchuk (Russian: Илья́ Вале́рьевич Ковальчу́к; born April 15, 1983) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger who is an alternate captain of the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career in 2001–02 with Atlanta and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as league rookie-of-the-year. He is a three-time NHL All-Star and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal-scorer in 2004 in a three-way tie with Jarome Iginla and Rick Nash. After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the Devils in February 2010, and later signed a 15-year, $100 million contract during the off-season.

Internationally, Kovalchuk has played for Russia in the IIHF World U18 Championship, World Junior Championship, World Championship, World Cup and Winter Olympics, highlighted by back-to-back gold medals in the 2008 and 2009 World Championship.

Mattias Tedenby (born February 21, 1990) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player, currently with the New Jersey Devils in the NHL.

Tedenby started his playing career in the Swedish elite league club HV71's youth teams, playing for the under 18 years-team in 2005–06; and both under 18 and under 20 teams in 2006–07 and 2007–08. During the 2007–08 Elitserien season, he was called up HV71's professional team and played in 23 games, scoring six points. During the off-season in 2008, he was contracted for one year by HV71. After playing in 10 games, including one CHL game, with HV71, Tedenby was loaned to IK Oskarshamn in the second tier league, HockeyAllsvenskan. After 13 games, totalling 11 points, he was recalled to join HV71 again.

Tedenby was drafted in the first round, 24th overall, by the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Devils on May 14, 2010.

Mattias was announced as the last of four nominees for 2009–10 Elitserien Rookie of the Year on March 4, 2010.

Corey Perry (born May 16, 1985) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). Drafted out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he captured a Memorial Cup with the London Knights and a gold medal with Team Canada at the World Junior Championships during his major junior career. He was selected by the Ducks 28th overall in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and won the Stanley Cup with the club in 2007. In 2008, Perry's numbers improved as he scored 29 goals and recorded 25 assists. In 2009, Perry scored 72 points and was named to his first NHL All-Star team. Perry continued his success in 2010 as he scored 27 goals and had 49 assists. In 2010, he won the Olympic Gold Medal with Canada at the Vancouver Games. In 2011, Perry won the Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League MVP for the 2010-11 season. He led the NHL in goals with 50 and finished 3rd in points behind Daniel Sedin and Martin St. Louis with 98 points.

Perry was born on May 16, 1985 in Peterborough, Ontario. He was the first of two boys born to Geoff and Nancy Perry. He and his brother Adam learned to skate when Corey was two and Corey started to watch hockey the following year.