Messier gets $6 million settlement from canucks

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The Vancouver Sun reports that Hall of Famer Mark Messier has been awarded a $6 million settlement in a grievance over money he claimed he was owed by the Vancouver Canucks.

According to the newspaper, a decision was reached recently by New York-based arbitrator George Nicolau after meeting with both sides earlier this year.

"Canucks Sports & Entertainment is aware of the arbitrator's decision and will have no further comment on the matter," the Canucks said in a statement to The Vancouver Sun.

Messier signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Canucks in 1997. According to The Sun, the dispute between Messier and the Canucks was regarding deferred money he felt was owed to him and the newspaper added that Messier had a clause in his contract that would compensate him if the franchise's value increased over the life of his contract.

Messier was signed by then-owner John McCaw, who later sold 50 percent of the Canucks and their arena for $150 million to Aquilini Investment Group. In 2006, the Aquilinis bought the other 50 percent for another $150 million.

Messier played three seasons with the Canucks and the club exercised an option in the contract to buy him out after the 1999-2000 season. Messier returned to the New York Rangers and played four more seasons before retiring.

[RGM81]

The gift that just keeps on giving. I can't think of a more disappointing tenure for a megastar in any NHL town (Wayner in St. Louis?) than Messier's in Vancouver. It was a joke while he was with the Canucks and to hear this news, well, I guess people will be paying a little bit more for their beer this season to cover the cost.

[TOMPKINSmma]

I forgot Messier even played for the Canucks.

[TOMPKINSmma]

Gretzky in St. Louis is a close 2nd for all time dud.

[30ranfordfan]

Not sure why everyone thinks Gretzky was such a dud in St Louis.

In 18 games he had 8 goals & 13 assists (better than 1 PPG)

Then in the playoffs, he had 2 goals & 14 assits through 13 games (better than 1 PPG).

The Blues were a 5 seed that knocked off the Leafs in 6 games, and then lost to the defending Champs (Red Wings) in 7.

Yes, the St. Louis time was ultimatley a failure (if you consider anything less than a Championship to be a failure) but its not like Gretzky stunk up the joint playing there, the way Messier did in Vancouver. St. Louis was a mediocre team that he improved, went two rounds.... and lost to a much better team.

[xelloss1012]

It proves that the Moose is only known in two cities: Edmonton and New York. What a shotty contract. Keep eating your Lays chips Mark.

[Wickabee]

12 years later and he's still screwing us...

[Ramjak Sports]

Wow..too bad his lawyer gets over 50%. Hopefully he turns around and donates a whole bunch of it to a worthy charity in Vancouver.

But who are we kidding?

[Saytalk]

While his production dipped when he came to Vancouver, I thought Messier's signing brought some notoriety to the team and added way more value than what he was paid. A lot of people forget that throughout the 70's and 80's the Canucks were considered as somewhat of a backwater bottom-dweller by the rest of the league. I think Pavel Bure in the early 90's and Messier in the late 90's boosted the team's fanbase, both in Vancouver and around the rest of the league, not to mention their credibility with coaches and free agents who later signed there. The organization is worth way more now thanks to Bure and the Moose.