Revisiting Vancouver Canucks re-signing Mark Messier to $18M contract in 1997

NHL Network posted a retrospective on the Vancouver Canucks famously signing Mark Messier in 1997. At the time, the three-year, $18 million deal was a massive contract, but Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion, was worth it.

He was part of the Edmonton Oilers dynasty of the 1980s. Alongside Wayne Gretzky, Messier won four Cups in five seasons with the Oilers. After Gretzky’s departure from the Oilers in 1988, Messier took over the captaincy, leading them to another Cup in 1990.

However, the Oilers were trending downward. The club began trading away many of the dynasty’s key players, like Kevin Lowe, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr, Jari Kurri and Esa Tikkanen. By the 1991 offseason, Messier inked a free-agent deal with the New York Rangers.

Messier quickly earned the Rangers’ captaincy, leading them to the Stanley Cup Final in 1994 against the Vancouver Canucks. Messier led the Rangers to their first title in 54 years. By the 1997 offseason, he was a free agent again. It was unclear whether he would re-sign in Broadway.

After much speculation, Messier shocked the NHL world by signing with the Vancouver Canucks.

The deal raised quite a few eyebrows, but considering the Canucks’ situation at the time, it made a lot of sense.

Making sense of the Vancouver Canucks signing Mark Messier

The Vancouver Canucks had a strong core led by the Russian Rocket Pavel Bure and captain Trevor Linden. They had a bonafide No. 1 goalie in Kirk MacLean and young up-and-coming stars but lacked direction.

While the 1994 Cup run was magical, the Canucks management knew something more was needed to get the team over the top. So, why not make a splash by signing a player like Mark Messier?

The Vancouver Canucks broke the bank and brought in Messier on a lucrative deal, but things didn’t go quite as anticipated. In his first year, Messier played all 82 games, registering 22 goals and 60 points. It was a disappointing season, especially considering that the Canucks had finished seventh in the Pacific Division.

The next season, Messier played only 59 games due to injury, with the Vancouver Canucks missing the playoffs again. In his final season, Messier saw limited playing time, suiting up for 66 games. His 54 points were somewhat of a rebound, but the Canucks failed to make the playoffs once more.

Moreover, Messier’s off-ice issues compounded the Canucks’ issues. They stripped Linden of his captaincy per Messier’s demands of being named the captain. Also, Messier reportedly didn’t get along with some of the other players in the clubhouse.

Then, there was plenty of criticism regarding his lack of commitment to the team. His minus ratings in every season pinpointed to Messier’s unwillingness to play a well-rounded game.

Overall, Mark Messier’s tenure with the Vancouver Canucks is remembered as one of the team’s worst contract blunders. Messier would return to New York following the 1999-2000 season, but he was nowhere near the type of player he had been in his first stint with the Rangers.