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Gretzky Says He Turned Down Insane Offer to Join Canucks in 80s

Originally posted on Trade Talk Sports | By Jim Parsons | Last updated 12/26/23

In a rumor confirmation that could have reshaped hockey history, Wayne Gretzky disclosed on the latest episode of the Spittin Chiclets podcast that he was offered a substantial ownership stake in the Vancouver Canucks in the 1980s. The Great One, who holds numerous NHL records, including all-time leader in points, assists, and goals. Long since retired, he shared that Nelson Skalbania, who expressed interest in buying the Canucks when the Oilers were winning Stanley Cups, proposed a 25% ownership of the team and an annual salary of $3 million.

When asked if that story was true, Gretzky confirmed that it was. He said, “I talked to Nelson Skalbania all the time. He called me, 7 am when we won the Stanley Cup and said ‘I am going to buy the Vancouver Canucks, I’ll give you 25% ownership of the team and $3 million a year’. When they said that was a nice chunk of money over the highest-paid $800K salary in the NHL at that time. The salary, however, turned out to be only a small portion of what Gretzky could have made.

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Gretzky passed on the opportunity, feeling uneasy about the arrangement. Instead, he was later traded to the Los Angeles Kings in the summer of 1988. Reflecting on the decision, Gretzky humorously expressed some regret, acknowledging he probably made the less-than-optimal choice. The Canucks today are listed to be worth around $1.2 billion. That would have netted Gretzky around $300 Million today.

It’s important to note that Skalbania never actually acquired the Canucks. The team was owned by Frank and Arthur Griffiths during that period, raising questions about the origin and legitimacy of Skalbania’s offer. Clearly, that deal doesn’t come together unless he buys the team.

The Vancouver Canucks Got Another Oiler Not-Named Gretzky

It’s also interesting to note that Gretzky nearly signed with the Canucks in the summer of 1996 before ultimately joining the New York Rangers. When he didn’t, Vancouver wound up landing Mark Messier in 1997.

The Oilers wound up winning one more Stanley Cup in 1990 and Gretzky has been vocal about wishing he would have stayed with the franchise, thinking they could have won at least a few more. Ultimately, in going to Los Angeles, he changed the game and the popularity of it in the United States, leading to numerous franchises and major expansion.

This article first appeared on Trade Talk Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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