NHL Legend Wayne Gretzky Reveals An Insane Contract That He Rejected

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Hunter Bowman
December 25, 2023 (3:58 PM)

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Wayne Gretzky made a surprising decision back in the day when he turned down a jaw-dropping contract from the Vancouver Canucks to stick with the Oilers and pursue more Stanley Cup victories.

Speaking on the Spittin Chiclets podcast hosted by former NHL players Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney, Gretzky dropped some incredible stories from his illustrious career. One of the standout tales was about the mega contract offer he snubbed from the Canucks, a deal that would be valued at hundreds of millions in today's money.

Following Gretzky's Stanley Cup win, the Canucks proposed a deal that included a 25% ownership stake and a substantial pay raise. To everyone's surprise, Gretzky declined, choosing to be part of the Oilers' quest for more championship titles.

In today's terms, Gretzky passed up a potential 375% salary bump and a 25% share in the Canucks, who are currently valued at $1.32 billion. His cut would have amounted to a cool $330 million. While prioritizing his pursuit of more cups with the Oilers, it's a decision that, in hindsight, could be seen as one of the biggest financial choices in NHL history.

Despite possibly missing out on hundreds of millions, Gretzky, with a current net worth of $250 million, seems to be doing just fine.

Source: Hockeypatrol