Canucks Win Bidding War For Messier, Envision Cup

When Mark Messier raised his arms to celebrate signing with the Vancouver Canucks, the image brought back memories: the hoisting of the Stanley Cup.

Messier, the only player to captain two different teams to NHL championships, left the New York Rangers on Monday to return to his homeland for a three-year contract reportedly worth up to $20 million.

“Hopefully, I can come in here and help out in any way that I can to bring Canada, bring Vancouver, what they’re really hoping for - the Stanley Cup,” the 36-year-old center said. “I can’t wait to get started.”

He’ll have his work cut out for him. The Canucks, who have never won the Stanley Cup since joining the NHL in 1970, missed the playoffs last year with a 35-40-7 record and had trouble filling their new arena.

“When I see him raise his arms like he did, I can envisage a Stanley Cup,” Canucks coach Tom Renney said.

Added GM Pat Quinn: “He is not going to be the Messiah, but he is going to make a big difference.”

Messier has hoisted the Cup six times, five with Edmonton. One of the most memorable images in hockey in recent years was when he lifted the Cup after the Rangers’ 1994 victory over Vancouver in seven games as New York ended its 54-year championship drought.

The free-agent bidding war over one of the NHL’s premier players had heated up in the past few days, with the Rangers, Washington, and Detroit also in the running.

The New York Daily News said the three-year Vancouver deal may have options for a fourth and fifth season, making it worth more than $20 million.

Messier was reportedly offered a two-year deal worth $10 million plus an option year to stay with New York and teammate Wayne Gretzky.

“I very much wanted to keep him as a Ranger, keep him for the rest of has playing days,” New York general manager Neil Smith said.

Smith said Messier never got back to the Rangers after the team increased its first offer. Messier had criticized the team’s negotiations.

Messier had no hard feelings for New York, saying he had gotten “first-class” treatment and was disappointed he couldn’t come to terms.

But he was happy to go back north.

“Being a Canadian and being born and brought up in Edmonton, Alberta, to have an opportunity to come back and finish my career in Canada, that was one of the things that came into the decision-making process.”