NHL Millionaires Lemieux, Gretzky at Top of Salary List

Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky, considered the two best players in the NHL, are also the league’s top performers at the bank, according to a list of salaries obtained by Canadian Press.

Lemieux heads the list with a base salary of $2 million a year, plus some deferred payments from the Pittsburgh Penguins, CP reported Monday. Gretzky receives $1.72 million from the Kings.

Mark Messier, Gretzky’s linemate when the Edmonton Oilers were winning four Stanley Cup titles, is the NHL’s other millionaire, earning $990,700, plus $42,800 in deferred payments.

That salary is based on Canadian dollars, however, which means that although Messier is officially the third millionaire, he is actually fourth in value of contract.

Dave Taylor, a teammate of Gretzky’s with the Kings, ranks third with a $500,000 salary and $450,000 in deferred payments.

The list, which was completed last week, shows that Soviet imports Igor Larionov and Vladimir Krutov are each being paid $375,000 (Canadian), making them the highest-paid players on the Vancouver Canucks.

The list also shows that Doug Wickenheiser, recently demoted to the minors by the Washington Capitals, is probably the lowest-paid player in a major-league team sport. Wickenheiser is shown to have a base salary of $25,000.

St. Louis’ Bret Hull, the league leader in goals, is far down the list at $125,000 in the last year of a four-year contract. He should move up among the dollar leaders when he negotiates a new pact.