by Ron Spence
When Bob Goodenough took over the NHLPA in February, 1990, he introduced salary disclosure. It’s something that’s taken for granted today.
How important was it?
Wayne Greztky’s father, Walter admitted to Terry Jones: “I knew Wayne was getting traded days before he did because Nelson Skalbania phoned me and asked, ‘How much does Wayne make?’
I said ‘Why?’
He said ‘Because Peter’s shopping him to the highest bidder.’
I said ‘No he’s not.’
He said ‘Yes he is.’
That was during the 1988 Stanley Cup finals – a year and a half before salary disclosure.
Of course Pocklington knew how much his star was making, as did Wayne and his father, but it wasn’t public knowledge like it is today.
Hockey Zone Plus has compiled a comprehensive database of some 2500 players who’ve played in the NHL from 1989 until the present.
Also, a hockey fan, who calls himself Ogopogo, has located copies of Sport magazine, which ceased publishing in 2000. In his issues were the: 1987, 1990, and 1991 NHL salaries.
I have included the Hockey Zone’s 1990 salaries, along with those listed by Sport.
I would note, however, that the two lists for 1990 aren’t always the same – some are calculated in American funds, some Canadian. But, I am including both, as they provide a good idea of NHL salaries at that time.
I would ask the reader to also note, that the years from 1987 until 1990, was the time in which Offer Sheets were first being presented.
SPORT – June, 1987
1. Wayne Gretzky – Oilers – $950,000 CDN – (converted to $717,250 USD)
2. Marcel Dionne – Rangers – $700,000
3. Mike Bossy – Islanders – $650,000
4. Bryan Trottier – Islanders – $625,000
5. Dave Taylor – Kings – $600,000
6. Mario Lemieux – Penguins – $550,000
5. Denis Potvin – Islanders – $550,000
8. Mike Liut – Whalers – $450,000
9. Rod Langway – Capitals – $400,000
10. Barry Pederson – Canucks – $350,000
SPORT – June, 1989
1. Gretzky – Kings – $2 million
2. Lemieux – Penguins – $1.5 million
3. Trottier – Islanders – $950,000
4. Taylor – Kings – $700,000
5. Dionne – Rangers – $600,000
6. Liut – Whalers – $550,000
7. Goulet – Nordiques – $510,000
8. Messier – Oilers – $510,000
9. Savard – Blackhawks – $500,000
10. Coffey – Penguins – $485,000
11. Duguay – Kings – $475,000
12. Hawerchuk – Jets – $467,500
13. Stastny – Nordiques – $446,250
14. Carpenter – Bruins – $425,000
15. LaFontaine – Islanders – $425,000
16. Gustafsson – Capitals – $410,000
17. Stevens -Capitals – $400,000
18. Pederson – Canucks – $400,000
19. Bourque – Bruins – $380,000
20. Fuhr – Oilers – $340,000
20. Robinson – Canadiens – $340,000
SPORT – June, 1990
1. Gretzky – Kings – $2.72 milion
2. Lemieux – Penguins – $2.15 million
3. Chelios – Canadiens – $1 million
4. Trottier – Islanders – $975,000
5. Taylor – Kings – $950,000
6. Bourque – Bruins – $925,000
7. Messier – Oilers – $875,000
8. Nicholls – Rangers – $725,000
9. Yzerman – Red Wings – $700,000
10. Goulet – Nordiques/Blackhawks – $600,000
11. Carson – Oilers – $585,000
12. Robinson – Kings – 550,000
13. Savard – Blackhawks – $525,000
14. Dineen – Whalers – $510,000
15. Wilson – Blackhawks – $500,000
16. Hextall – Flyers – $500,000
17. Kerr – Flyers – $500,000
18. Coffey – Penguins – $485,000
19. Stastny – Nordiques – $480,000
20. Hawerchuk – Jets – $462,000
HOCKEY ZONE PLUS – 1989-90 (U.S. Dollars)
1. Lemieux – Penguins – $2,000,000
2. Gretzky – Kings – $1,720,000
3. Messier – Oilers – $855,271
4. Yzerman – Red Wings – $700,000
5. Trottier – Islanders – $ 575,000
6. Robinson – Kings – $550,000
7. Savard – Blackhawks – $525,000
8. Goulet – Nordiques/Blackhawks – $517,980
9. Bourque – Bruins – $500,000
10. Hextall – Flyers – $500,000
11. Wilson – Blackhawks – $500,000
12. Taylor – Kings- $500,000
13. Kerr – Flyers – $500,000
14. Chelios – Canadiens – $496,398
15. Coffey – Penguins – $450,000
16. Liut – Capitals – $445,000
17. Salming – Maple Leafs – $435,000
18. Kurri – Oilers – $431,650
19. Howe – Flyers – $425,000
20. Stastny – Nordiques – $414,384
21. MacInnis – Flames – $410,068
22. Sandstrom – Kings – $410,000
23. LaFontaine – Islanders – $400,000
24. Nicholls – Rangers – $400,000
25. Gartner – Capitals – $400,000
25. Carson – Oilers – $400,000
CrashingTheGoalie 