Top 5 WHA Players of All-Time

I know what you’re thinking right now.  What is the hell is the WHA?  I don’t expect every Rioter! to know this because let’s be honest, it’s hard enough to find people who are avid hockey fans in general (outside our friends North of the Border), so expecting people to know much about a hockey league that was only around in the 70’s is like asking Stevie Wonder to describe what he sees when he’s looking in the mirror (given some of the get-ups his handlers dress him in, he’s better off being blind).  So I’ll give all the Rioters! out there a pass here and not question their fandom and break it down for you.

The WHA or World Hockey Association was a short-lived hockey league that ran from 1973-1979.  Although only around for seven years the impact it had on the NHL changed the game forever.  Aside it’s where some Hall of Fame NHLers like Wayne Gretzky, Mark Howe, Mark Messier, Michel Goulet, and Rod Langway began their professional careers, the direct competition with the NHL caused some NHL players to jump ship to the WHA eventually forcing the NHL to strip the reserve clause in contracts, giving players free agency and not being forced to play for a team that wasn’t treating them fairly.  The WHA was also the first North American hockey league to think outside the box and look to Europe for talent (something the NHL never considered).

The WHA wasn’t like the defunct USFL or World League of American football.  It was without a doubt more successful and helped the sport, and sure as hell wasn’t a joke like the XFL. There were 16 teams in the league, and unlike other leagues that folded, once the WHA folded it allowed four of its better teams to merge with the NHL (that being the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, and the Hartford Whalers).

5 – Gordie Howe

“Mr. Hockey” retired from the NHL after the 1970-71 season as the All-Time NHL leading point scorer.  After one year away from hockey Howe came out of retirement and signed a contract with the Houston Aeros to play along sons Mark and Marty.  Gordie immediately made an impact scoring 100 points in his first season.  His point scoring wasn’t the only impact Howe had on the WHA, but with the biggest name in the NHL now a member of a WHA franchise it gave the league a serious amount of legitimacy during a time when the NHL was in a panic mode with some of it’s stars leaving for the WHA.

After four seasons with the Aeros, Howe signed with the New England Whalers (who were renamed the Hartford Whalers), where he played the final two seasons of the WHA.  Although he joined the league at a young 45-year-old and only played six of the seven seasons of the WHA he still finished seventh in scoring with 508 points (combining his NHL and WHA stats Howe finished with 2358 professional points).

4 – Ulf Nilsson & Anders Hedberg

My number four pick was a coin flip between Ulf Nilsson and Anders Hedberg.  Both played four seasons in the league, all for the Winnipeg Jets, and both were part of “The Hot Line” with Bobby Hull (arguably one of the greatest lines in hockey history).  Both scored at least 100 point a season ranking 10^th (Nilsson with 484) and 11^th (Hedberg 458) All-Time, so I’m calling a tie.

During their four seasons in Winnipeg, the Jets were a dominant force appearing in three AVCO Cups (the WHA equivalent of the Stanley Cup), winning two of them. 

Above all, both these players are from Sweden, making the WHA a world-wide sport.  Nilsson and Hedberg were the first two European players to really have success in North America which opened the door for the likes of Hakan Loob, Peter Stasny, and Jari Kurri (then later opening the door for players in the USSR). 

The success they had in the WHA never followed them to the NHL but they will forever be heroes in the city of Winnipeg and WHA greats.

3 – Mark Tardif

Tardif began his professional career with the Montreal Canadiens and honestly wasn’t that much of an impressive player.  His strongest season was in 1971-72 season where he scored a than career-high 53 points.  After the 1972-73 season Tardif joined throng of other NHL players and jumped ship to the WHA signing with the Los Angeles Sharks before getting traded to the Quebec Nordiques.

This was the best move of his professional career. He went from nothing but an average player in the NHL to a superstar in the WHA.  Over six seasons in the WHA Tardif one two MVP awards, one AVCO Cup, racked up 666 total points (second in WHA history), and is the all-time goal scorer with 316. 

Tardif is also part of another hockey precedence.  During 1976-77 playoffs he was attacked by Rick Jodzio of the Calgary Cowboys suffering a massive head injury, resulting in Jodzio to be criminally charged for assault.  Here most of you thought Marty McSorley and Todd Bertuzzi were originals but it started in the WHA.

2 – Andre Lacroix

Similar to Mark Tardif, Lacroix started his career in the NHL.  Lacroix came up as a young center for the Philadelphia Flyers and was less than spectacular.  Following the 1970-71 season Lacroix was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks and was an abomination, tallying only 11 points in 56 games.  Following this disappointment Lacroix returned to Philadelphia, this time signing with the WHA’s Philadelphia Blazers.

Lacroix instantly became a star in Philadelphia ringing in 124 points in his first season.  After one season in Philadelphia he was dealt to New York before settling in with the San Diego Mariners.  During his three seasons in San Diego he tallied a league leading 362 points making him the most offensive force in the WHA.

Lacroix played all seven seasons in the WHA existence, where he scored at least 100 points in six of the seven seasons.  He finished his WHA career with 798 points in 554 games.  Lacroix is the WHA’s all-time leading scorer.

1 – Bobby Hull

Hull was the driving force for any success the WHA may have had during their brief existence.  At the time of the formation of the WHA Hull was the best player in the NHL but he wasn’t happy.  The long time Chicago Blackhawk felt the team was taking advantage for him and was unwilling to give him the contract he felt that his play deserved.  That was when the Winnipeg Jets offered Hull a 10-year, $2.7 million contract (That might sound like peanuts for this day and age but at the time it was unheard of).

Hull was immediately the league’s favorite and skilled player and took the captain role on the Jets.  His 77 goals in the 1974-75 season was tops in the WHA and he finished with at least 50 goals in four of his seven seasons.  The Hull-led Jets were the best team in the WHA, appearing in five-of-seven AVCO Cup’s; winning three of them.

“The Golden Jet” finished his WHA career third in points (638), second in goals (303), and sixth in assists (338).

The WHA will go down in history as a great league that changed the shape of hockey as we know it today.  Who was your favorite WHA player?  Like I said above, I don’t expect a ton of Rioters! to have a strong background when pertaining to the WHA, but Canada, I expect something from you, especially Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Quebec City.  Hit me up at shatmeself@yahoo.com and let me know where you stand.