You know the story. The Winnipeg Jets ruled the World Hockey Association (WHA) since its inception in 1973 until its death in 1979. The Jets were in five of the seven Avco Cup championships winning three including the last one in 1979 against the Edmonton Oilers and an eighteen-year-old Wayne Gretzky.
You also know that when the Jets, Oilers, New England (Hartford) Whalers and Quebec Noridiques were absorbed into the NHL, the Jets top three scorers were claimed by the NHL teams that they players either left to join the WHA or held their NHL draft rights. Right out of the gate, we lost Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson to the New York Rangers and about 80 percent of our scoring. Bobby Hull was traded to the Hartford Whalers.
This is the story of that injustice. It is also the story of the relationship of John Ferguson and the Winnipeg Jets. A good read. Enjoy.
