1979 NHL expansion draft

Player selection draft August 2023 1979 NHL expansion draft June 13, 1979 National Hockey League Edmonton OilersHartford WhalersQuebec NordiquesWinnipeg Jets 1979–80 1978 1991 The 1979 NHL expansion draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the National Hockey League's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets. These four teams had joined the NHL after a merger agreement was reached with the World Hockey Association (WHA). As many WHA players also had their rights held by NHL teams, those NHL teams were allowed to reclaim their players. In order to keep the NHL teams from plundering all the talent from the WHA-turned-NHL teams, each incoming franchise was allowed to protect up to two goaltenders and two skaters. These were designated as "priority selections" in the Expansion Draft. WHA Dispersal Draft Following the 1978–79 WHA season, and prior to the NHL reclaiming players, the WHA dispersed players on June 9, 1979, whose rights were held by teams not accepted into the NHL: the Birmingham Bulls and Cincinnati Stingers, and the Indianapolis Racers, who had folded during the previous season. Players that were twenty years old or younger were available to all 21 NHL teams in the entry draft, and the remaining players were made available to the four merging teams from the WHA.Greig p. 213https://www.nytimes.com/1979/06/07/archives/nhl-players-group-consents-to-merger.html N.H.L. Players' Group Consents to Merger New York Times April 1, 2020 June 7, 1979 Before their final season the WHA opted not to have an amateur draft and instead encouraged their teams to sign underage players.Greig p. 215 Seven Birmingham Bulls were drafted in the 1979 NHL entry draft: Rob Ramage (1st), Rick Vaive (5th), Craig Hartsburg (6th), Michel Goulet (20th), Gaston Gingras (27th), Pat Riggin (33rd), and Keith Crowder (57th). Crowder began the season as a Bull but returned to the Peterborough Petes after just five games. The Cincinnati Stingers used two who were drafted: Mike Gartner (4th) and Mark Messier (48th). Messier was underage but was eligible for the 1979 draft due to his WHA service time.1979 Draft Quick Facts http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1979/79facts.html April 3, 2020 The Winnipeg Jets used John Gibson (71st), but only on a ten game tryout contract in March 1979 but was returned to the Niagara Falls Flyers before the end of the season.1979 NHL Draft Pick John Gibson http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1979/79071.html 3 April 2020 PlayerDrafted FromDrafted To Bryon Baltimore (D) Cincinnati Stingers Edmonton Oilers Kelly Davis (D) Dave Forbes (LW) Mike Liut (G) Michel Parizeau (C) Reg Thomas (LW) Bryan Watson (D) Dave Fortier (D) Indianapolis Racers Bruce Greig (LW) Ernie Wakely (G)Matheson Jim 2 June 1979 https://edmontonjournal.newspapers.com/image/471754845/ Oilers take 10 players in draft Edmonton Journal 28 March 2024 Edmonton s Birmingham Bulls Steve Alley (LW) Birmingham Bulls Hartford Whalers Tony Cassolato (RW) Paul Henderson (LW) Bob Stephenson (C) Byron Shutt (LW) Cincinnati Stingers Al McLeod (D) Indianapolis Racers Peter Marrin (C) Birmingham Bulls Quebec Nordiques John Stewart (C) Greg Tebbutt (D) Michel Dion (G) Cincinnati Stingers Dave Dornseif (D) Robbie Ftorek (C) Bill Gilligan (C) Barry Melrose (D) Paul Stewart (LW) Jamie Hislop (RW) Winnipeg Jets Barry Legge (D) Peter Marsh (LW) Craig Norwich (D) Expansion draft rules Reclaiming of players: The 17 existing NHL teams were allowed to reclaim any rights to former WHA players they held. The four incoming franchises, however, were allowed to protect up to two goaltenders and two skaters, voiding their NHL rights. These players were considered "priority selections" in the expansion draft. Numerous deals were cut by the incoming teams to retain some of their players. For instance, Quebec retained star forward Real Cloutier by trading a first-round draft choice to the Chicago Black Hawks, which held Cloutier's rights; that pick was used to select perennial superstar Denis Savard. Wayne Gretzky was a special case - although no team held his NHL rights, under existing rules he would have been removed from the Oilers and placed into the NHL entry draft. However, Gretzky had been signed by Oilers owner Peter Pocklington to a personal services contract instead of a standard player contract. Confronted with the probability of being drafted first overall by the last place Colorado Rockies, Gretzky refused to void his contract with Pocklington. After deliberation, the Oilers were allowed to keep Gretzky as one of their priority selections, and agreed to choose last in each round of the 1979 NHL entry draft as further compensation. Gordie Howe was a second special case - as a gentlemen's agreement between the Hartford Whalers and the Detroit Red Wings, which held his NHL rights, the Red Wings declined to reclaim the 51-year-old Howe. Dave Keon was a third special case - Toronto Maple Leafs owner Harold Ballard wanted to reclaim Keon as Ballard held the rights to Keon's contract after Keon left for the Hartford Whalers. NHL President John Ziegler was able to convince Ballard to let Keon stay with the Whalers, teaming up with the aforementioned Gordie Howe. Expansion draft: Each of the 17 existing NHL teams were allowed to protect 15 skaters and two veteran goalies. Compensation: The 17 existing NHL teams received $125,000 for each player drafted, these payments being funded by the $6 million in franchise fees each of the former WHA teams paid to join the NHL. Reclaimed players These are players whose NHL rights were reclaimed when the WHA merged with the NHL. No.PlayerReclaimed fromReclaimed by 1. Kent Nilsson (LW) Winnipeg Jets Atlanta Flames 2. Bobby Hull (LW) Chicago Black Hawks 3. Terry Ruskowski (RW) 4. Doug Berry (C) Edmonton Oilers Colorado Rockies 5. Wes George (LW) Detroit Red Wings 6. Glenn Hicks (LW) Winnipeg Jets 7. Barry Long (D) 8. George Lyle (LW) Hartford Whalers 9. Steve Carlson (RW) Edmonton Oilers Los Angeles Kings 10. Cal Sandbeck (D) Minnesota North Stars 11. Dave Semenko (LW) 12. Paul Shmyr (D) 13. Greg Tebbutt (D) Quebec Nordiques 14. Alain Cote (LW) Montreal Canadiens 15. Dan Geoffrion (RW) 16. Alan Hangsleben (D) Hartford Whalers 17. Peter Marsh (RW) Winnipeg Jets 18. Kelly Davis (D) Edmonton Oilers New York Islanders 19. Dave Langevin (D) 20. Warren Miller (RW) Hartford Whalers New York Rangers 21. Jim Mayer (C) Edmonton Oilers 22. Dennis Sobchuk (LW) Philadelphia Flyers 23. Kim Clackson (D) Winnipeg Jets Pittsburgh Penguins 24. Mike Liut (G) Edmonton Oilers St. Louis Blues 25. Christian Bordeleau (C) Quebec Nordiques 26. Risto Siltanen (D) Edmonton Oilers 27. Rick Ley (D) Hartford Whalers Toronto Maple Leafs 28. Stan Weir (D) Edmonton Oilers 29. John Hughes (D) Vancouver Canucks 30. Paul MacKinnon (D) Winnipeg Jets Washington Capitals Twelve additional players were reclaimed, but were chosen as 'Priority Selections' by the four merging franchises Expansion draft results Priority selections These players were "priority selections" in the 1979 NHL expansion draft. No.PlayerRights DeniedRights Kept 1. Dave Dryden (G) Buffalo Sabres Edmonton Oilers 2. Wayne Gretzky (C) 1979 NHL entry draft 3. Eddie Mio (G) Minnesota North Stars 4. Bengt-Ake Gustafsson1 (RW) Edmonton Oilers Washington Capitals 5. Jordy Douglas (F) Toronto Maple Leafs Hartford Whalers 6. John Garrett (G) St. Louis Blues 7. Mark Howe (D) Boston Bruins 8. Paul Baxter (D) Pittsburgh Penguins Quebec Nordiques 9. Richard Brodeur (G) New York Islanders 10. Garry Lariviere (D) Buffalo Sabres 11. Scott Campbell (D) St. Louis Blues Winnipeg Jets12. Morris Lukowich (LW) Pittsburgh Penguins 13. Markus Mattsson (G) New York Islanders 1 The NHL denied the Oilers' claim of Bengt-Ake Gustafsson. League president John Ziegler ruled that the Oilers violated WHA rules when they attempted to add Gustafsson to their team during the 1979 playoffs, so they voided any claim on him.Capitals claim on Gustafsson The following are the players selected in the 1979 NHL expansion draft: Hartford Whalers selections Overall #PlayerDrafted from1. Alan Hangsleben (D) Montreal Canadiens5. Nick Fotiu (LW) New York Rangers9. Rick Ley (D) Toronto Maple Leafs13. Al Sims (D) Boston Bruins17. Jean Savard (C) Chicago Black Hawks21. Ralph Klassen (F) Colorado Rockies25. Rick Hodgson (D) Atlanta Flames29. Kevin Kemp (D) Toronto Maple Leafs33. Bill Bennett (LW) Boston Bruins37. Bernie Johnston (C/LW) Philadelphia Flyers41. Brian Hill (RW) Atlanta Flames45. Dave Given (F) Buffalo Sabres49. M. F. Schurman (LW) Philadelphia Flyers53. Nick Beverley (D) Colorado Rockies57. Norm Lapointe (G) Vancouver Canucks61. Don Kozak (LW) Winnipeg Jets selections Overall #PlayerDrafted from2. Peter Marsh (LW) Montreal Canadiens6. Lindsay Middlebrook (G) New York Rangers10. Bobby Hull (LW) Chicago Black Hawks14. Al Cameron (D) Detroit Red Wings18. Dave Hoyda (LW) Philadelphia Flyers22. Jim Roberts (LW) Minnesota North Stars26. Lorne Stamler (LW) Toronto Maple Leafs30. Mark Heaslip (RW) Los Angeles Kings34. Pierre Hamel (G) Toronto Maple Leafs38. Gord McTavish (F) St. Louis Blues42. Gord Smith (D) Washington Capitals46. Clark Hamilton (C) Detroit Red Wings50. Jim Cunningham (LW) Philadelphia Flyers54. Dennis Abgrall (RW) Los Angeles Kings60. Bill Riley (W) Washington Capitals62. Gene Carr (C) Atlanta Flames66. Hilliard Graves (RW) Vancouver Canucks Quebec Nordiques selections Overall #PlayerDrafted from3. Dave Farrish (D) New York Rangers7. Gerry Hart (D) New York Islanders11. Ron Low (G) Detroit Red Wings15. Pierre Plante (RW) New York Rangers19. Blair Stewart (F) Washington Capitals23. John Baby (D) Minnesota North Stars27. John Smrke (LW) St. Louis Blues31. Dave Parro (G) Boston Bruins35. Ken Kuzyk (RW) Minnesota North Stars39. Roland Cloutier (C) Detroit Red Wings43. Terry Martin (F) Buffalo Sabres47. Jamie Masters (D) St. Louis Blues51. Hartland Monahan (F) Los Angeles Kings55. Ron Andruff (C) Colorado Rockies59. Alain Cote (LW) Montreal Canadiens63. Lars Zetterstrom (D) Vancouver Canucks Greig p.217 Edmonton Oilers selections Overall #PlayerDrafted from 4. Cam Connor (RW) Montreal Canadiens 8. Lee Fogolin (D) Buffalo Sabres 12. Pat Price (D) New York Islanders 16. Colin Campbell (D) Pittsburgh Penguins 20. Larry Brown (D) Los Angeles Kings 24. Pete LoPresti (G) Minnesota North Stars 28. Ron Areshenkoff (C) Buffalo Sabres 32. Inge Hammarstrom (D) St. Louis Blues36. John Gould (RW) Atlanta Flames40. Doug Hicks (D) Chicago Black Hawks44. Tom Edur (D) Pittsburgh Penguins48. Wayne Bianchin (LW) 52. Mike Forbes (D) Boston Bruins56. Doug Favell (G) Colorado Rockies60. Doug Patey (RW) Washington Capitals64. J. Bob Kelly (LW) Chicago Black Hawks Both Reg Thomas and Dave Hunter are described as being taken in this draft,Duplacey pp. 1130–1, 1529–30. however in Greig's detailed lists they are both part of the "pre–draft Roster." Dave Hunter was not claimed in the dispersal draft by the team drafted him, the Montreal Canadiens. Reg Thomas was not claimed in the dispersal draft by the team that drafted him, the Chicago Black Hawks. See also 1978–79 WHA season 1979 NHL entry draft 1979–80 NHL season Citations References Hartford/New England Whalers All-Time Roster WHA Oilers Page - 1979 Expansion Draft (webarchive.org 29 November 2003) Washington Capitals History 1979-1980February 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes St. Louis Blues Team Records Foundation Begins with Goaltending by Al Morganti @ ESPN.com Greig Murray Big Bucks and Blue Pucks 1997 Macmillan Canada 978-0771574238 213–7 Duplacey James Total Hockey: The official encyclopedia of the National Hockey League 1998 Total Sports 0-8362-7114-9 498–528 registration https://archive.org/details/totalhockeyoffic0000unse/page/498 Draft Expansion Draft Expansion draft Expansion draft Expansion draft Category:NHL expansion drafts Category:Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)