WHA general player draft explained
The World Hockey Association general player draft was held over the course of two days, February 12 and 13, 1972, in Anaheim, California. The purpose of the draft was to establish an orderly process through which WHA teams would stock their rosters by the beginning of their inaugural season later that year. As such, players from other professional teams (notably National Hockey League clubs) were eligible to be drafted. The draftees were not under any legal obligation to sign with the drafting WHA club: other WHA clubs were prevented from negotiating with the players who had been drafted.
The draft was held in two parts: a "preliminary" round in which teams made so-called "priority" selections, and the rounds of the "deneral draft" which followed. For the preliminary round which was held on November 1971, each team wrote four names on a piece of paper, which were then submitted and announced prior to the start of the general draft.[1] The priority selections were the most sought after players, consisting mostly of NHL veterans and highly touted prospects.
Twelve teams took part in the draft: the Calgary Broncos, Chicago Cougars, Dayton Aeros, Edmonton Oil Kings, Los Angeles Sharks, Miami Screaming Eagles, Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, and three then-unnamed franchises based in New York (later the Raiders), Ontario (later the Ottawa Nationals) and Quebec City (later the Nordiques).
The Broncos folded within months, before the beginning of the season, and the negotiating rights to their picks were transferred to a new club: the Cleveland Crusaders. Similarly the Screaming Eagles never took to the ice, and their picks transferred to the Philadelphia Blazers. The Dayton Aeros moved to Houston before the playing season, and the Oil Kings changed their name to Alberta Oilers with the intent of splitting home games between Edmonton and Calgary.
Preliminary round
Calgary Broncos
Chicago Cougars
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| C | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| D | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| D | | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| G | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | |
Dayton Aeros
Edmonton Oil Kings
Los Angeles Sharks
Miami Screaming Eagles
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| G | | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| C | | Minnesota North Stars | NHL |
| C | | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| D | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL | |
Minnesota Fighting Saints
New England Whalers
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| C | | California Golden Seals | NHL |
| G | | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| D | | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| C | | Montreal Canadiens | NHL | |
New York
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| G | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| C | | Toronto Marlboros | OHA |
| RW | | Toronto Marlboros | OHA |
| LW | | Toronto Marlboros | OHA | |
Ontario
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| G | | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL |
| C | | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| D | | New York Rangers | NHL |
| LW | | Buffalo Sabres | NHL | |
Quebec City
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| G | | New York Rangers | NHL |
| D | | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| F | | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| RW | | Boston Bruins | NHL | |
Winnipeg Jets
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|
| LW | | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| D | | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| LW | | New York Rangers | NHL |
| G | | St. Louis Blues | NHL | |
Regular rounds
Calgary Broncos
Rounds 1–10
Rounds 11–20
Rounds 21–50
Rounds 51–70
Rounds 71+
Winnipeg Jets
References
- Book: Surgent, Scott Adam . 1999 . The Complete Historical and Statistical Reference to the World Hockey Association, 1972-1979 . 4th . 447–51. Tempe, Arizona . Xaler Press . 0964477408.
- News: The draft, round by round . . Toronto . S6 . February 14, 1972 .
Notes and References
- http://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/DraftTrades/Years/1972-wha.htm 1972 WHA Draft Pick Transactions
