Winnipeg Jets

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Winnipeg Jets
Founded	1972
History	Winnipeg Jets 1972–1979 (WHA) 1979–1996 (NHL) Phoenix Coyotes 1996–present (NHL)
Home arena	Winnipeg Arena
City	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Colours	Blue, red and white
Avco World Trophy	1976, 1978, 1979
Division championships	1973, 1976, 1978

The Winnipeg Jets were a professional hockey team based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They played in both the World Hockey Association (WHA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1972 to 1996. Due to mounting financial troubles, in 1996 the franchise moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Contents 1 Franchise history 1.1 The WHA Years (1972–1979) 1.1.1 Career leaders (WHA) 1.2 The NHL years (1979–1996) 2 Possible return to Winnipeg 3 Season-by-season record 3.1 WHA era 3.2 NHL era 4 Notable players 4.1 Team captains 4.2 First round draft picks 4.3 Hall of Famers 4.4 Retired numbers 4.5 Franchise scoring leaders 5 Winnipeg Jets individual records 6 See also 7 External links 8 References

[edit] Franchise history

[edit] The WHA Years (1972–1979)

The NHL had recently expanded to 16 teams, adding franchises in many hockey-hungry cities (only one in Canada), but also in Atlanta, Oakland and Los Angeles. The WHA brought major professional hockey to Ottawa, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Edmonton, and later Calgary. On December 27, 1971, Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the WHA, to Ben Hatskin, a local figure who made his wealth in cardboard shipping containers.^[1] The team took their name from the Winnipeg Jets of the Western Canada Hockey League .^[2]

The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin ("the Original Jet") and the teams first major signing was Bobby Hull. Hull's acquisition, partially financed by the rest of the WHA's teams, was widely seen as giving legitimacy to the WHA as a serious rival major league to the NHL.^{[citation needed]}

The Jets were further noteworthy in hockey history for being the first North American club seriously to explore Europe as a source of hockey talent. Winnipeg's fortunes were bolstered by acquisitions such as Swedish forwards Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson, who starred with Hull on the WHA's most famous and successful forward line (nicknamed "the Hot Line"), and defenceman Lars-Erik Sjoberg, who would serve as the team's captain and win accolades as the WHA's best defenceman. Behind these players and other European stars such as Willy Lindstrom, Kent Nilsson, Veli-Pekka Ketola, leavened by players such as Peter Sullivan, Norm Beaudin and goaltender Joe Daley, the Jets were the most successful team in the short-lived WHA. The team won the Avco World Trophy three times, including in the league's final season against Wayne Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers. The Jets made the finals five of the WHA's seven seasons and were widely considered one of the best teams in hockey, NHL or WHA, of the era.^{[citation needed]}

Another notable accomplishment was the Jets' 5–3 victory over the Soviet National team on January 5, 1978, making the Jets the first club team ever to defeat the Soviet elite squad.^[3]

In the last season in the WHA, Kent Nilsson had 107 points, while Morris Lukowich had 65 goals, and Peter Sullivan had 46 goals and 86 points. The Jets made it to the Avco Cup and Gary Smith gave up the last goal in WHA history to Dave Semenko in a 7–3 Jets win.^[4]

[edit] Career leaders (WHA)

• Games: Bobby Hull, 411
• Goals: Bobby Hull, 303
• Assists: Ulf Nilsson, 344
• Points: Bobby Hull, 638
• Penalty Minutes: Kim Clackson, 413
• Goaltending Wins: Joe Daley, 167
• Shutouts: Joe Daley, 12

The 1976, 1978 and 1979 Avco Cup winning Winnipeg Jets were inducted into the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame in the team category.

[edit] The NHL years (1979–1996)

By 1979, the vast majority of the WHA's teams had folded, but the Jets were still going strong and they were absorbed into the NHL. In doing so, they had to give up three of their top six scorers – the core of the last WHA champion – in a reclamation draft. They were also forced to draft 18th out of 21 teams. In the draft, they sellected low-scoring defenseman Scott Campbell when such future standouts as Kent Nilsson, Terry Ruskowski and Rich Preston were still available. Campbell was out of the league within two years.

With a decimated roster, the Jets finished dead last in the league in the next two seasons, including a horrendous nine-win season in 1980–81 that still ranks as the worst in franchise history. This stands in marked contrast to the other 1979 Avco Cup finalist, the Oilers, who became one of the most powerful teams the game has ever seen during the 1980s.

The Jets' first two wretched NHL seasons did net them high draft picks, and in 1981, they drafted future Hall of Fame member Dale Hawerchuk. The team developed a solid core of players by the mid-1980s, with Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Paul MacLean, Dave Babych, Randy Carlyle, Laurie Boschman, Doug Smail, and David Ellett providing a strong nucleus.

The Jets were very competitive for most of the 1980s and early 1990s, and had a very loyal following. However, regular-season success did not transfer over into the playoffs. This was because Winnipeg played in the same division as the Oilers and Calgary Flames – by some accounts, the two best teams in the league during the second half of the 1980s. Because of the way the playoffs were structured at the time, the Jets were all but assured of having to beat either the Oilers or the Flames (or both) to get to the Campbell Conference Finals. For example, in 1984–85, they finished with the fourth-best record in the entire league, with 96 points – both their best finishes as an NHL team. While they managed to dispatch the Flames in four games in the best-of-five division semi-final, they were swept by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Oilers in the division final. In fact, Winnipeg and Edmonton played each other in the playoffs six times between 1983 and 1990. The Oilers not only won every series, but held the Jets to only four total victories. Five of those times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, and 1990), the Oilers went on to win the Stanley Cup. 1987 was the last time that the Jets won a playoff series (defeating Calgary in the division semi-final before losing to Edmonton in the division final).

As the NHL expanded in the United States, operating costs and salaries grew rapidly; this development hit the league's Canadian teams particularly hard. As Winnipeg was the league's fourth-smallest market (eventually becoming the third-smallest market after the Québec Nordiques moved to Denver in 1995), the Jets were unable to retain their best players. Various schemes were devised to save the team through a tremendous grassroots effort and government funds, but in the end the efforts were not enough. The Winnipeg Jets played their last-ever game on April 28, 1996, a home playoff loss to the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4–1. Norm Maciver scored the last goal in Jets history.

During their history, the Jets retired two numbers: Bobby Hull's #9 and Thomas Steen's #25. Both numbers hang in Jobing.com Arena with the new Phoenix Coyotes franchise, in the Jets' old blue-red-white colour scheme. Dale Hawerchuk's #10 was later retired by the Coyotes; though he played with the team only when it was in Winnipeg, his jersey hangs in Jobing.com Arena in the Coyotes' brick-sand-black scheme. Another tradition that was retained when the franchise moved to Phoenix was the "white-out," in which fans wore all white to home playoff games.

Bobby Hull's #9 jersey was temporarily "un-retired" with the acquisition of his son Brett by the Coyotes. Brett wore his father's famous jersey until his own retirement on October 15, 2005, subsequent to which the number was re-retired.

A number of former Jets remain active in the NHL; as of the 2008–09 season, these include Nikolai Khabibulin, Teppo Numminen, Teemu Selanne, Keith Tkachuk and Kris Draper. Shane Doan, the current captain of the Coyotes, is the last Jet to remain with the Winnipeg-Phoenix franchise.

[edit] Possible return to Winnipeg

Although a new arena has since been built in downtown Winnipeg to replace the aged (and now demolished) Winnipeg Arena, the arena's managers have stated that the 15,015 seat MTS Centre was not erected in hopes of attracting an NHL team back to the city.^[5] A frenzy erupted in the local and national media when many Winnipeg businessmen expressed that they were proactively approaching the idea and were in the process of forming an ownership group, although there has never been any official statement.^{[citation needed]}

During the 2007 Manitoba provincial election campaign, Conservatives promised to bring an NHL team back to Winnipeg if elected. The elected NDP has also mentioned their support for the return of the Jets, with Premier Gary Doer saying he has been in talks to bring a team to the province.^[6]

During a press conference Gary Bettman stated that the idea of Winnipeg having an NHL team sounds intriguing. He also stated that another team in Winnipeg could happen one day.

“

When we had the chance to go back to Minnesota, we did. Because it made sense – the right ownership, the right building situation. The market was strong and vibrant. We haven’t studied Quebec City or Winnipeg or anywhere else in Canada, but the notion that if it could work to put a franchise back in a place where one was lost, feels good – provided we don’t wind up in a situation where we’ve created a prescription for another failing franchise. So am I intrigued? It’s obviously something I’ve thought about in terms of trying to make right something that [at] one point in our history went wrong.[7]

”

However, Bettman has said the NHL has no plans of expanding in the near future.

During the 2008/2009 season, with economy worries bringing concern to struggling NHL teams, most notably the Phoenix Coyotes who are expected to lose $25–35 million this year and on May 5 filled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, talks have come once again to a relocation of an NHL franchise to Winnipeg. In an affidavit filed May 15, 2009 and released May 17, Bettman stated his feelings towards the return of an NHL team to Winnipeg, saying "if the [Coyotes] did return to Canada, it would be to Winnipeg."^[8] However, while Bettman prefers Winnipeg to Hamilton, his and the league's official position remains that the team should stay in Phoenix. A move to Winnipeg, Ontario, or anywhere else remains to be seen.

In 2009, a Facebook page was created to show interest in a Winnipeg based team, the group went on to make national headlines from the CBC.^[9] Jim Balsillie, co-owner of Research in Motion, bid $212.5 million U.S. dollars to buy the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes provided the franchise relocates to Hamilton, Ontario. That bid to take the Coyotes to Hamilton set off talks of a potential return to Winnipeg, despite Balsillie clearly conditioning his bid on relocating the team to Southern Ontario. The matter remains before the courts in Arizona.

[edit] Season-by-season record

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals scored for, GA = Goals scored against, PIM = Penalty minutes

[edit] WHA era

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoff record
1972–73	78	43	31	4	90	285	249	757	first, Western	Won Quarterfinals (Minnesota) Won Semifinals (Houston) Lost Finals (New England)
1973–74	78	34	39	5	73	264	296	673	fourth, Western	Lost Quarterfinals (Houston)
1974–75	78	38	35	5	81	322	293	869	third, Canadian	Did not qualify
1975–76	81	52	27	2	106	345	254	940	first, Canadian	Won Quarterfinals (Edmonton) Won Semifinals (Calgary) Won Finals (Houston)
1976–77	80	46	32	2	94	366	291	991	second, Western	Won Quarterfinals (San Diego) Won Semifinals (Houston) Lost Finals (Quebec)
1977–78	80	50	28	2	102	381	270	988	first, WHA	Won Quarterfinals (Birmingham) Earned Semifinals bye Won Finals (New England)
1978–79	80	39	35	6	84	307	306	1342	third, WHA	Won Semifinals (Quebec) Won Finals (Edmonton)
WHA totals	555	302	227	26	630	2270	1958	6560

[edit] NHL era

Season	GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA	PIM	Finish	Playoff record
1979–80	80	20	49	11	51	214	314	1251	fifth, Smythe	Did not qualify
1980–81	80	9	57	14	32	246	400	1191	fifth, Smythe	Did not qualify
1981–82	80	33	33	14	80	319	332	1314	second, Norris	Lost Norris Semifinal (St. Louis)
1982–83	80	33	39	8	74	311	333	1089	fourth, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Edmonton)
1983–84	80	31	38	11	73	340	374	1579	fourth, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Edmonton)
1984–85	80	43	27	10	96	358	332	1540	second, Smythe	Won Smythe Semifinal (Calgary) Lost Smythe Final (Edmonton)
1985–86	80	26	47	7	59	295	372	1774	third, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Calgary)
1986–87	80	40	32	8	88	279	271	1537	third, Smythe	Won Smythe Semifinal (Calgary) Lost Smythe Final (Edmonton)
1987–88	80	33	36	11	77	292	310	2278	third, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Edmonton)
1988–89	80	26	42	12	64	300	355	1843	fifth, Smythe	Did not qualify
1989–90	80	37	32	11	85	298	290	1639	third, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Edmonton)
1990–91	80	26	43	11	63	260	288	1675	fifth, Smythe	Did not qualify
1991–92	80	33	32	15	81	251	244	1907	fourth, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Vancouver)
1992–93	84	40	37	7	87	322	320	1851	fourth, Smythe	Lost Smythe Semifinal (Vancouver)
1993–94	84	24	51	9	57	245	344	2143	sixth, Central	Did not qualify
1994–951	48	16	25	7	39	157	177	1141	sixth, Central	Did not qualify
1995–96	82	36	40	6	78	275	291	1622	fifth, Central	Lost Conference Quarterfinal (Detroit)
NHL totals	1338	506	660	172	1184	4762	5347	27374
Grand total	1893	808	887	198	1814	7032	7305	33934

¹ Season was shortened by the 1994–95 NHL lockout.

[edit] Notable players

[edit] Team captains

Note: This list includes Jets captains from both the NHL and WHA.

[edit] First round draft picks

Note: This list includes draft picks from both the NHL and WHA.

[edit] Hall of Famers

• Dale Hawerchuk, C, 1981–90, inducted 2001
• Bobby Hull, RW, 1972–80, inducted 1983
• Serge Savard, D, 1981–83, inducted 1986

[edit] Retired numbers

• 9 - Bobby Hull
• 25 - Thomas Steen
• 10 - Dale Hawerchuk

[edit] Franchise scoring leaders

These are the top-ten point-scorers in franchise (Winnipeg & Phoenix) history. Figures are updated after each completed NHL regular season.

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games Played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game; * = current Coyotes player

Player	Pos	GP	G	A	Pts	P/G
Dale Hawerchuk	C	713	379	550	929	1.30
Thomas Steen	RW	950	264	553	817	.86
Keith Tkachuk	LW	640	323	300	623	.97
Shane Doan*	RW	883	227	323	550	.63
Teppo Numminen	D	1098	108	426	534	.49
Paul MacLean	RW	527	248	270	518	.98
Doug Smail	LW	691	189	208	397	.58
Laurie Boschman	LW	526	152	227	379	.72
Jeremy Roenick	C	384	141	210	351	.91
Morris Lukowich	LW	431	168	177	345	.80

[edit] Winnipeg Jets individual records

• Most goals in a season: Teemu Selanne, 76 (1992–93) (NHL rookie record)
• Most assists in a season: Phil Housley, 79 (1992–93)
• Most points in a season: Teemu Selanne 132 (1992–93) (NHL rookie record)
• Most penalty minutes in a season: Tie Domi, 347 (1993–94)
• Most points in a season, defenceman: Phil Housley, 97 (1992–93)
• Most points in a season, rookie: Teemu Selanne, 132 (1992–93) (NHL record)
• Most wins in a season: Brian Hayward & Bob Essensa, 33 (1984–85 & 1992–93)

[edit] See also

• List of Winnipeg Jets players
• List of Winnipeg Jets draft picks
• Head Coaches of the Winnipeg Jets
• Phoenix Coyotes
• World Hockey Association
• Avco World Trophy
• List of defunct NHL teams
• List of NHL seasons
• List of NHL players
• List of ice hockey teams in Manitoba
• Winnipeg Arena

[edit] External links

• Winnipeg Jets Online.com - Dedicated to the History and Memory of the Winnipeg Jets
• WHAhockey.com - Winnipeg Jets
• 1976 Winnipeg Jets at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• 1978 Winnipeg Jets at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame
• 1979 Winnipeg Jets at Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame

[edit] References

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v • d • e Winnipeg Jets Franchise Winnipeg Jets • Phoenix Coyotes • NHL expansion draft • Coaches • Seasons • Draft picks • Winnipeg White Out • NHL–WHA merger Avco World Trophy Finals Won: 1976 • 1978 • 1979 • Lost: 1973 • 1977 Division championships WHA: 1972–73 • 1975–76 • 1977–78 • NHL: None Arena Winnipeg Arena

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