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Winnipeg Jets
Played 1972 – 1996
Home ice Winnipeg Arena
Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Colours Blue, white & red
Leagues World Hockey Association, National Hockey League

The Winnipeg Jets were an ice hockey franchise that existed in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League. In 1996, the franchise was moved to Arizona due to financial troubles and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Founded: 1972
Arena: Winnipeg Arena
Uniform colours: Blue, white, red.
Avco Cup wins: 3 - 1976, 1978, 1979
Stanley Cup wins: none

Franchise history

WHA Winnipeg Jets (1972 - 1979)

In 1972 Winnipeg was granted one of the founding franchises in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The National Hockey League 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.

The Jets' first major signing was Bobby Hull, also known as the Golden Jet. The move -- 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. The Jets were further noteworthy in hockey history for being the first North American club to seriously 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 starrred with Hull on the WHA's most famous and successful forward 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, winning three Avco Cups, the league's championship trophy and making the finals five out of the WHA's seven seasons.

Career Leaders (WHA)

NHL Winnipeg Jets (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 and were drafted 18th out of the NHL's 21 teams.

The Jets experienced mixed success in the NHL, with predictably poor results in their first few seasons. In 1981, they drafted future hall of famer Dale Hawerchuk. The team developed into a solid core of players by the mid-80's, with Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Paul MacLean, Randy Carlyle, Laurie Boschman, Doug Smail and David Ellett giving the Jets a solid nucleus and a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup. However, they played in the same division as the powerful Edmonton Oilers and were constantly beaten by them in the playoffs. They finished 4th in the league in 1984-85, their best showing. 1987 was the last time the Jets won a playoff series, a drought that has continued to plague the franchise's current incarnation in Phoenix.

As the NHL expanded in the United States, operating costs and salaries grew rapidly, and the Jets were unable to retain their best players. Various schemes were attempted to save the team through a tremendous grassroots effort and government funds. In the end, their efforts were not enough. The Winnipeg Jets played their last game on April 28, 1996 - a home playoff loss to the Detroit Red Wings by a score of 4-1. The last goal ever scored by a Jet was netted by Norm Maciver.

During their history, the Jets retired two numbers: #9, Bobby Hull, and #25, Thomas Steen. Both numbers hang in Glendale Arena with the new Phoenix Coyotes franchise. Bobby Hull's #9 jersey had been temporarily "un-retired" with the acquisition of his son Brett by the Phoenix franchise. Brett wore his father's famous jersey until his own retirement on October 15, 2005; the number will be re-retired.

Possible return to Winnipeg

The labour dispute of the 2004-05 between the NHL and NHLPA resurrected the hopes of some Winnipeggers that the city may get another franchise if a team based in the southern United States or another non-traditional hockey region was unable to attract spectators following its resolution. Other reports from Pittsburgh Penguins' owner Mario Lemieux suggested Winnipeg as a possible relocation for the struggling Penguins. No NHL team relocations are currently being mooted.

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

WHA Era

Season GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoff Record
1972-73 78 43 31 4 90 285 249 757 1st in Western Lost Avco World Trophy Final (NE)
1973-74 78 34 39 5 73 264 296 673 3rd in Western Lost Quarterfinal (HOU)
1974-75 7838 35 5 81 322 293 869 3rd in Canadian Out of Playoffs
1975-76 81 52 27 2 106 345 254 940 1st in Canadian Won Avco World Trophy (HOU)
1976-77 80 46 32 2 94 366 291 991 2nd in Western Lost Avco World Trophy Final (QBC)
1977-78 80 50 28 2 102 381 270 988 1st in League Won Avco World Trophy (NE)
1978-79 80 39 35 6 84 307 306 1342 3rd in League Won Avco World Trophy (EDM)
Grand Total 555 302 227 26 630 2270 959 6560

NHL Era

Season GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Finish Playoff Record
1979-80 80 20 49 11 51 214 314 1251 5th in Smythe Out of Playoffs
1980-81 80 9 57 14 32 246 400 1191 5th in Smythe Out of Playoffs
1981-82 80 33 33 14 80 319 332 1314 2nd in Norris Lost Division Semifinal (STL)
1982-83 80 33 39 8 74 311 333 1089 4th in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (EDM)
1983-84 80 31 38 11 73 340 374 1579 4th in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (EDM)
1984-85 80 43 27 10 96 358 332 1540 2nd in Smythe Lost Division Final (EDM)
1985-86 80 26 47 7 59 295 372 1774 3rd in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (CGY)
1986-87 80 40 32 8 88 279 271 1537 3rd in Smythe Lost Division Final (EDM)
1987-88 80 33 36 11 77 292 310 2278 3rd in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (EDM)
1988-89 80 26 42 12 64 300 355 1843 5th in Smythe Out of Playoffs
1989-90 80 37 32 11 85 298 290 1639 3rd in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (EDM)
1990-91 80 26 43 11 63 260 288 1675 5th in Smythe Out of Playoffs
1991-92 80 33 32 15 81 251 244 1907 4th in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (VAN)
1992-93 84 40 37 7 87 322 320 1851 4th in Smythe Lost Division Semifinal (VAN)
1993-94 84 24 51 9 57 245 344 2143 6th in Central Out of Playoffs
1994-951 48 16 25 7 39 157 177 1141 6th in Central Out of Playoffs
1995-96 82 36 40 6 78 275 291 1622 5th in Central Lost Conference Quarterfinal (DET)
Grand Total 1338 506 660 172 1184 4762 5347 27374
1 Season was shortened due to the 1994-95 NHL lockout.

Team Captains (NHL Era)

First round draft picks (NHL Era)

Hall of Famers

Retired numbers

See also

External links

Winnipeg Jets | Defunct ice hockey teams | WHA teams

Jets de Winnipeg | Winnipeg Jets | Winnipeg Jets

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Winnipeg Jets".

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