1977-78 NHL Salaries

[Johnny Engine]

This is interesting framing. The players make too much and therefore woe the lockout. But almost no one is heard saying that the owners make even more and woe the lockout.

Especially interesting given that the last 3 work stoppages have been lockouts and not strikes.

 

[Big Phil]

This is interesting framing. The players make too much and therefore woe the lockout. But almost no one is heard saying that the owners make even more and woe the lockout.

Both have been a disgrace to the game in their dealings with the lockout. Let's call a spade a spade, it takes two to fight. The owners back in the original 6 were even bigger scoundrels than today if you can believe it. At least today you are fighting with someone where you can't come to an agreement between $7 or 8 million. 60 years ago you may have been fighting to get $10,000 from a tightwad owner. We're talking apples and oranges here. The union Ted Lindsay was fighting for and the one we see today are different. I don't back the owners or the players in the work stoppages. Both deserve a Bobby Hull slapshot in a disclosed area the way they dealt with the lockouts.

 

[The Panther]

I don't back the owners or the players in the work stoppages. Both deserve a Bobby Hull slapshot in a disclosed area the way they dealt with the lockouts.

I agree. And actually I haven't been to an NHL game since the Lock-out (of course, I mostly live in E. Asia so that's difficult).

The NHLPA were big-headed. The leaders, I think, misguided the players into a poor understanding of their bargaining position (which, as workers, was weak). Then, for its part, the NHL/owners waited and waited until the last possible minute to engage in meaningful bargaining talks, which of course the NHLPA exploited to make the League look back and justify their hardline. Result, cancelled season.

 

[Wingsfan 4 life]

FWIW, considering its 5 years after the poster asked why no Bobby Orr.....

Orr sat out the whole 1977-78 season. When he went to Chicago, he signed a 5 year/$3M contract with payments spread out over 30 years to minimize taxes.

Orr famously never cashed a Chicago pay check, saying he was paid to play hockey and would not accept a salary if he was not playing.

 

[Nino33]

Especially interesting given that the last 3 work stoppages have been lockouts and not strikes.

For myself it's not that "interesting" at all - the first players strike guaranteed the owners would never again trust the players to negotiate and play

 

[Ralph Spoilsport]

Wayne Dillon, take a bow. You had a good agent.

Any info on NHL revenues from back then?

 

[Uncle Rotter]

I remember what a big story it was back then when it was published. It made Joe Contini famous.

 

[wetcoast]

I'm glad Dionne was making more than lafluer. He had to spend his whole career on miserable teams, while guy got all the media attention and legacy with the habs, at least he was making more.

I agree, Dionne was the better player after all.

 

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

Vancouver Pit Martin $140,000 Don Lever$ $120,000 Dennis Ververgaert $120,000 Cesare Maniago$ $105,000 Hilliard Graves $100,000 Mike Walton$ $100,000 Dennis Kearns $90,000 Garry Monahan$ $85,000 Chris Oddliefson$ $80,000 Ron Sedlbauer $80,000 Rick Blight$ $75,000 Curt Ridley$ $75,000 Sheldon Kannegiesser $70,000 Harold Snepsts$ $70,000 Jere Gillis $65,000 Jack McIlhargey$ $65,000 Claire Alexander $60,000 John Grisdale$ $60,000 Gerry O'Flaherty$ $60,000 Brad Gassoff $50,000 Bob Manno$ $50,000

Yikes! Eye opener! I don't recall the contracts being published back in 78, but it's interesting that the Canucks were carrying some bad contracts at the time. They've got six guys at $100,000+, but for other guys in the league in the same pay class at the time, these bums look a little overpaid. Pit Martin really stands out, & makes the initial trade - Canucks giving up Murray Bannerman, who would be heir to Tony O's starter job in Chi-Town, for the 33-year old Martin - who would play out the season & retire - look even worse than it did at the time with this albatross of a contract. I'm guessing they inherited the Graves & Maniago contracts from their respective trades with Atlanta & Minnesota, but neither was worth it at the time - Maniago packed it in like Martin at the end of the season, & Graves was a soft, lazy player who couldn't crack 50 points. Not as much of a problem with them giving The Clever a little extra, & I'm guessing Shakey's salary is what they paid to get him to jump from the WHA, & he earned it by being basically our best player, so I have less qualms about those two. Ververgaert likely negotiated a good contract coming off his 37-goal performance in the 75-76 season, but that turned out to be his peak season & an outlier, he was basically a soft second liner. Overall, they probably overpaid by about $100,000 to this group collectively.

What an awful team, thanks for the bad memories.

 

[Iron Mike Sharpe]

Mike Bossy $50,000 = best bargain in the league

 

[The Panther]

Mike Bossy $50,000 = best bargain in the league

Rookie's contract.


But that has to be the last time an NHL-er scored 50+ goals and made less than 100 grand...?

 

[alko]

Wow - time machine. I saw my post after 6 years!

 

[Big Phil]

Big question..............is the NHL a better place with salary disclosure or without it? My wallet says the second one.

 

[Nick Hansen]

Big question..............is the NHL a better place with salary disclosure or without it? My wallet says the second one.

With the cap, some players are hounded for being overpaid while still actually being pretty decent and nowhere near the disasters they're made out to be just because they're overpaid relative to the cap and taking up a bigger chunk than perceived to be worthy of.

 

[Johnny Engine]

Big question..............is the NHL a better place with salary disclosure or without it? My wallet says the second one.

If there must be a cap, then salary disclosure needs to come with it. Otherwise, every team in the league would be making baffling, frustrating moves with no explanation on the regular. At least now if you see a team dump a second liner for a 4th round pick or something, you can at least have a pretty good idea why.

 

[Doctor No]

Big question..............is the NHL a better place with salary disclosure or without it? My wallet says the second one.

If your wallet thinks that ticket prices would be meaningfully lower without salary disclosure, I'd recommend that it looks at college football, where players are (ostensibly) not paid and ticket prices have increased similarly.

Economics says that tickets will cost what the market will bear.

 

[Big Phil]

If your wallet thinks that ticket prices would be meaningfully lower without salary disclosure, I'd recommend that it looks at college football, where players are (ostensibly) not paid and ticket prices have increased similarly.

Economics says that tickets will cost what the market will bear.

Well sure, now. But in 1978? By 2019 even College Football has figured out that fans will pay anything regardless. In 1978 that wasn't the case. Tickets were a lot cheaper, and I mean in relative to inflation and such.

 

[AmericanDream]

lol at Dale Tallon being in the top 3 paid Hawks players..he was decent, but wtf??????

 

[Thenameless]

Big question..............is the NHL a better place with salary disclosure or without it? My wallet says the second one.

For us, the fans, the NHL was a better place in the 1970's. The players played more for pride, for each other, for their teams, and for their fans. But, the owners also made an inordinate amount of money compared to the players. It's more of a business now, and it strikes a fairer balance between the players and the owners. For us fans, we now get/have to watch mercenaries move from team to team, while chasing the almighty buck. You'll still get the odd Tavares that wants to play for a certain team, or a Cup-chasing veteran on his last legs willing to take a discount, but I agree that it's not the same as it once was.

 

[streitz]

Terry O'Rielly and half the Habs roster should of been getting paid more. Just what stood out at a cursory glance.

 

[streitz]

For us, the fans, the NHL was a better place in the 1970's. The players played more for pride, for each other, for their teams, and for their fans. But, the owners also made an inordinate amount of money compared to the players. It's more of a business now, and it strikes a fairer balance between the players and the owners. For us fans, we now get/have to watch mercenaries move from team to team, while chasing the almighty buck. You'll still get the odd Tavares that ones to play for a certain team, or a Cup-chasing veteran on his last legs willing to take a discount, but I agree that it's not the same as it once was.

Just curious what's wrong with Owners making money? They put down the big bucks and they should get a return on investment.


Not that I'm advocating for 1950's salaries. Realistically the most a PRO athlete should make is 10-20x an average working mans salary given what they put their bodies through. The saving imo should trickle down to the fans in terms of cheaper tickets.

 

[Thenameless]

Just curious what's wrong with Owners making money? They put down the big bucks and they should get a return on investment.


Not that I'm advocating for 1950's salaries. Realistically the most a PRO athlete should make is 10-20x an average working mans salary given what they put their bodies through. The saving imo should trickle down to the fans in terms of cheaper tickets.

I actually believe that the owners should make money, and good money at that. They are the ones after all who take the financial risk. In the symbiotic relationship, I think the players should also be well paid, since they are the star attraction. Like you say, we don't want players making 1950's salaries in comparison. It's a money world that we live in now. The owners should make as much as they can, and so should the players. It's up to the fans to determine what the market will bear.

 

[Ralph Spoilsport]

Dionne took home more than Lafleur and Lemaire combined! No wonder Guy wanted to renegotiate.

Posting team totals if anyone's interested (number of players in parentheses):

I was doing some research on something else and came across this.

Atlanta Tom Lysiak $130,000 Dick Redmond$ $125,000 Daniel Bouchard$ $100,000 Bob MacMillan $85,000 Bill Clement$ $85,000 John Gould $70,000 Willi Plett$ $70,000 Eric Vail$ $65,000 Guy Chouinard $65,000 Richard Mulhern$ $60,000 Yves Belanger$ $60,000 David Shand $55,000 Pat Ribble$ $55,000 Harold Phillipoff $50,000 Rey Comeau$ $50,000 Bob Simpson$ $50,000 Ken Houston $45,000 Ed Kea$ $45,000 Miles Zaharko$ $45,000 Greg Fox $45,000 Bobby Lalonde$ $40,000 $1,395,000 (21)

Boston Brad Park$ $250,000 Gerry Cheevers $160,000 Jean Ratelle$ $150,000 Gilles Gilbert $135,000 John Bucyk$ $115,000 Wayne Cashman$ $110,000 Peter McNab $100,000 Rick Middleton$ $100,000 Rick Smith $100,000 Gregg Sheppard$ $85,000 Ron Grahame$ $80,000 Bob Schmautz $75,000 Terry O'Reilly$ $70,000 Don Marcotte$ $70,000 Gary Doak $70,000 Al Sims$ $60,000 Mike Milbury$ $50,000 Stan Jonathan $50,000 Dwight Foster$ $50,000 Bob Miller $40,000 John Wensink$ $40,000 $1,960,000 (21)

Buffalo Gil Perreault$ $200,000 Richard Martin $170,000 Jim Schoenfeld$ $115,000 Danny Gare $105,000 Jocelyn Guevrement$ $100,000 Rene Robert$ $100,000 Gerry Desjardins $90,000 Fred Stanfield$ $90,000 Lee Fogolin $85,000 Ron Schock$ $85,000 Jerry Korab$ $80,000 Bill Hajt $80,000 Andre Savard$ $75,000 Craig Ramsay$ $70,000 Don Luce $65,000 Jim Lorentz$ $60,000 Gary McAdam$ $60,000 Don Edwards $50,000 Bob Sauve$ $50,000 Ric Seiling$ $50,000 $1,780,000 (20)

Chicago Tony Esposito $200,000 Stan Mikita$ $200,000 Dale Tallon $150,000 Alain Daigle$ $80,000 J. Bob Kelly $80,000 Grant Mulvey$ $80,000 J. P. Bordeleau$ $75,000 Pierre Plante $70,000 Darcy Rota$ $70,000 Mike Veisor$ $70,000 Ted Bulley $60,000 Bob Murray$ $60,000 Mike O'Connell$ $55,000 Doug Wilson $55,000 Dave Logan$ $50,000 Kirk Bowman$ $45,000 Reg Kerr $45,000 $1,445,000 (17)

Cleveland Gilles Meloche$ $125,000 Jim Neilson $125,000 Rick Hampton$ $95,000 Dennis Maruk $95,000 Gary Edwards$ $90,000 Al MacAdam$ $85,000 Walt McKechnie $85,000 J. P. Parise$ $80,000 Jean Potvin$ $70,000 Chuck Arnason $60,000 Mike Fidler$ $60,000 Greg Smith$ $60,000 Dave Gardner $55,000 Randy Holt$ $55,000 Bob Murdoch$ $50,000 Robert Stewart $50,000 Kris Manery$ $45,000 John Baby$ $40,000 Rick Jodzio $40,000 $1,365,000 (19)

Colorado Wilf Paiement$ $160,000 Doug Favell $155,000 Michel Plasse$ $90,000 Gary Croteau $55,000 Paul Gardner$ $55,000 Nelson Pyatt$ $55,000 Fred Ahern $50,000 Denis Dupere$ $50,000 Bryan Lefley$ $50,000 Dave Hudson $45,000 Mike Kitchen$ $45,000 Andy Spruce$ $35,000 Randy Pierce $35,000 Ron Delorme$ $35,000 Joe Contini$ $30,000 $890,000 (14)

Detroit Vaclav Nedomansky $150,000 Jim Rutherford$ $135,000 Dennis Hextall $120,000 Terry Harper$ $110,000 Nick Libett $110,000 Greg Joly$ $100,000 Dennis Polonich$ $60,000 Jean Hamel $55,000 Perry Miller$ $55,000 Errol Thompson $55,000 Rick Bowness$ $50,000 Paul Woods$ $50,000 John Hilworth $45,000 Larry Wright$ $45,000 $1,140,000 (14)

Los Angeles Marcel Dionne $320,000 Syl Apps$ $150,000 Mike Murphy$ $120,000 Rogatien Vachon $120,000 Danny Grant$ $110,000 Butch Goring $100,000 Glenn Goldup$ $90,000 Don Kozak$ $85,000 Bob Murdoch $85,000 Gary Simmons$ $85,000 Hartland Monahan$ $80,000 Larry Brown $70,000 Randy Manery$ $70,000 Tommy Williams $70,000 Pete Stemkowski$ $65,000 Vic Venasky$ $65,000 Gary Sergeant $60,000 Bert Wilson$ $55,000 Dave Hutchison $50,000 Robert Palmer$ $45,000 Dave Taylor$ $45,000 $1,940,000 (21)

Minnesota Glenn Sharpley $75,000 Harvey Bennett$ $70,000 Roland Eriksson $70,000 Doug Hicks$ $70,000 Tim Young$ $65,000 Kent-Erik Andersson $60,000 Per Olov Brasar$ $60,000 Dean Talafous $60,000 Tom Younghans$ $55,000 Bryan Maxwell $55,000 Paul Harrison$ $55,000 Bill Butters$ $50,000 Jerome Engele $50,000 Jim Roberts$ $50,000 Ron Zanussi$ $50,000 $895,000 (21)

Montreal Ken Dryden $180,000 Guy Lafleur$ $180,000 Guy Lapointe $175,000 Yvan Cournoyer$ $160,000 Serge Savard$ $155,000 Jacques Lemaire $135,000 Larry Robinson$ $125,000 Steve Shutt $120,000 Doug Risebrough$ $80,000 Rick Chartraw$ $75,000 Mario Tremblay $75,000 Murray Wilson$ $75,000 Doug Jarvis $70,000 Pierre Mondou$ $70,000 Bill Nyrop$ $70,000 Gilles Lupien $55,000 Brian Engblom$ $55,000 $1,855,000 (17)

N.Y.Islanders Denis Potvin $150,000 Bill Harris$ $125,000 Ed Westfall$ $110,000 Glenn Resch $100,000 Clark Gillies$ $95,000 Bob Nystrom $90,000 Billy Smith$ $90,000 Bryan Trottier$ $90,000 Bert Marshall $80,000 Wayne Merrick$ $80,000 Bob Bourne $75,000 Jude Drouin$ $75,000 Gerry Hart$ $75,000 Lorne Henning $75,000 Garry Howatt$ $75,000 Stefan Persson$ $60,000 Pat Price $70,000 Dave Lewis$ $70,000 Mike Kaszycki$ $55,000 Mike Bossy $50,000
$1,690,000 (20)

N.Y. Rangers Phil Esposito $325,000 Walter Tkaczuk$ $250,000 Wayne Dillon$ $175,000 Carol Vadnais $120,000 Dave Maloney$ $110,000 Steve Vickers $105,000 Don Awrey$ $100,000 John Davidson$ $100,000 Wayne Thomas $100,000 Hardy Astrom$ $80,000 Pat Hickey $80,000 Don Murdoch$ $75,000 Ron Duguay$ $70,000 Lucien Deblois $65,000 Nick Fotiu$ $65,000 Dave Farrish$ $65,000 Ed Johnstone $60,000 Mark Heaslip$ $55,000 Mike McEwen$ $50,000 $2,050,000 (19)

Philadelphia Bobby Clarke $160,000 Bill Barber$ $150,000 Rick MacLeish $150,000 Bernie Parent$ $140,000 Gary Dornhoefer $120,000 Jim Watson$ $115,000 Bob Dailey$ $110,000 Joe Watson $100,000 Wayne Stephenson$ $95,000 Orest Kindrachuk $90,000 Reggie Leach$ $90,000 Ross Lonsberry$ $90,000 Tom Bladon $80,000 Mel Bridgman$ $80,000 Andre Dupont$ $80,000 Rick Lapointe $80,000 Don Saleski$ $80,000 Bob Kelly$ $75,000 Paul Holmgren $70,000 Barry Dean$ $60,000 Kevin McCarthy $55,000 Dave Hoyda$ $45,000
$2,115,000 (22)

Pittsburgh Jean Pronovost$ $135,000 Dave Burrows $125,000 Pete Mahovlich$ $125,000 Rick Kehoe $110,000 Ron Stackhouse$ $110,000 David Schultz$ $100,000 Denis Herron $90,000 Dunc Wilson$ $90,000 Lowell MacDonald $80,000 Gene Carr$ $75,000 Mike Corrigan$ $75,000 Tom Edur $75,000 Wayne Bianchin$ $70,000 Russ Anderson$ $60,000 Colin Campbell $60,000 Blair Chapman$ $60,000 Brian Spencer $60,000 Peter Lee$ $55,000 Mario Faubert$ $50,000 Greg Malone $50,000 John Flesch$ $40,000 $1,695,000 (21)

St. Louis Garry Unger $175,000 Red Berenson$ $125,000 Phil Myre$ $105,000 Rod Seiling $105,000 Bill Fairbairn$ $100,000 Barry Gibbs $100,000 Jim Roberts$ $100,000 Inge Hammarstrom$ $95,000 Larry Patey $90,000 Curt Bennett$ $85,000 Claude Larose $85,000 Bruce Affleck$ $80,000 Bernie Federko$ $70,000 Neil Komadoski $70,000 Brian Ogilvie$ $65,000 Doug Grant $60,000 Bob Hess$ $60,000 Gary Holt$ $60,000 Brian Sutter $55,000 Jack Brownschidle$ $50,000 Tony Currie$ $45,000 $1,780,000 (21)

Toronto Darryl Sittler $165,000 Borje Salming $ $155,000 Lanny McDonald $145,000 Ron Ellis$ $140,000 Ian Turnbull $120,000 Dan Maloney $ $105,000 David Williams $ $105,000 Jack Valiquette $85,000 George Ferguson $ $80,000 Brian Glennie $80,000 Mike Palmateer $ $75,000 Mike Pelyk $75,000 Gord McRae $ $70,000 Stan Weir $ $70,000 Jerry Butler $60,000 Pat Boutette $ $50,000 Trevor Johansen $ $50,000 Jimmy Jones $40,000 Ron Wilson $ $40,000 $1,710,000 (19)

Vancouver Pit Martin $140,000 Don Lever$ $120,000 Dennis Ververgaert $120,000 Cesare Maniago$ $105,000 Hilliard Graves $100,000 Mike Walton$ $100,000 Dennis Kearns $90,000 Garry Monahan$ $85,000 Chris Oddliefson$ $80,000 Ron Sedlbauer $80,000 Rick Blight$ $75,000 Curt Ridley$ $75,000 Sheldon Kannegiesser $70,000 Harold Snepsts$ $70,000 Jere Gillis $65,000 Jack McIlhargey$ $65,000 Claire Alexander $60,000 John Grisdale$ $60,000 Gerry O'Flaherty$ $60,000 Brad Gassoff $50,000 Bob Manno$ $50,000 $1,720,000 (21)

Washington Guy Charron $85,000 Bryan Watson$ $80,000 Bill Collins$ $75,000 Ace Bailey $70,000 Jack Lynch$ $70,000 Gerry Meehan$ $70,000 Bob Sirois $70,000 Yvon Labre$ $65,000 Bernie Wolfe$ $65,000 Dave Forbes $60,000 Bob Girard$ $60,000 Mike Marson$ $60,000 Robert Picard $60,000 Ron Lalonde$ $55,000 Bill Riley$ $55,000 Gordie Smith $55,000 Jim Bedard$ $50,000 Larry Bolonchuk$ $50,000 Gordie Lane $50,000 Mark Lofthouse$ $50,000 Tom Rowe $50,000 $1,305,000 (21)

 

[Ralph Spoilsport]

League total: $28,730,000

(if my math is correct--I did this quickly so feel free to correct any errors if you spot them...)

 

[MadLuke]

Well sure, now. But in 1978? By 2019 even College Football has figured out that fans will pay anything regardless. In 1978 that wasn't the case. Tickets were a lot cheaper, and I mean in relative to inflation and such.

Why would they sells tickets cheaper than what they are selling now ? If they are selling them....