So, then Kerr is the best Free Agent signing?
Haha, MSE ... I totally forgot about those Miami Screaming Eagles.
... I do remember that the very first WHA Game in Philly had to be postponed when the ice surface at the Philadelphia Convention Hall -- or was it then called Civic Center?? -- cracked and was not serviceable.
And I remember being pissed as Hell at Bernie when he refused to suit up for Game One of the WHA Playoffs due to said pay dispute.
I remember the NY Raiders changed to the Golden Blades and all the players got golden bladed skates... and then it moved to Cherry Hill and they quickly needed uniforms; the only ones they could find that were the same and had enough fo the Team were ones with Chess Knights crests... So they became the Jersey Knights, with gold blade skats, and played their Home Games at the old Ice House (later called the Centrum) on Brace road in Cherry Hill, across from Kaminski's... a Flyers players' hangout... I saw most of their remaining Home Games there that Season... with the linked storm fence used instead of glass causing some wild-assed caroms... Exciting Offensive minded games... fun to watch. They were gone by the following Season; IIRC to Vancouver.
The WHA had a brief but extremely interesting lifespan.
... But I digress... What was the Thread Topic again?
You have a solid memory! And it was the Civic Center. The Blazers also signed Derek Sanderson, part of the Bruins' 1970s Cup teams, to what was the largest contract in pro sports history (at the time). IIRC, Parent was the first NHL player to sign with a WHA franchise.
This is Parent in his Blazers' get-up.
Well we've had mse check in on all of this, and we still haven't resolved whether or not Parent was a FA signing. I'm a little surprised by that.
I'm leaning in the direction that he was not, but I'm not sure. When a player's rights are traded, is he usually still technically under contract? I guess we'd need to know all about Toronto's contract with him and why they still had his rights when he jumped a couple of leagues. Maybe some heroic historian can come in and put this to rest.
I'm too young to remember Kerr. Can I say Timonen? He was pretty much a free agent signing.
Well we've had mse check in on all of this, and we still haven't resolved whether or not Parent was a FA signing. I'm a little surprised by that.
I'm leaning in the direction that he was not, but I'm not sure. When a player's rights are traded, is he usually still technically under contract? I guess we'd need to know all about Toronto's contract with him and why they still had his rights when he jumped a couple of leagues. Maybe some heroic historian can come in and put this to rest.