WHA vs NHL questions

MiamiScreamingEagles

Global Moderator
Jan 17, 2004
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48,005
It was an economic decision for some players to go to the WHA and even referees one of whom was Bill Friday who IIRC said he got a 3-year contract in the WHA with what have been six years to earn in the NHL. At the time of the WHA's birth, the NHL had about half the teams that exist today. There was a plan in place for the NHL to expand to two cities every two years in the 1970s and some of that was to offset the growth of the rival League. The WHA's talent level initially was not on par with the NHL in a team-by-team comparison but as the League developed the stronger organizations in the WHA could have competed in the NHL, not so much against the top teams in the mid-70s but certainly would have retained a measure of success against the weaker NHL teams. The talent pool wasn't as deep in that point in time as we see today. Finances eventually hurt the WHA and there were NHL teams floundering as well. The NHL lost top talents to the WHA and there was a concern that the stars would be drawn to the contracts offered in the WHA. Also, the WHA had the 18-year-old rule which the NHL did not and a reason for that was so the newer League could sway younger players but also fill out rosters. Ken Linseman sued the NHL because he was not permitted to play in the League (20 year old draft mandate) since he was 18 years of age at the time and ultimately played for the Birmingham Bulls. Eventually, the WHA became unstable except in certain markets and the NHL acquired four teams into its house.
 
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JMCx4

Censorship is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Sep 3, 2017
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St. Louis, MO
The "talent" gap between NHL ad WHA was less about player talent & more about ownership and League leadership talent. Too many bad business decisions doomed the WHA (e.g., choices of home cities, signing top NHL players to mind-boggling contracts, pursuing expansion before their initial franchises & the WHA brand had time to get established), with the extra burden of the North American economy in the 1970s.

The "rivalry" mostly existed in board rooms, with NHL owners at first ignoring the WHA as a short-term annoyance but eventually being forced to deal with the other League in order to restabilize the NHL's sports market share.
 

tony d

Registered User
Jun 23, 2007
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Behind A Tree
I think there was a rivalry for sure especially as it relates to player movement. There were some cities with both NHL and WHA teams as well? I wonder if there was rivalaries there for fan support.
 
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Habsfan18

The Hockey Library
May 13, 2003
30,614
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Ontario
The NHL and its GM’s would practically refuse to even acknowledge the WHA towards the beginning.

WHA teams actually fared pretty well vs NHL clubs during their exhibition matchups.

Star wise and depth wise however, the NHL was miles ahead.
 
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Chili

En boca cerrada no entran moscas
Jun 10, 2004
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Seem to remember that the WHA was ahead of the NHL in bringing over European talent, including Vaclav Nedomansky.

The Hull, Hedberg & Nilsson line was called the best line in hockey for a while.

Gretzky, Messier, Goulet and several other future NHLers started their careers in the WHA. NHL draft was for 20 year olds at the time but would soon change when the leagues merged.

More then anything, when Bobby Hull signed to play in the WHA it changed salaries around the NHL. There was a lot of competition for players, teams were forced to ante up or risk losing their best players.
 
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