It annoys me no end that André Lacroix is never mentioned despite being the all-time scoring leader in the WHA and a truly skilled and creative hockey player in his day. He did all he did with mediocre teams and average linemates that he made look great. His peak years weren't in the NHL, which may be all that matters now that the HHOF is a branch of the NHL Inc. marketing machine, but you'd think the anti-WHA bitterness would have worn off by now.
Oh ya, he has been mentioned & discussed here on the HOH Board. Couple of threads buried somewhere back in the archives, "Top Center" projects etc and certainly worthy of discussion & consideration.... wasnt Drafted out of Junior with Peterborough despite scoring 85G's & chalking up 154A's in just 97 Games due primarily to his rather diminutive size (5'8"). He signed with the Quebec Aces which the Flyers had purchased giving them a decidedly french flavor for the first few years of their existence, Lacroix having 3 - 20+ goal seasons and developing into a fan favorite however, the Flyers were getting manhandled and so Snider demanded they get bigger/tougher and with Bobby Clarke, Bill Clement, Ed Joyal, Michel Parizeau & a young Rick MacLeish on the way Lacroix was considered expendable.
Traded to Chicago for size in one Rick Foley who only played a handful of NHL games, spending most of his career in the minors. So essentially, Philly got nothin for what was a tremendously talented albeit smallish player who had he been playing for the Habs or any other number of teams, just mightve turned the league on its ear. In Chicago he was behind 5 or 6 guys, no hope really, bombed pretty much so when the Blazers of the WHA came calling, he was gone. Tenure in Philadelphia short-lived, winding up with New York / New Jersey, then San Diego I believe. 3X WHA All Star, had 100Pts' or more in 6 consecutive seasons, 2X's lead the league in goals & ranks 4th on the WHA's All Time Goal Scoring Charts. All Star pick in the 74 Summit Series as well if Im not mistaken. Did return to the NHL with Hartford though played sparingly in his final season.
As for an amalgamation of the now existing WHA Hall of Fame & the HHOF, I unfortunately think that that ship has sailed. What the HHOF should have done and based on your comments it looks like we agree was to have done precisely that back in 79/80 when the Oilers, Jets, Nordiques & Whalers joined the league. There are players & builders along with referee's & off ice officials, media personnel who should be recognized & inducted (Lacroix included), brought on-board & on-side. Seems only fair, right & just as the WHA did fare extremely well in exhibition games against the NHL, a great many players both former & post WHA notable NHL'rs and or individuals who's contributions or performances on ice should be honored. If their going to admit International Players & Builders along with Women I really dont see how they can justify almost completely ignoring the WHA but for a display case or two full of jerseys & sticks, souvenir programs & the like. Seriously, I think the HHOF should sit down with itself & decide its Mission Statement once & for all. Is it the NHL HHOF? If so, then guys like Tarasov & Ahearne have no business being in it, nor do women. Or is it the "Hockey Hall of Fame" as in all encompassing excluding Minor Pro?