Winnipeg Jets History

Mortimer Snerd

You kids get off my lawn!
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Jun 10, 2014
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1979_avco_cup_reunion.jpg


1979 Winnipeg Jets reunite - kenoraonline.com

That last Aavco Cup was 40 years ago! I won't say it seems like yesterday - but it doesn't feel like 40 years. Sure makes me feel old though. :(
 
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DannyGallivan

Your world frightens and confuses me
Aug 25, 2017
7,608
10,249
Melonville
June 27, 1972 - it was 47 years ago today the Golden Jet Bobby Hull signed with the Winnipeg Jets. His signing with the Jets would alter the course of hockey history. Without Hull joining the Jets it is highly unlikely that we would have NHL hockey in Winnipeg today.

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hull_check.jpg
hatskin_hull.jpg
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hullsigning.jpg
... nor in Edmonton or Carolina (maybe not even in Colorado, since the Rockies failed).
 

Gm0ney

Unicorns salient
Oct 12, 2011
14,635
13,425
Winnipeg
... nor in Edmonton or Carolina (maybe not even in Colorado, since the Rockies failed).
Edmonton might have ended up with the Blues when they were going to move in the 80s. They almost went to Saskatoon but the BoG nixed that because Saskatoon was too small...Edmonton would've had a good shot though - Northlands was a pretty nice new arena. I imagine Winnipeg would've still had the shit-dump, unexpanded, 10,000 seat Winnipeg Arena in 1983 so Edmonton would've been the preferable candidate. Or maybe Edmonton would've got the Atlanta Flames in 1980 and Calgary could've landed the Blues.
 

voyageur

Hockey fanatic
Jul 10, 2011
9,467
8,157
I think a lot of people forget how far we have come.



2011-12 Winnipeg Jets roster and statistics


Head Coach: Claude Noel (37-35-0-10)
Assistant Coach: Pascal Vincent
Assistant Coach: Charlie Huddy
Goalie Coach: Wade Flaherty
Video Coach: Tony Borgford

View photo gallery [38 photos of 38 players]

Regular SeasonPlayoffsVitals
#Player NamePos.GPGAPtsPIM+/-GPGAPtsPIMBirthplaceAge
26Blake WheelerR80174764553----------MN: Plymouth25
9Evander KaneL743027575311----------BC: Vancouver20
33Dustin ByfuglienD6612415372-8----------MN: Roseau26
16Andrew LaddL8228225064-8----------BC: Maple Ridge25
13Kyle WellwoodC7718294743----------ONT: Windsor28
18Bryan LittleC7424224626-11----------ALTA: Edmonton23
80Nikolai AntropovR69152035420----------Kazakhstan: Ust-Kamenogorsk31
39Tobias EnstromD6262733386----------Sweden: Nordingra26
4Zach BogosianD655253071-3----------NY: Massena21
8Alexander BurmistrovC76131528424----------Russia: Kazan19
14Tim StapletonR6311162710-2----------IL: Forest Park29
19Jim SlaterC781382142-9----------MI: Lapeer28
15Tanner GlassL785111673-12----------SASK: Regina27
5Mark StuartD803111498-4----------MN: Rochester27
20Antti MiettinenL4558130-5----------Finland: Hameenlinna31
29Johnny Oduya 1 D632111333-9----------Sweden: Stockholm29
22Chris ThorburnR72471183-6----------ONT: Sault Ste. Marie28
6Ron HainseyD5601010239----------CT: Bolton30
46Spencer MachacekR1327978----------ALTA: Lethbridge22
36Mark FloodD3334710-1----------PEI: Charlottetown26
49Ben Maxwell 2 C914503----------BC: North Vancouver23
17Eric FehrC3521312-6----------MAN: Winkler25
24Grant Clitsome 3 D120338-3----------ONT: Gloucester26
12Randy JonesD3911284----------NB: Quispamsis30
25Brett MacLeanL502221----------ONT: London22
31Ondrej PavelecG6802200----------Czech Rep.: Kladno24
Mark ScheifeleC710100----------ONT: Kitchener18
41Jason JaffrayL130117-1----------ALTA: Rimbey30
34Peter ManninoG100000----------MI: Farmington Hills27
7Derek MeechD200041----------MAN: Winnipeg27
38Paul PostmaD300000----------ALTA: Red Deer22
53Brett FesterlingD50002-1----------BC: Prince George25
48Carl KlingbergL60004-1----------Sweden: Gothenburg20
21Aaron GagnonF70000-1----------BC: Quesnel25
23Kenndal McArdleL90004-3----------ONT: Toronto24
44Arturs KuldaD900043----------Latvia: Riga23
28Patrice CormierC900001----------NB: Moncton21
50Chris MasonG2000000----------ALTA: Red Deer35
Totals221382603901
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]
Goalies
Player NameGPMinGAGAAWLTSvsPctENSO
Peter Mannino12000.0041.00010
Chris Mason20995432.598713790.89802
Ondrej Pavelec6839321912.912928918450.90674
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
 

TCsmyth

Registered User
Mar 25, 2011
1,330
257
The Jets couldn't protect Ruskowski. He wasn't their property.

This is incorrect - what do you mean not their property? They could protect 2 skaters and 2 goaltenders...Lukowich and Campbell, and Gary Smith and Markus Mattson. Preston, Ruskowski and the others had to be surrendered. Here was the conditions:
As part of the agreement, the NHL treated the WHA teams' arrival as an expansion rather than an outright merger. The former WHA clubs were stripped of most of their players, and NHL teams were given the right to reclaim players from the WHA clubs without compensation. As a concession for being stripped of most of their players, the former WHA clubs were permitted to keep two goaltenders and two skaters. The four former WHA teams were also placed at the end of the draft order for the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, as opposed to previous and future NHL expansion teams, which had been placed at or very near the front of the draft order.

Little different then how Vegas was treated :(
 
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Jun 15, 2013
5,571
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This is incorrect - what do you mean not their property? They could protect 2 skaters and 2 goaltenders...Lukowich and Campbell, and Gary Smith and Markus Mattson. Preston, Ruskowski and the others had to be surrendered. Here was the conditions:
As part of the agreement, the NHL treated the WHA teams' arrival as an expansion rather than an outright merger. The former WHA clubs were stripped of most of their players, and NHL teams were given the right to reclaim players from the WHA clubs without compensation. As a concession for being stripped of most of their players, the former WHA clubs were permitted to keep two goaltenders and two skaters. The four former WHA teams were also placed at the end of the draft order for the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, as opposed to previous and future NHL expansion teams, which had been placed at or very near the front of the draft order.

Little different then how Vegas was treated :(

You are indeed correct and I overstated Ruskoski's availability to be a "priority selection" and thus have his NHL rights voided by the merger agreement.

With that said, Ruskowski was drafted in the NHL by the Chicago Blackhawks. He was their property but yes priority selection status could have changed that. Not sure where my head was at when I first posted but likely due to his barely being a Jet in the first place, having been one of four players that included Rich Preston, Morris Lukowich & Scott Campbell that came over from the Houston Aeros when their franchise folded two months before the final WHA season began.

The point of my OP was how bad the 78-79 Jets were, despite being the Avco Cup winner, they & the league were a shadow of their former glory. Someone had stated that the Jets were robbed of their talent, but there was little talent, almost the entire 78-79 team was out of pro hockey within two years of the merger.

With only two skaters to be protected and only four players worth protecting, Kent Nilsson, Morris Lukowich, Terry Ruskowski & Scott Campbell the Jets rolled the dice and lost. Campbell at 21 years of age was a 9th overall NHL selection and 1st overall in the WHA draft. He was a no brainer. Sadly breathing is an important aspect of hockey and chronic asthma had in in retirement by 25.

The poster I responded to claimed Ruskowski "was the heart and soul of the Jets". The recent 40 year anniversary had a good portion of that team back in town, with the focus being how divided the room was being comprised of the Winnipeg Jets & the Houston Aeros, two teams that hated each other. I'd hardly call any of the Aeros players the "heart & soul" of that team. Regardless Aeros Ruskowski & Lukowich were undoubtably two of the three best forwards.

The error however was never Ruskowski failing to be chosen as a priority selection as opposed to Lukowich.

It has always been the failure to have used one of those two selections on the "Magic Man" Kent Neilson who went on to be one of the best players of his generation.
 

TCsmyth

Registered User
Mar 25, 2011
1,330
257
You are indeed correct and I overstated Ruskoski's availability to be a "priority selection" and thus have his NHL rights voided by the merger agreement.

With that said, Ruskowski was drafted in the NHL by the Chicago Blackhawks. He was their property but yes priority selection status could have changed that. Not sure where my head was at when I first posted but likely due to his barely being a Jet in the first place, having been one of four players that included Rich Preston, Morris Lukowich & Scott Campbell that came over from the Houston Aeros when their franchise folded two months before the final WHA season began.

The point of my OP was how bad the 78-79 Jets were, despite being the Avco Cup winner, they & the league were a shadow of their former glory. Someone had stated that the Jets were robbed of their talent, but there was little talent, almost the entire 78-79 team was out of pro hockey within two years of the merger.

With only two skaters to be protected and only four players worth protecting, Kent Nilsson, Morris Lukowich, Terry Ruskowski & Scott Campbell the Jets rolled the dice and lost. Campbell at 21 years of age was a 9th overall NHL selection and 1st overall in the WHA draft. He was a no brainer. Sadly breathing is an important aspect of hockey and chronic asthma had in in retirement by 25.

The poster I responded to claimed Ruskowski "was the heart and soul of the Jets". The recent 40 year anniversary had a good portion of that team back in town, with the focus being how divided the room was being comprised of the Winnipeg Jets & the Houston Aeros, two teams that hated each other. I'd hardly call any of the Aeros players the "heart & soul" of that team. Regardless Aeros Ruskowski & Lukowich were undoubtably two of the three best forwards.

The error however was never Ruskowski failing to be chosen as a priority selection as opposed to Lukowich.

It has always been the failure to have used one of those two selections on the "Magic Man" Kent Neilson who went on to be one of the best players of his generation.

Really good post Fonz. I would argue that Ruskowski was the heart and soul of that particular team and their playoff run despite being from the Aeros. Also, I would add Rich Preston, Barry Long and Willy Lindstrom (the latter 2 who we ended up getting back) to that mix of really quality NHL players at the time.

Agree on Nilsson, and the error wasn’t Lukowich (who played quite well as an NHL Jet) but Scott Campbell. As I said, liked your post!
 

Guardian17

Strong & Free
Aug 29, 2010
16,101
23,592
Winnipeg
This is incorrect - what do you mean not their property? They could protect 2 skaters and 2 goaltenders...Lukowich and Campbell, and Gary Smith and Markus Mattson. Preston, Ruskowski and the others had to be surrendered. Here was the conditions:
As part of the agreement, the NHL treated the WHA teams' arrival as an expansion rather than an outright merger. The former WHA clubs were stripped of most of their players, and NHL teams were given the right to reclaim players from the WHA clubs without compensation. As a concession for being stripped of most of their players, the former WHA clubs were permitted to keep two goaltenders and two skaters. The four former WHA teams were also placed at the end of the draft order for the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, as opposed to previous and future NHL expansion teams, which had been placed at or very near the front of the draft order.

Little different then how Vegas was treated :(

No kiddin! :(
 

Jetfaninflorida

Southernmost Jet Fan
Dec 13, 2013
15,690
18,975
Florida
I think a lot of people forget how far we have come.



2011-12 Winnipeg Jets roster and statistics


Head Coach: Claude Noel (37-35-0-10)
Assistant Coach: Pascal Vincent
Assistant Coach: Charlie Huddy
Goalie Coach: Wade Flaherty
Video Coach: Tony Borgford

View photo gallery [38 photos of 38 players]

Regular SeasonPlayoffsVitals
#Player NamePos.GPGAPtsPIM+/-GPGAPtsPIMBirthplaceAge
26Blake WheelerR80174764553----------MN: Plymouth25
9Evander KaneL743027575311----------BC: Vancouver20
33Dustin ByfuglienD6612415372-8----------MN: Roseau26
16Andrew LaddL8228225064-8----------BC: Maple Ridge25
13Kyle WellwoodC7718294743----------ONT: Windsor28
18Bryan LittleC7424224626-11----------ALTA: Edmonton23
80Nikolai AntropovR69152035420----------Kazakhstan: Ust-Kamenogorsk31
39Tobias EnstromD6262733386----------Sweden: Nordingra26
4Zach BogosianD655253071-3----------NY: Massena21
8Alexander BurmistrovC76131528424----------Russia: Kazan19
14Tim StapletonR6311162710-2----------IL: Forest Park29
19Jim SlaterC781382142-9----------MI: Lapeer28
15Tanner GlassL785111673-12----------SASK: Regina27
5Mark StuartD803111498-4----------MN: Rochester27
20Antti MiettinenL4558130-5----------Finland: Hameenlinna31
29Johnny Oduya 1 D632111333-9----------Sweden: Stockholm29
22Chris ThorburnR72471183-6----------ONT: Sault Ste. Marie28
6Ron HainseyD5601010239----------CT: Bolton30
46Spencer MachacekR1327978----------ALTA: Lethbridge22
36Mark FloodD3334710-1----------PEI: Charlottetown26
49Ben Maxwell 2 C914503----------BC: North Vancouver23
17Eric FehrC3521312-6----------MAN: Winkler25
24Grant Clitsome 3 D120338-3----------ONT: Gloucester26
12Randy JonesD3911284----------NB: Quispamsis30
25Brett MacLeanL502221----------ONT: London22
31Ondrej PavelecG6802200----------Czech Rep.: Kladno24
Mark ScheifeleC710100----------ONT: Kitchener18
41Jason JaffrayL130117-1----------ALTA: Rimbey30
34Peter ManninoG100000----------MI: Farmington Hills27
7Derek MeechD200041----------MAN: Winnipeg27
38Paul PostmaD300000----------ALTA: Red Deer22
53Brett FesterlingD50002-1----------BC: Prince George25
48Carl KlingbergL60004-1----------Sweden: Gothenburg20
21Aaron GagnonF70000-1----------BC: Quesnel25
23Kenndal McArdleL90004-3----------ONT: Toronto24
44Arturs KuldaD900043----------Latvia: Riga23
28Patrice CormierC900001----------NB: Moncton21
50Chris MasonG2000000----------ALTA: Red Deer35
Totals221382603901
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]
Goalies
Player NameGPMinGAGAAWLTSvsPctENSO
Peter Mannino12000.0041.00010
Chris Mason20995432.598713790.89802
Ondrej Pavelec6839321912.912928918450.90674
[TBODY] [/TBODY]
[TBODY] [/TBODY]

It's entirely possible that the 2011-12 Jets have a better record than the 2019-20 Jets.
 

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