WHA Winnipeg Jets Bobby Hull

Long unhappy because of his relatively poor salary in the period when he was hockey's preeminent superstar, Hull responded to overtures from the upstart World Hockey Association's Winnipeg Jets in 1972 by jesting that he'd jump to them for a million dollars, a sum then considered absurd. Gathering the other league owners together to contribute to the unprecedented amount on the grounds that inking such a major star gave instant credibility to the new rival league that was competing directly against the entrenched NHL, Jets' owner Ben Hatskin agreed to the sum, and signed Hull for a contract worth $1,000,000 over ten years. Although his debut with Winnipeg was held up in litigation by the NHL, Hull instantly became the WHA's greatest star, and with Swedish linemates Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson formed one of the most formidable forward lines of the 1970s (known as "The Hot Line"), leading the Jets to two AVCO Cups during his time with the club. His best year was 1975, when he scored 77 goals to set a new professional mark.

Because he joined the rival league, Hull was not allowed to represent Team Canada in the 1972 Summit Series. However in 1974 he got his chance to play on the international stage when he suited up for the WHA team representing Canada in a series against the USSR national team. The WHA lost the series four games to one (three ending in a tie), despite Hull's seven goals. He was a key member of the Canadian squad that won the 1976 Canada Cup, though, scoring five goals in seven games.

Bobby Hull
Left Wing
Born Jan 3 1939  -- Point Anne, ONT
Height 5.10 -- Weight 191 -- Shoots L


                                         --- Regular Season ---
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM 

1972-73  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    63   51   52  103   37
1973-74  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    75   53   42   95   38
1974-75  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    78   77   65  142   41
1975-76  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    80   53   70  123   30
1976-77  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    34   21   32   53   14
1977-78  Winnipeg Jets               WHA    77   46   71  117   23
1978-79  Winnipeg Jets               WHA     4    2    3    5    0

WHA Winnipeg Jets Bobby Hull