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The Winnipeg Jets were an ice hockey franchise that existed in both the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League from 1972 to 1996. In 1996, the franchise was moved to Phoenix, Arizona, due to financial troubles and became the Phoenix Coyotes.
Franchise historyWHA Winnipeg Jets (1972 - 1979)Image:Winjetslogo3.gif The original Winnipeg Jets logo when the team joined the old WHA. The Jets' first signing was Norm Beaudin "the Original Jet" and its first major signing was Bobby Hull, also known as the Golden Jet. The move -- partially financed by the rest of the WHA's teams -- was widely seen as giving legitimacy to the WHA as a serious rival major league.
Another notable accomplishment was the Jets' 5-3 victory over the Soviet National team on January 5, 1978, making the Jets the first club team to ever defeat the Soviet elite squad.[1] Image:Jets Jersey 1972.gif Logo used on the Jets' jerseys from 1972-73 Career Leaders (WHA)
NHL Winnipeg Jets (1979 - 1996)Image:Winnipegjetslogo80s.gif Winnipeg's second logo, introduced in 1973 and used when it entered the NHL in 1979 until 1990 By 1979, the vast majority of the WHA's teams had folded, but the Jets were still going strong and they were absorbed into the NHL. In doing so, they had to give up three of their top six scorers--the core of the last WHA champion--and were forced to draft 18th out of 21 teams. With a decimated roster, the Jets finished last in the league in the next two seasons, including a horrendous 9-win season in 1980-81--still the worst in franchise history. This stands in marked contrast to the other 1979 Avco Cup finalist, the Oilers, who became one of the most powerful teams the game has ever seen during the 1980s. The Jets' first two wretched seasons did net them high draft picks, and in 1981, they drafted future Hall of Fame member Dale Hawerchuk. The team developed into a solid core of players by the mid-1980s, with Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Paul MacLean, Dave Babych, Randy Carlyle, Laurie Boschman, Doug Smail and David Ellett giving the Jets a solid nucleus and a chance to compete for a Stanley Cup championship. They played in the same division as the powerful Oilers and Flames (by this time in Calgary), however. Due to the way the playoffs were structured at the time, the Jets were all but assured of having to beat either the Oilers or the Flames (or both) to get to the conference finals. They finished 4th in the league in 1984-85, their best showing. They earned 96 points that season, still their best ever as an NHL team. 1987 was the last time that the Jets won a playoff series, defeating Calgary in the opening round — a drought that has continued to plague the franchise's current incarnation in Phoenix.
During their history, the Jets retired two numbers: #9, Bobby Hull, and #25, Thomas Steen. Both numbers hang in Glendale Arena with the new Phoenix Coyotes franchise. Bobby Hull's #9 jersey had been temporarily "un-retired" with the acquisition of his son Brett by the Phoenix franchise. Brett wore his father's famous jersey until his own retirement on October 152005, subsequent to which the number was re-retired. A number of former Jets remain active in the NHL; as of the 2006-7 preseason, these included Dallas Drake, Nikolai Khabibulin, Teppo Numminen, Teemu Selänne, Keith Tkachuk, Kris Draper, Chad Kilger and Oleg Tverdovsky. Shane Doan is the last Jet to remain with the Winnipeg-Phoenix franchise. Possible return to WinnipegThere is much support within the city to bring NHL hockey back to Winnipeg in order to restore the pride the city had in having an NHL team. The labour dispute of the 2004-05 between the NHL and NHLPA resurrected the hopes that Winnipeg may get another franchise if a team based in the southern United States or another non-traditional hockey region was unable to attract spectators following its resolution[2]. Another possibility for the NHL to return to Winnipeg is that of an expansion team, though the NHL has stated that it has no plans for expansion in the immediate future. During the 2006-2007 NHL All-Star Game in Dallas, Texas, Gary Bettman noted that Winnipeg could sustain an NHL team. A frenzy erupted in the local and national media and many Winnipeg businessmen expressed that they were pro-actively approaching the idea and were in the process of forming an ownership group. Season-by-season recordNote: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals scored for, GA = Goals scored against, PIM = Penalty minutes NHL Era
Notable PlayersTeam Captains (NHL Era)
First round draft picks (NHL Era)
Hall of Famers
Retired numbers
Winnipeg Jets Individual Records
See also
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