Gretzky’s WHA Goals

[Red7]

The NFL now includes AFL and AAFC stats and MLB recognizes Negro League stats. Should the NHL follow suit and recognize WHA stats? If so, Gordie Howe would have an amazing 975 goals and Gretzky 940.

[HighStick]

Ovi would be (upset)!

[Red7]

Bobby Hull would have 913!

[rezero]

Ovi would be (upset)!

…so would Putin

[TimmyVee]

God I loved the WHA. Hockey News carried their box scores and while I couldn’t see the action, I saw my old, now unretired heroes scoring goals in my mind! Keon, Ullman, Frank Mahovolich……Lots of fights, brawls, cool jerseys! I have several books on the history of the league, I miss those days even if they did suck away some stars from the NHL. The Blues were mostly (bleep) during this time (I still bought season tickets) and this league was a nice diversion. If it were today, you could watch all the games….dreaming!

[larueskee]

Ichiro would have 4367 hits if MLB recognized his Japan league hits. The WHA robbed the NHL of players looking to make the big bucks. The players that left for the big checks left their NHL stats to idle, until the league folded. I say leave the stats alone.

[leedog68]

Sadaharu Oh hit 868 home runs in Japan. If they count Negro League stats, why isn't he the home run king? BTW he is still alive at 85 years old.

[lidstrom5]

Yes. The WHA was a good league in spite of what these NHL know it all knuckleheads think. The Jets challenged the Canadians to a series and the Canadians said no. The Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson line was the best in hockey at that time. Parent goes and wins Cups in Philly and look what the Oilers did a few years after they were allowed in the NHL.

[Red7]

Yes. The WHA was a good league in spite of what these NHL know it all knuckleheads think. The Jets challenged the Canadians to a series and the Canadians said no. The Hull, Hedberg and Nilsson line was the best in hockey at that time. Parent goes and wins Cups in Philly and look what the Oilers did a few years after they were allowed in the NHL.

The Canadiens said no for a lot of valid reasons: 1. To play the Jets would have legitimized the WHA, and neither the NHL or the Canadiens had any interest in doing that. 2. The Canadiens were in a no-win situation: if they win, well, sure you beat a minor league team. Big deal. If they lost, they got beat by a minor league team. (Not saying the Jets WERE a minor league club, just that would have been the reaction).

Parent had been a very good goalie prior to jumping leagues. So, his success with the Flyers isn’t proof of the WHA’s legitimacy.

[moose-and-squirrel]

what next? KHL? SHL? Brentwood Sr Mens league?