The World Hockey Association General Player Draft was held over the course of two days, February 12 and February 13, 1972, in Anaheim, California. The purpose of the draft was to establish an orderly process through which WHA teams would stock their rosters by the beginning of their inaugural season later that year. As such, players from other professional teams (notably National Hockey League clubs) were eligible to be drafted. The draftees were not under any legal obligation to sign with the drafting WHA club: other WHA clubs were prevented from negotiating with the players who had been drafted.
The draft was held in two parts: a preliminary round in which teams made so-called "priority" selections, and regular rounds to follow. The priority selections were the most sought after players, consisting mostly of NHL veterans and highly touted prospects.
Twelve teams took part in the draft: the Calgary Broncos, Chicago Cougars, Dayton Aeros, Edmonton Oil Kings, Los Angeles Sharks, Miami Screaming Eagles, Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, and three then-unnamed franchises based in New York (later the Raiders), Ontario (later the Ottawa Nationals) and Quebec City (later the Nordiques).
The Broncos folded within months, before the beginning of the season, and the negotiating rights to their picks were transferred to a new club: the Cleveland Crusaders. Similarly the Screaming Eagles never took to the ice, and their picks transferred to the Philadelphia Blazers. The Dayton Aeros moved to Houston before the playing season, and the Oil Kings changed their name to Alberta Oilers with the intent of splitting home games between Edmonton and Calgary.
Contents
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| Selections by team |
|
Calgary | Chicago | Dayton | Edmonton | Los Angeles | Miami | Minnesota | New England | New York | Ontario | Quebec City | Winnipeg |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barry Gibbs | D | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | NHL |
| Jim Harrison | C | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Dale Hoganson | D | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Jack Norris | G | Canada | Seattle Totems | WHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stan Mikita | F | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Jerry Korab | D | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Jim McKenny | D | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Gary Smith | G | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guy Trottier | RW | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Andre Hinse | LW | Canada | Phoenix Roadrunners | WHL |
| Larry Lund | D | Canada | Phoenix Roadrunners | WHL |
| Wayne Rutledge | G | Canada | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | WHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norm Ullman | C | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Bobby Clarke | C | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL |
| Bruce MacGregor | C | Canada | New York Rangers | NHL |
| Phil Myre | G | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ken Dryden | G | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Gilbert Perreault | C | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | NHL |
| Matt Ravlich | D | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Steve Sutherland | LW | Canada | Port Huron Wings | IHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernie Parent | G | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Jude Drouin | C | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | NHL |
| Derek Sanderson | C | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Bill White | D | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Mahovlich | LW | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Mike Curran | G | United States | United States Olympic team | |
| Bill Goldsworthy | RW | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | NHL |
| Dale Tallon | D | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Sheehan | C | United States | California Golden Seals | NHL |
| Eddie Johnston | G | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Rick Ley | D | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Larry Pleau | C | United States | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gerry Desjardins | G | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Dave Gardner | C | Canada | Toronto Marlboros | OHA |
| Billy Harris | RW | Canada | Toronto Marlboros | OHA |
| Steve Shutt | F | Canada | Toronto Marlboros | OHA |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Favell | G | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL |
| Dave Keon | C | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | NHL |
| Brad Park | D | Canada | New York Rangers | NHL |
| Eddie Shack | LW | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gilles Villemure | G | Canada | New York Rangers | NHL |
| Guy Lapointe | D | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| Jacques Lemaire | F | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | NHL |
| John McKenzie | RW | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby Hull | LW | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | NHL |
| Ted Green | D | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Ted Irvine | LW | Canada | New York Rangers | NHL |
| Ernie Wakely | G | Canada | St. Louis Blues | NHL |
| Selections by team |
|
Calgary | Chicago | Dayton | Edmonton | Los Angeles | Miami | Minnesota | New England | New York | Ontario | Quebec City | Winnipeg |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Carlyle | D | Canada | University of Alberta Golden Bears | CIAU |
| Ron Homenuke | F | Canada | Calgary Centennials | WCHL |
| Ross Lonsberry | LW | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | NHL |
| Jim McMasters | F | Canada | Calgary Centennials | WCHL |
| Morris Mott | RW | Canada | Queen's University Golden Gaels | CIAU |
| Gerry Pinder | RW | Canada | California Golden Seals | NHL |
| Larry Romanchych | C | Canada | Dallas Black Hawks | CHL |
| Gregg Sheppard | C | Canada | Oklahoma City Blazers | CHL |
| Brian Walker | C | Canada | Calgary Centennials | WCHL |
| Jimmy Watson | D | Canada | Calgary Centennials | WCHL |
| Player | Position | Nationality | Team | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ron Boehm | LW | Canada | Boston Braves | AHL |
| Anatoli Firsov | F | Soviet Union | HC CSKA Moscow | USSR |
| Jozef Golonka | F | Czechoslovakia | SC Riessersee | Bundesliga |
| Lorne Henning | C | Canada | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL |
| Skip Krake | C | Canada | Salt Lake Golden Eagles | WHL |
| Bernie Lukowich | F | Canada | New Westminster Bruins | WCHL |
| Ray Martyniuk | G | Canada | Columbus Golden Seals | IHL |
| Randy Rota | LW | Canada | Nova Scotia Voyageurs | AHL |
| Dallas Smith | D | Canada | Boston Bruins | NHL |
| Stan Weir | C | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers | WCHL |