WHA free agent and amateur drafts

[DanCan]

The WHA's (World Hockey Association -- in case you don't recall) first free agent draft has taken place at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort.

Guess who was picked in the first round? Todd Bertuzzi, Dany Heatley...and Eric Lindros!

Here's the first round list:


 
1st Round Selection
 
1. Québec: Simon Gagné (Philadelphia (NHL)

2. Halifax: Travis Green (Boston (NHL)

3. Detroit: Dany Heatley (Atlanta (NHL)

4. Hamilton: Michael Ryder (Montréal (NHL)

5. Toronto : Joe Thornton ( Boston (NHL) Dancan: Hmm..thought he was supposed to play in Switzerland?

6. Founders' franchise: Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver (NHL)
Dancan: good name: Flounder's Franchise ;D

7. Dallas: Eric Lindros: N.Y. Rangers (NHL) Dancan: What on earth are they thinking in Dallas?

8. Florida: Brad Richards (Tampa Bay (NHL)

 
Link to full list: WHA Free Agent Draft

[DanCan]

I just noticed that Hamilton picked Theo Fleury in one of the later rounds! It's not a joke!

I'm amazed that Mike Danton wasn't picked!

[DanCan]

WHA's amateur draft[/b] took place today Sunday. As expected, Sidney Crosby was the first choice, picked by Toronto. Like in the 1970s the WHA's minimum age is 17 and this made it possible to draft Sidney Crosby who was too young to participate in the NHL draft last month.

Sidney Crosby is widely regarded as the worlds biggest hockey talent since Wayne Gretzky in the 1970s.

Interestingly, Gretzky was also drafted by the WHA (by Edmonton Oilers), and never by the NHL. Will history repeat itself?

WHA Amateur Draft, first five rounds

1ST ROUND

1. Toronto, Sidney Crosby (Rimouski (QMJHL))
2. Halifax, Thomas Vanek (Minnesota (NCAA))
3. Detroit, Andre Benoit (Kitchener (OHL))
4. Hamilton, Corey Locke (Ottawa (OHL))
5. Toronto, Dion Phaneuf (Red Deer (WHL))
6. Quebec, Steve Bernier (Moncton (QMJHL))
7. Florida, Patrick O'Sullivan (Mississauga (OHL))
8. Founders, Brent Seabrooke (Lethbridge (WHL))

2ND ROUND

9. Founders, Eric Fehr (Brandon (WHL))
10. Florida, Jeff Tambellini (Michigan (NCAA))
11. Quebec, Jean-François Jacques (Baie-Comeau (QMJHL))
12. Dallas, Andrew Ladd (Calgary (WHL))
13. Hamilton, Ryan Suter (Wisconsin (NCAA))
14. Detroit, Patrick Jarrett (Owen Sound (OHL))
15. Halifax, Dan Sisca (Sarnia (OHL))
16. Toronto, Geoff Platt (Erie (OHL))

3RD ROUND

17. Dallas, Boris Valabik (Kitchener (OHL))
18. Halifax, Tim Brent (St. Michael's (OHL))
19. Detroit, Danny Richmond (London (OHL))
20. Hamilton, Andrei Kastsitsyn (CSKA (RUS))
21. Dallas, Al Montoya (Michigan (NCAA))
22. Québec, Lukas Kaspar (Litvinov (CZE))
23. Florida, Hugh Jessiman (Dartmouth (NCAA))
24. Founders, Braydon Coburn (Portland (WHL))


4TH ROUND

25. Founders, Kyle Greentree (Victoria (BCHL))
26. Florida, Eric Nystrom (Michigan (NCAA))
27. Québec, Corey Crawford (Moncton (QMJHL))
28. Dallas, Cam Barker (Medicine Hat (WHL))
29. Hamilton, Tobias Stephan (Kloten (SUI))
30. Detroit, Jonathan Lehun (Owen Sound (OHL))
31. Halifax, Robert Gherson (Owen Sound (OHL))
32. Toronto, Peter Tsimikalis (Ottawa (OHL))

5TH ROUND

33. Toronto, Kevin Klein (Guelph (OHL))
34. Halifax, David Backes (Min State-Mankato (NCAA))
35. Detroit, Robert Nilsson (Leksand (SWE))
36. Hamilton, Brandon Prust (London (OHL))
37. Dallas, Shea Weber (Kelowna (WHL))
38. Québec, Alexandre Picard (Lewiston (QMJHL))
39. Florida, Anthony Stewart (Kingston (OHL))
40. Founders, Derek Meech (Red Deer (WHL)

Full coverage: WHA Amateur Draft

[DanCan]

Since Gretzky has said that Sidney Crosby could be the player who breaks his scoring record, the Crosby story deserves some links:

, Globe and Mail, 19 July 2004, WHA hopes Crosby will follow Gretzky's path to stardom
USA Today, 19 July 2004, WHA trumps NHL by taking Crosby No. 1
Toronto Star, 19 July 2004, Wannabe league picks Crosby
Newsday/Los Angeles Times, 19 July, The Future is Here (feature article on Crosby)

[NyQuil]

Heh, will Crosby then be ineligible for the Calder Trophy like Gretzky?

[roots]

DanCan said:

I just noticed that Hamilton picked Theo Fleury in one of the later rounds! It's not a joke!

I'm amazed that Mike Danton wasn't picked!

funny i said the same thing..the draft has not increased my enthusiasm for the WHA in fact i lost some...

[Jazz]

DanCan said:

Here's the first round list:
1st Round Selection
1. Québec: Simon Gagné (Philadelphia (NHL)
2. Halifax: Travis Green (Boston (NHL)
3. Detroit: Dany Heatley (Atlanta (NHL)
4. Hamilton: Michael Ryder (Montréal (NHL)
5. Toronto : Joe Thornton ( Boston (NHL) Dancan:
6. Founders' franchise: Todd Bertuzzi (Vancouver (NHL)
7. Dallas: Eric Lindros: N.Y. Rangers (NHL)
8. Florida: Brad Richards (Tampa Bay (NHL)
....

Even looking at this the first round.....

Travis Green 2nd overall??
Eric Lindros before Brad Richards??

I know it also has to do with what players you would expect to actually sign, but come on....

[sundinluver]

if the players drafted actually played in the league i wouldnt mind watchin the wha....but thas only gonna happen in the land off happy bunnies and rainbows that in turn will get u on the pric is right

[roots]

the Halifax Ice breakers earlier this week promised to have named g.m and coaching staff by today..its 10:31 and nothing yet...id hold my breath in protest but don't relish passing out and doing a face plant!


question im not much on rules..if your under NHL contract, and theres a strike can you play in this league..they drafted folks under contract so im assuming yes...strike could actually make the rosters kinda interestng...i vaguely recall the orignal league?