Why was Gretzky undrafted?
Rising superstar Wayne Gretzky had played for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA’s final season. But Gretzky, faced with the likelihood of having to play for the struggling Colorado Rockies if he were to enter the draft, refused to void his contract with Pocklington.
When was Messier drafted?
1991New York Rangers
1979Edmonton Oilers
Mark Messier/Dates joined
What number draft pick was Wayne Gretzky?
Gretzky was later taken by Sault Ste. Marie with the third overall pick. Both players enjoyed success in junior, but the Great One easily totaled the best single-season. We had an opportunity to speak one-on-one with Bassin and uncover the reason why he passed on Gretzky 40 years ago.
Who did the Oilers protect in 1979?
Bengt-Ake Gustafsson
13. The NHL denied the Oilers’ claim of Bengt-Ake Gustafsson….Priority selections.
| No. | 1. |
|---|---|
| Player | Dave Dryden (G) |
| Rights Denied | Buffalo Sabres |
| Rights Kept | Edmonton Oilers |
How did Edmonton get Gretzky?
Gretzky played just 8 games for the Racers before the team, in financial trouble, sold his contract to the Edmonton Oilers. Peter Pocklington assumed Gretzky’s contract, and later extended it to a ten-year deal.
What did Messier do to the Stanley Cup?
1987: After the Edmonton Oilers won their third title in four years, Mark Messier brought the Cup to his favorite club in his hometown (St. Albert, Alberta) and allowed fans to drink from it. It wound up being bent in a few places and was repaired at a local body shop before being returned to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
When did Messier retire?
2004
Mark Messier/Career end
Life After Retirement After the 2004-05 lockout year, in the summer of 2005, Messier decided to retire. The following year, Messier had his No. 11 retired by the New York Rangers during an emotional ceremony on Jan. 12, 2006.
Which team did Wayne Gretsky never play for?
Gretzky ended his professional playing career with the New York Rangers, where he played his final three seasons and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997.
Is Gretzky undrafted?
Move to the NHL When the WHA/NHL merger (officially termed an NHL expansion) was finally approved in March, 1979, each WHA team was allowed to claim two players from their WHA roster. Gretzky was the obvious choice of Edmonton, and thus he moved to the NHL without ever being drafted.
Where was the 1979 NHL Entry Draft held?
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League (NHL) teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings.
Who was the expansion team for the NHL in 1979?
The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league’s new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets.
Who was the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1979?
Ray Bourque and Mark Messier are two of the most successful players in NHL history. Bourque, who won the Stanley Cup for the first time in his final season, was voted winner of the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 1979-80 and of the Norris Trophy as best defenseman in the League five times (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994).
Where did Gretzky go in the 1979 NHL draft?
After deliberation, the Oilers were allowed to keep Gretzky as one of their priority selections, and agreed to choose last in each round of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft as further compensation.