Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)
WHA powerhouse that joined the NHL and later relocated to Phoenix.
The Winnipeg Jets were a professional ice hockey team from Winnipeg that first hit the ice in the World Hockey Association (WHA) in 1972. When the WHA merged with the National Hockey League in 1979, the Jets joined the NHL. Their home rink was Winnipeg Arena.
The Jets dominated the WHA, making the playoffs every year except the 1974–75 season. They won the Avco Cup three times—in 1976, 1978, and 1979—and also reached the finals in 1973 and 1977. Life in the NHL started rough, partly because of the 1979 expansion draft. Over their first two NHL seasons (1979–80 and 1980–81), the team went a combined 29–106–25. Still, they made the Stanley Cup playoffs every year from 1981–82 through 1987–88, though they only finished with a winning record twice in that stretch (1984–85 and 1986–87). Those were also the only two times the Jets advanced past the first round while based in Winnipeg.
By the early 1990s, the Jets ran into money trouble. Rule changes to free agency, a weakening Canadian dollar, and an aging Winnipeg Arena—over 40 years old, with no luxury suites and many obstructed views—all hurt. Winnipeg also became the NHL’s smallest market after the Quebec Nordiques moved to Denver as the Colorado Avalanche in 1995–96. A plan to replace the old arena fell through in 1996. Owner Barry Shenkarow then sold the team to Steven Gluckstern and Richard Burke for $65 million. They tried to move the team to Minneapolis–Saint Paul, but when that fell apart, they struck a deal with Phoenix Suns owner Jerry Colangelo to relocate to Phoenix, Arizona. The Jets played their final home game—and final game ever—on April 28, 1996, losing 4–1 to the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs. All team records stayed with the relocated franchise, which first competed as the Phoenix Coyotes and later renamed itself the Arizona Coyotes. In April 2024, after years of financial struggles, the Coyotes suspended operations. Their players and hockey operations staff were transferred to the new Utah Mammoth, while the Coyotes’ intellectual property (name, logos, etc.) remained in Phoenix.
Fifteen years later, the NHL returned to Winnipeg before the 2011–12 season when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated. That new team was allowed to use the Winnipeg Jets name and played its first home game on October 9, 2011, at the MTS Centre.
Quick Facts
- Can Eng
- 1
- Team Name
- Winnipeg Jets
- Text Color
- #000000
- Founded
- 1972
- History
- Winnipeg Jets / 1972–1979 (WHA) / 1979–1996 (NHL) / Phoenix Coyotes / 1996–2014 / Arizona Coyotes / 2014–2024
- Arena
- Winnipeg Arena
- City
- Winnipeg, Manitoba
- Team Colors
- Blue, red, white / #012169 #C8102E #FFFFFF
- Stanley Cups
- 0
- Avco
- 3 (1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79)
- Division Titles
- 3 (1972–73, 1975–76, 1977–78)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Winnipeg Jets were granted a founding franchise in the WHA on December 27, 1971, with original owner Ben Hatskin. The team took its name from Hatskin's Winnipeg Jets of the Western Canada Hockey League. The first major signing was Bobby Hull, whose record $1 million signing bonus gave the WHA instant credibility. The Jets were the first North American club to seriously explore Europe as a source of talent, acquiring Swedish forwards Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson, who formed the famous 'Hot Line' with Hull, and defenceman Lars-Erik Sjoberg. The Jets won the Avco Cup in 1976, 1978, and 1979, and appeared in the finals in 1973 and 1977. In the WHA's final season, they defeated Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers for the championship.
Upon entering the NHL in 1979, the Jets were forced to give up three of their top six scorers in the expansion draft and drafted 18th out of 21 teams. They struggled early, going a combined 29–106–25 through the 1979–80 and 1980–81 seasons. The team made the Stanley Cup playoffs every season from 1981–82 to 1987–88, but only finished with a winning record twice (1984–85 and 1986–87), which were also the only times they advanced past the first round while in Winnipeg. Key players included Dale Hawerchuk, Thomas Steen, Paul MacLean, and Randy Carlyle.
During the early 1990s, the Jets experienced financial difficulties due to rule changes to free agency, a weakening Canadian dollar, and the aging Winnipeg Arena, which had no luxury suites and numerous obstructed views. Winnipeg became the NHL's smallest market after the Quebec Nordiques relocated to Denver in 1995–96. After a failed plan to replace the arena in 1996, owner Barry Shenkarow sold the team for $65 million. The new owners reached an agreement to move the team to Phoenix, Arizona. The Jets played their final home game on April 28, 1996, a 4–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs.
Reader's Guide
The Winnipeg Jets were the most successful franchise in the World Hockey Association, winning the Avco Cup three times and pioneering the integration of European talent into North American hockey. Their signing of Bobby Hull in 1972 gave the WHA legitimacy and paved the way for other NHL stars to join the upstart league. The Jets' 1976 Avco Cup victory was the first championship for Winnipeg since the Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in 1962. Upon joining the NHL in 1979, the team struggled due to the expansion draft but eventually became a consistent playoff presence, though they rarely advanced past the first round. Financial difficulties stemming from a weak Canadian dollar, free agency rule changes, and an outdated arena led to the team's relocation to Phoenix in 1996, where they became the Coyotes. The NHL returned to Winnipeg in 2011 when the Atlanta Thrashers relocated and were granted permission to use the Jets name. The original Jets' records were retained by the relocated franchise, which suspended operations in 2024, with its assets transferred to the Utah Mammoth.
Did You Know?
- Bobby Hull signed a 10-year contract to play and coach with the Jets, with a $1 million signing bonus.
- The team's final home game was a 4–1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 28, 1996.
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