First WHA Player

Who will be the first player to sign with a WHA team (excluding Brett Hull) and risk being looked down upon if the league flatters or pass up the chance to play in Europe if there is a lockout?

Take a shot.

My pick,
Chris Chelios

I'd have to say Lindros, but he might be traded to toronto before he signs :D .

It's going to be a guy whose WHA team will give him their $5 million cap exemption, whose NHL team would never give him that much.

Sidney Crosby.


:teach:

We will see some amazing deja vu with Brett Hull (I know, other than Hull), Glenn Murray (Derek Sanderson), and Sydney Crosby (Wayne Gretzky) all joining the WHA.

Dave

Sidney Crosby.


:teach:
That would be sweet.

Why?

Because he'd be playing in Toronto!

Travis Green. Has to be some reason why he was picked so early.

Travis Green. Has to be some reason why he was picked so early.
I agree it has to be Green .. I bet they have a verbal argeement in place already and it seems like a thing Green would do .. It would go down in History and his name in lights as the first player signed by the NEW WHA .. That would fit Travis Green to a T...

Crosby would be another good choice but that will take some time considering we are talking about big bucks here ..

Here is a complete shock out of left field.

I think the first player will be signed to a one year contract, and could very well be for the exemption. My guess:

THOMAS VANEK

lots has been said about him, and the fact that Buffalo hasn't signed him yet. Imagine if he signed in the WHA. He would have a real chance to showcase his talent.

You want a guess, here it is.

Here is a complete shock out of left field.

I think the first player will be signed to a one year contract, and could very well be for the exemption. My guess:

THOMAS VANEK

lots has been said about him, and the fact that Buffalo hasn't signed him yet. Imagine if he signed in the WHA. He would have a real chance to showcase his talent.

You want a guess, here it is.
:shakehead

Yannick Perreault to Quebec

I agree it has to be Green .. I bet they have a verbal argeement in place already and it seems like a thing Green would do .. It would go down in History and his name in lights as the first player signed by the NEW WHA .. That would fit Travis Green to a T...

Crosby would be another good choice but that will take some time considering we are talking about big bucks here ..

Travis Green was on AM 910 (Phoenix, AZ) radio with Gambo & Ash in the afternoon. He had some comments that may be of interest.

- He didn't know he had been drafted in the WHA draft until a friend of his told him Sunday.
- He has yet to be in contact with anyone involved with the WHA, and even joked, "Do they have a coach or GM yet?"
- He feels that the Euro's will play the full season in Europe for sure, including many NA players.
- NHLPA has prepared the players for a 2 year holdout.

He didn't seem that into playing in the WHA, and even talked about signing to play in Europe. He said he will play hockey next season, it's just a matter of where. He also mentioned he would like to re-sign with Boston, but they didn't seem to want to sign anyone this summer.

I agree it has to be Green .. I bet they have a verbal argeement in place already and it seems like a thing Green would do .. It would go down in History and his name in lights as the first player signed by the NEW WHA .. That would fit Travis Green to a T...

Crosby would be another good choice but that will take some time considering we are talking about big bucks here ..

They could pay Crosby $1 or $2 million if they don't make him the franchise salary player. Why play for $500 a week in junior if you can make that much cash? Crosby could get injured this year and never play hockey again. Why take the risk?

Honestly though, I think it will be the minor leaguers first to sign and then some of the rookies that were drafted. The top NHLers will take the longest to sign.

Chelios has already signed with the Wings....


MY PICK....

BRETT HULL

...Reasons...

-Unrestricted Free Agent

-Definately get to play next year for daddy
-will make 5Million playing for the Dallas Americans a city where he has played before.

Travis Green was on AM 910 (Phoenix, AZ) radio with Gambo & Ash in the afternoon. He had some comments that may be of interest.

- He didn't know he had been drafted in the WHA draft until a friend of his told him Sunday.
- He has yet to be in contact with anyone involved with the WHA, and even joked, "Do they have a coach or GM yet?"


Now that's bizarre. Why draft Green so high without even talking to him first?

Now that's bizarre. Why draft Green so high without even talking to him first?
First thought that occured to me was that it was a safety pick. Someone they felt would be easier to pry from teh NHL then say Ilya Kovalchuk.

Now that's bizarre. Why draft Green so high without even talking to him first?

:joker: Who knows...y'know I have nothing against this league but everything I read about it just makes it seem like more of a joke. I wouldn't put it past them to just have drafted Green that high because they *think* he's very likely to play in the WHL and haven't even talked to him. I mean, look at the rationale Toronto's GM used for drafting Thornton even after he signed with Davos:

Link (http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1090102225251&call_pageid=1044442959412&col=1044442957278)
The Toros went for the enormous splash early in the draft, taking Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins in the first round, even though Thornton is going to arbitration and will be under contract to the Bruins if there is an NHL season. And if there isn't, he has already signed a contract to play with Davos of the Swiss Elite League.

"Maybe he (Thornton) has agreed to go to Switzerland, but that's something I don't know for sure," Badali said. "If he has an out-clause if the NHL starts, maybe there's an out that will apply to anybody."

:lol: Sound good to me! He has an out-clause for the NHL so I bet he has an out-clause for other leagues too, even if they don't technically exist yet!

When does the WHA season start? Should they be starting to sign some players soon.... as in like ANY players soon?

When does the WHA season start? Should they be starting to sign some players soon.... as in like ANY players soon?
The President of the WHA said November. Players, coaches, and GM's all need to be hired.

The President of the WHA said November. Players, coaches, and GM's all need to be hired.

It's November now? They were saying October last month.

Norm Milley...

Why?Because he sucks!:D

Travis Green

any news on signings? Or are they all gonna wait until Sept 16th?

I have been recently given reason to believe that the answer will be:

Simon Gagne.

The Quebec team is rumoured to be set to offer him $5 million, though I'm not sure how true that is.

Stephane Veilleaux

First thought that occured to me was that it was a safety pick. Someone they felt would be easier to pry from teh NHL then say Ilya Kovalchuk.

But Green doesn't have any star power does he? I certainly wouldn't rank him as an NHL star. Who wants to pay $65 for a ticket to see Travis Green?

But Green doesn't have any star power does he? I certainly wouldn't rank him as an NHL star. Who wants to pay $65 for a ticket to see Travis Green?

Aren't WHA tickets like, $15 bucks?

Aren't WHA tickets like, $15 bucks?
I read on another thread that Boby Hull sd tickets would be an "affordable $60 for a premiere ticket"....what a joke. Here's something that is never going to happen - Me spending $300 for 4 tickets, parking, snacks, and a couple of Vancouver Blazers #1 foam fingers for my family to go see a game when a team "Starring" a Travis Green-like player comes to town. again....what a joke.

Paul Kariya. He wants to play hockey, not get attacked by the dozens of goons in the NHL. I think the WHA is going to be a safe haven for the elite players from the NHL. NO more clutching and grabbing, slashing etc. The WHA is going to enforce the referees to call many penalties allowing the skilled players to have more room to move around without worrying about getting hacked and slashed.

If it is not already signed, I am sure that
Simon Gamache received a contract offer from Quevec

If it is not already signed, I am sure that
Simon Gamache received a contract offer from Quebec

Aren't WHA tickets like, $15 bucks?

$15-$65.