Nitzy's Hockey Den

WHA Competition Raises NHL Salaries "The average salary increase in the NHL in the 1971/72 season was 15 percent. But because of competition from the WHA, the average increase in the NHL for the 1972/73 season may reach 35 percent. "Alan Eagleson Executive Director NHLPA, Aug. 17, 1972 Globe and Mail He continued, "The players who played for $15,000 last season have negotiated 100 percent increases." He guessed that the WHA has cost the NHL "about $5-million additional salaries." The average NHL payroll in the NHL last season, he again guessed, was $620,000. "Next season I believe payrolls per club will be up to $900,000 or $1-million." Smythe Says No to Hull  "I don't think contract breakers should represent Canada." Conn Smythe, Aug. 16, 1972 Globe and Mail. Smythe is referring to Bobby Hull who recently jumped to the WHA from the NHL's Chicago Black Hawks. "As for Hull being the greatest left-winger in the game, not many...

Fifty years ago this month, the upstart World Hockey Association was finalizing plans to go up against he long-established National Hockey League. What follows are a few news-making items from August of 1972. Clarence Campbell, WHA Won't Last a Year. "This is an economic battle, and we are being wounded very seriously." Clarence Campbell, Aug. 14, 1972, Globe and Mail. Despite the fact that Campbell believes the WHA-NHL bidding feud could have been far worse. "In fact, I'm glad that they are starting their operation this season. Another year of talking before they got rolling would have been more expensive. And if this is an economic confrontation, the surest way for them to fail is to get started. My personal opinion is that the WHA won't last a year."Campbell figured that the addition of Nick Miletti's Cleveland (Crusaders) franchise was a major plus for th e new league. Miletti turned to the WHA after his application for an NHL franchise was turne...