Honor Roll
The following is a list of players who performed with distinction and stood above others while wearing the Jets uniform. The Jets only retired #9 for Bobby Hull and #25 for Thomas Steen, but many others were also deserving of recognition while representing the Jets.
His signing at the corner of Portage and Main was what got it all started. The most prolific scorer the Jets ever had, and was the first Jet to have his number retired. He scored 50 or more goals four times and scored 307 goals in total in 429 games.
Came to the Jets in 1974 and was put with Bobby Hull and Ulf Nilsson to form the "Hot Line" which tore up the WHA. Played four seasons for the Jets and was signed by the New York Rangers. He put up some incredible numbers and was part of a line that may be among the best in hockey history. Scored 50 goals or more in each of his four seasons, as well as totalling 100 points or more in each season, his best season coming in 1976-77 when he had 70 goals and 131 points.
With Anders Hedberg, came to the Jets in 1974 and also left with Hedberg to the Rangers after four fantastic seasons. His role on the "Hot Line" was more of a playmaker, but still scored 140 goals in 300 games, and totalled 114 points or more in each of his four seasons. Also had an amazing +65 rating in 1975-76.
Another Swede who came to the Jets in 1974, he was the best defenseman in Jets history. Played six seasons for the Jets, served as captain for four seasons, including the team's first season they entered the NHL.
Came to the Jets in 1978 after the Houston Aeros folded, and played a significant part of the final Avco Cup championship. He was one of two skaters the Jets were allowed to protect as they entered the NHL. Played seven seasons with the Jets and was one of the game's best goal scorers during his career. He scored 30 goals or more in five of his first six seasons as a Jet, scoring 65 in the Jets final season in the WHA.
Played for the Jets in each of their seven seasons in the WHA, and was the best goaltender in team history. Played in 308 games, which is the most of any Jets goaltender, and played in over 50 games in a season three times. Had a winning record in five of the seven seasons he played and his 167 wins is another team record.
The draft choice that the Jets received for finishing the 1980-81 season with only nine wins was used to select Dale Hawerchuk, and he proved to be the more prolific scorer the team had during it's NHL existence. Played nine seasons with the Jets, accumulating 929 points over 713 games. Only in December 2000 did he receive any official acknowledgement for his efforts as a Jet, when the Mark Chipman Moose gave him an evening to celebrate his accomplishments, then spoiled that evening by inviting Glen Murray, Mayor over Winnipeg, one of the people who worked so hard to send the Jets to their death.
Selected by the Jets in their first ever NHL draft in 1979, made his Jets debut in the 1981-82 season. He played 14 seasons as a Jet, accumulating 950 games, the most in Jets history in both categories. Never spectacular, but a solid performer for the years he played, and only one of two players the Jets honored by having his number retired. He was branded the "Swedish Goon" by QBC entertainer Don Cherry for his style of play which was the opposite of most players who came from Sweden that did not play a physical style.
Originally acquired from Pittsburgh for Moe Mantha and a first round draft choice in 1984, went on to play 10 seasons with the Jets, then stayed in Winnipeg as first a broadcaster, then an assistant coach. Outstanding defenseman and good leader off the ice. After the Jets left for Arizona, he stayed behind to first be the assistant head coach and assistant general manager of the Mark Chipman Moose, then was later elevated to head coach and general manager once Jean Perron was fired. He later became a figurehead for the Moose, serving as the ceremonial President of the team before moving on to coach in the NHL.
Played four seasons with the Jets after being selected 10th overall in the 1988 Draft. In his rookie season, scored 76 goals and 132 points, and was justly named the NHL Rookie of the Year. Classy player on and off the ice, and was spitefully traded by Barry Shenkarow and Richard Burke in what will go down as one of the worst trades in the history of pro sports.
Selected by the Jets in the 1986 Draft, then went on to play eight seasons for the Jets, first appearing in the 1988-89 season, and was with the team at the very end as they moved to Arizona. A generally underrated defensive defenseman, very durable and dependable. Played 547 games for the Jets, and was the last player off the ice when they were eliminated from the playoffs for the last time. Twice he led the team in plus-minus rating.
Came to the Jets in 1975 and played eight seasons and 604 games in a Jets uniform. Known as "Willy the Wisp," he was one of many Swedish players who came over the ocean and served the Jets very well over his career. In March 1982, scored five goals in a game against Philadelphia, but was a solid and consistent performer, scoring at least 20 goals in each season as a Jet, and had a high of 44 goals in the 1976-77 season.
A slow, lumbering forward that the Jets picked up from the St. Louis Blues in 1981 as a throw-in in a five-player trade. Most of his goals came from a five foot radius around the goal crease, and he knew how to maximize the role of picking up garbage goals along side Dale Hawerchuk. He played seven seasons as a Jet before being dealt in June, 1988, scoring no less than 27 goals in each season and topped out at 41 goals and 101 points in 1984-85.