The World Hockey Association general player draft was held over the course of two days, February 12 and 13, 1972, in Anaheim, California. The purpose of the draft was to establish an orderly process through which WHA teams would stock their rosters by the beginning of their inaugural season later that year. As such, players from other professional teams (notably National Hockey League clubs) were eligible to be drafted. The draftees were not under any legal obligation to sign with the drafting WHA club: other WHA clubs were prevented from negotiating with the players who had been drafted.

The draft was held in two parts: a "preliminary" round in which teams made so-called "priority" selections, and the rounds of the "general draft" which followed. For the preliminary round which was held in November 1971, each team wrote four names on a piece of paper, which were then submitted and announced prior to the start of the general draft.1972 WHA Draft Pick Transactions The priority selections were the most sought after players, consisting mostly of NHL veterans and highly touted prospects.

Twelve teams took part in the draft: the Calgary Broncos, Chicago Cougars, Dayton Aeros, Edmonton Oil Kings, Los Angeles Sharks, Miami Screaming Eagles, Minnesota Fighting Saints, New England Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, and three then-unnamed franchises based in New York (later the Raiders), Ontario (later the Ottawa Nationals) and Quebec City (later the Nordiques).

The Broncos folded within months, before the beginning of the season, and the negotiating rights to their picks were transferred to a new club: the Cleveland Crusaders. Similarly the Screaming Eagles never took to the ice, and their picks transferred to the Philadelphia Blazers. The Dayton Aeros moved to Houston before the playing season, and the Oil Kings changed their name to Alberta Oilers with the intent of splitting home games between Edmonton and Calgary.

Preliminary round

Calgary Broncos Player Position Nationality Team League D Minnesota North Stars NHL C Toronto Maple Leafs NHL D Montreal Canadiens NHL G Seattle Totems WHL

Chicago Cougars Player Position Nationality Team League C Chicago Black Hawks NHL D Chicago Black Hawks NHL D Toronto Maple Leafs NHL G Chicago Black Hawks NHL

Dayton Aeros Player Position Nationality Team League RW Toronto Maple Leafs NHL LW Phoenix Roadrunners WHL C Phoenix Roadrunners WHL G Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL

Alberta Oilers Player Position Nationality Team League C Toronto Maple Leafs NHL C Philadelphia Flyers NHL C New York Rangers NHL G Montreal Canadiens NHL

Los Angeles Sharks Player Position Nationality Team League G Montreal Canadiens NHL C Buffalo Sabres NHL D Boston Bruins NHL LW Port Huron Wings IHL

Miami Screaming Eagles Player Position Nationality Team League G Toronto Maple Leafs NHL C Minnesota North Stars NHL C Boston Bruins NHL D Chicago Black Hawks NHL

Minnesota Fighting Saints Player Position Nationality Team League LW Montreal Canadiens NHL G United States Olympic team RW Minnesota North Stars NHL D Vancouver Canucks NHL

New England Whalers Player Position Nationality Team League C California Golden Seals NHL G Boston Bruins NHL D Toronto Maple Leafs NHL C Montreal Canadiens NHL

New York Player Position Nationality Team League G Chicago Black Hawks NHL C Toronto Marlboros OHA RW Toronto Marlboros OHA LW Toronto Marlboros OHA

Ontario Player Position Nationality Team League G Philadelphia Flyers NHL C Toronto Maple Leafs NHL D New York Rangers NHL LW Buffalo Sabres NHL

Quebec City Player Position Nationality Team League G New York Rangers NHL D Montreal Canadiens NHL F Montreal Canadiens NHL RW Boston Bruins NHL

Winnipeg Jets Player Position Nationality Team League LW Chicago Black Hawks NHL D Boston Bruins NHL LW New York Rangers NHL G St. Louis Blues NHL

Regular rounds

Calgary Broncos

Rounds 1–10 Player Position Nationality Team League D University of Alberta Golden Bears CIAU F Calgary Centennials WCHL LW Philadelphia Flyers NHL F Calgary Centennials WCHL RW Queen's University Golden Gaels CIAU RW California Golden Seals NHL C Dallas Black Hawks CHL C Oklahoma City Blazers CHL C Calgary Centennials WCHL D Calgary Centennials WCHL

Rounds 11–20 Player Position Nationality Team League LW Boston Braves AHL F HC CSKA Moscow USSR F SC Riessersee Bundesliga C New Westminster Bruins WCHL C Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL F New Westminster Bruins WCHL G Columbus Golden Seals IHL LW Nova Scotia Voyageurs AHL D Boston Bruins NHL C Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL

Rounds 21–50 Player Position Nationality Team League LW Medicine Hat Tigers WCHL G Omaha Knights CHL D Regina Pats WCHL F CSKA Moscow USSR C Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL D Toledo Hornets IHL G Dallas Black Hawks CHL D San Diego Gulls WHL LW CSKA Moscow USSR D Seattle Totems WHL G Vancouver Canucks NHL LW Cleveland Barons AHL D Fort Worth Wings CHL F / Düsseldorfer EG Bundesliga RW Salt Lake Golden Eagles WHL LW Calgary Centennials WCHL D C New Westminster Bruins WCHL C Muskegon Mohawks IHL RW Pittsburgh Penguins NHL D Cincinnati Swords AHL LW Cleveland Barons AHL RW Nelson Maple Leafs WIHL C HC Slovan Bratislava Czech. LW Cleveland Barons AHL C Assat Pori SM-sarja C Toronto Maple Leafs NHL RW San Diego Gulls WHL D Philadelphia Flyers NHL

Rounds 51–70 Player Position Nationality Team League G University of ManitobaCIAU G Long Island DucksEHL D Dallas Black HawksCHL C Spokane JetsWIHL C Calgary StampedersPrHL LW New Westminster BruinsWCHL RW California Golden SealsNHL LW Omaha KnightsCHL D Oklahoma City BlazersCHL F Saskatoon BladesWCHL C Fort Wayne KometsIHL RW EV LandshutGermany G Portland BuckaroosWHL D Charlotte CheckersEHL C Saskatoon QuakersPrHL D University of North DakotaNCAA C Roanoke Valley RebelsEHL

Rounds 71+ Player Position Nationality Team League DSalt Lake Golden EaglesWHL CFlint Generals IHL LWDayton Gems IHL CRetired DDayton Gems IHL DOklahoma City BlazersCHL CHC Dynamo MoscowUSSR LWMichigan TechNCAA CHC CSKA MoscowUSSR CProvidence RedsAHL CFort Wayne Komets IHL

Chicago Cougars

Dayton Aeros

Edmonton Oil Kings

Los Angeles Sharks

Miami Screaming Eagles

Minnesota Fighting Saints

New England Whalers

New York

Ontario

Quebec City

Winnipeg Jets

Footnotes

References