1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts
Encyclopedia
The 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts were held via telephone conference call on May 30, 1991. The dispersal draft took place to fill the roster of the league's only expansion team for the 1991–92 season, the San Jose Sharks
, first from the Minnesota North Stars
pool of players. An expansion draft was then held from the NHL pool of players. Both San Jose and Minnesota would participate.
, held minority ownership of the California Golden Seals
, the NHL team representing the San Francisco Bay Area
. The Seals had long-standing attendance problems, and the Gunds were instrumental in a move to Cleveland
in 1976, where the team became the Barons
. The move did not cure the franchise's financial struggles, and in 1978 the Gunds acquired the Minnesota North Stars
, another failing team and were permitted to merge the two teams, which would continue under the "Minnesota North Stars" banner.
In 1990, as a result of slipping attendance, the Gunds petitioned the NHL for permission to relocate the North Stars to the Bay Area. The NHL, however, wishing to maintain a presence in Minnesota, denied their request. As a compromise, the league agreed to award the Gund brothers a new NHL expansion franchise to be located in the Bay Area, which would become the San Jose Sharks. The Gunds would sell the North Stars to an NHL-approved purchaser. One of the conditions of sale and expansion deal was that the Sharks would have the right to draft players from the North Stars organization. After that draft, the North Stars' roster would be replenished by the expansion draft as well. This effectively undid the 1978 merger between the North Stars and the Cleveland Barons, previously the California Golden Seals, the Bay Area NHL team.
The Gunds paid $50 million for the Sharks franchise. They sold the North Stars to a consortium consisting of Howard Baldwin
, Morris Belzberg
and Norman Green for $31.5 million. A series of disputes led to the team being completely controlled by Green, who would eventually move the team to Dallas
after the 1992–93 season.
), the Sharks selected 14 skaters and two goaltenders. Up to three Shark selections could have been unsigned North Stars draft choices, while another three could have been players signed between May 2 and June 15, 1990.
After San Jose had chosen 14 skaters and two goaltenders from Minnesota, the teams would take turns choosing from the pool of unclaimed players until the Sharks roster reached thirty players.
Expansion Draft: The other 20 teams in the league were allowed to protect two goaltenders and 16 skaters. The Sharks and North Stars would take turns selecting from the pool of unprotected players until each had chosen ten players. 20 total players would be selected, one from each franchise.
As with most other Expansion Drafts, the majority of the players selected did not have lengthy NHL careers; many of them ended up in the minor leagues. San Jose's original minor league affiliate was the Kansas City Blades
of the International Hockey League. The Blades won the IHL Championship, the Turner Cup
, in 1992, and a majority of their players were under contract to San Jose. In fact, many of those players were under contract with the North Stars the previous year and played for a rival IHL team, the Kalamazoo Wings.
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, first from the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
pool of players. An expansion draft was then held from the NHL pool of players. Both San Jose and Minnesota would participate.
Background
Though the San Jose Sharks were technically founded in 1991, their lineage goes back further. In the 1970s, the Gund brothers, George and Gordon GundGordon Gund
Gordon Gund is an United States businessman and professional sports owner. He is the CEO of Gund Investment Corporation. He is the former co-owner of the San Jose Sharks and former principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers and is currently a minority owner of the Cavaliers...
, held minority ownership of the California Golden Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
, the NHL team representing the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. The Seals had long-standing attendance problems, and the Gunds were instrumental in a move to Cleveland
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
in 1976, where the team became the Barons
Cleveland Barons (NHL)
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League from 1976–78. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise, which had played in Oakland since 1967...
. The move did not cure the franchise's financial struggles, and in 1978 the Gunds acquired the Minnesota North Stars
Minnesota North Stars
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white...
, another failing team and were permitted to merge the two teams, which would continue under the "Minnesota North Stars" banner.
In 1990, as a result of slipping attendance, the Gunds petitioned the NHL for permission to relocate the North Stars to the Bay Area. The NHL, however, wishing to maintain a presence in Minnesota, denied their request. As a compromise, the league agreed to award the Gund brothers a new NHL expansion franchise to be located in the Bay Area, which would become the San Jose Sharks. The Gunds would sell the North Stars to an NHL-approved purchaser. One of the conditions of sale and expansion deal was that the Sharks would have the right to draft players from the North Stars organization. After that draft, the North Stars' roster would be replenished by the expansion draft as well. This effectively undid the 1978 merger between the North Stars and the Cleveland Barons, previously the California Golden Seals, the Bay Area NHL team.
The Gunds paid $50 million for the Sharks franchise. They sold the North Stars to a consortium consisting of Howard Baldwin
Howard Baldwin
Howard Baldwin is an American entrepreneur and film producer. He is the CEO of Baldwin Entertainment, which has produced films such as the Academy Award-nominated Ray. Baldwin founded the New England Whalers ice hockey franchise in the WHA and has also owned part of the Minnesota North Stars and...
, Morris Belzberg
Morris Belzberg
Morris Belzberg is a Canadian born businessman, who has lived in the United States since approximately 1966. He is the former owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He won the Stanley Cup with the team in 1992.- Background :Belzberg was the Chairman of Budget Rent A Car...
and Norman Green for $31.5 million. A series of disputes led to the team being completely controlled by Green, who would eventually move the team to Dallas
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
after the 1992–93 season.
Rules
Dispersal Draft: Before the draft, the North Stars selected 14 skaters and two goaltenders who had played at least 50 NHL games by the end of the 1989–90 season. These players were protected. From the unprotected North Stars players (but excluding 1990 draft picks1990 NHL Entry Draft
The 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft was the 28th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Vancouver Canucks at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada on June 16, 1990...
), the Sharks selected 14 skaters and two goaltenders. Up to three Shark selections could have been unsigned North Stars draft choices, while another three could have been players signed between May 2 and June 15, 1990.
After San Jose had chosen 14 skaters and two goaltenders from Minnesota, the teams would take turns choosing from the pool of unclaimed players until the Sharks roster reached thirty players.
Expansion Draft: The other 20 teams in the league were allowed to protect two goaltenders and 16 skaters. The Sharks and North Stars would take turns selecting from the pool of unprotected players until each had chosen ten players. 20 total players would be selected, one from each franchise.
Dispersal Draft results
The Sharks selected 24 players from the North Stars.| # | Player |
|---|---|
| 1. | Shane Churla Shane Churla Shane Churla is a former Canadian ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the sixth round, 110th overall, by the Hartford Whalers in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft... (RW Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... ) |
| 2. | Brian Hayward Brian Hayward Brian George Hayward is a former Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender and current colour analyst of the Anaheim Ducks on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West and KDOC.-Playing career:... (G Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring... ) |
| 3. | Neil Wilkinson (D Defenceman (ice hockey) Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring... ) |
| 4. | Rob Zettler Rob Zettler Rob Zettler is a former Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for 14 seasons with the Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Washington Capitals... (D) |
| 5. | Ed Courtenay Ed Courtenay Edward Emmett Courtenay is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger and head coach.-Professional career:... (RW) |
| 6. | Kevin Evans Kevin Evans Kevin Robert Evans was a professional ice hockey player who played briefly for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks of the NHL... (LW Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... ) |
| 7. | Link Gaetz Link Gaetz Link Gaetz, aka "the Missing Link", is a former professional ice hockey player known for his battles when he was an up-and-coming enforcer in the National Hockey League and his troubles on and off the ice while in the minor leagues... (D) |
| 8. | Dan Keczmer Dan Keczmer Daniel Leonard Keczmer is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted in the tenth round, 201st overall, by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft.... (D) |
| 9. | Dean Kolstad Dean Kolstad Dean Kolstad is a former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was drafted in the second round, 33rd overall, by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft... (D) |
| 10. | Peter Lappin Peter Lappin Peter John Lappin was a professional ice hockey player who played for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks of the NHL. Pror to his professional career, he served as co-captain of the St. Lawrence University Skating Saints.-Regular season and playoffs:-External links:... (RW) |
| 11. | Pat MacLeod Pat MacLeod Patrick L. MacLeod is a former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Minnesota North Stars, San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars in the 1990s.... (D) |
| 12. | Mike McHugh Mike McHugh Michael McHugh is a former National Hockey League left wing. He was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars with the first pick in the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft.... (LW) |
| 13. | Jarmo Myllys Jarmo Myllys Jarmo Myllys is a retired Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars as their ninth-round pick, #172 overall, in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft... (G) |
| 14. | J. F. Quintin (LW) |
| 15. | Scott Cashman (G) |
| 16. | Murray Garbutt (C Centre (ice hockey) The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player... ) |
| 17. | Rob Gaudreau Rob Gaudreau Robert Rene Gaudreau is an American retired professional ice hockey player.-Playing career:Gaudreau was drafted 172nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and started his National Hockey League career with the San Jose Sharks in 1992... (RW) |
| 18. | Arturs Irbe Arturs Irbe Artūrs Irbe is a former Soviet and Latvian professional ice hockey goaltender. He has played in the National Hockey League for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets. He served as the goaltending coach for the Washington Capitals... (G) |
| 19. | Shaun Kane (D) |
| 20. | Larry Olimb (D) |
| 21. | Tom Pederson Tom Pederson Thomas Stuart Pederson is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played five seasons in the National Hockey League with the San Jose Sharks and Toronto Maple Leafs between 1992–93 and 1996–97. Pederson played one season in Japan for Seibu Tetsudo Tokyo between playing for the... (D) |
| 22. | Bryan Schoen (G) |
| 23. | John Weisbrod John Weisbrod John Weisbrod is a retired American professional ice hockey center and currently serves as the Calgary Flames Assistant General Manager/Player Personnel... (C) |
| 24. | Doug Zmolek Doug Zmolek Douglas Allan Zmolek is an American retired professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the NHL for eight seasons between 1992 and 2000.-Playing career:... (D) |
Expansion Draft results
| # | Player | Drafted from | Drafted by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jeff Hackett Jeff Hackett Jeff Hackett is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League with the New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens, Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers... (G Goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender is the player who defends his team's goal net by stopping shots of the puck from entering his team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring... ) |
New York Islanders New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, New York. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California, United States. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
| 2. | Rob Ramage Rob Ramage George Robert Ramage is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played 15 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Minnesota North Stars, Tampa Bay Lightning, Montreal Canadiens and Philadelphia Flyers... (D Defenceman (ice hockey) Defence in ice hockey is a player position whose primary responsibility is to prevent the opposing team from scoring... ) |
Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
Minnesota North Stars Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white... |
| 3. | Jayson More Jayson More Jayson W. More is a former National Hockey League defenceman. He was drafted by the New York Rangers in the first round, 10th overall, of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft.... (D) |
Montreal Canadiens Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 4. | Dave Babych Dave Babych David Michael Babych is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who spent 19 seasons in the National Hockey League . He is currently an assistant director of player personnel with the Vancouver Canucks... (D) |
Hartford Whalers Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 5. | Rick Lessard Rick Lessard Rick Lessard is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 15 games in the National Hockey League, recording four assists. Drafted by the Calgary Flames in the 7th round, 142nd overall in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, Larose played seven games for Calgary in 1988–89 and 1989–90... (D) |
Calgary Flames Calgary Flames The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 6. | Allen Pedersen Allen Pedersen Allen Bentley Pedersen is a retired professional ice hockey player who played 428 games in the National Hockey League with the Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars, and Hartford Whalers.... (D) |
Boston Bruins Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 7. | Bob McGill Bob McGill Robert Paul McGill is a retired Canadian ice hockey defenceman.McGill started his National Hockey League career with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1982. He also played for the Chicago Black Hawks, San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, New York Islanders, and Hartford Whalers... (D) |
Chicago Blackhawks Chicago Blackhawks The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 8. | Charlie Huddy Charlie Huddy Charles William Huddy is a former NHL defenceman and current assistant coach of the Winnipeg Jets. He is also one of only seven Edmonton Oilers to be a member of all 5 of the franchise's Stanley Cup-winning teams 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988,1990.His greatest success came with the Oilers with whom he... (D) |
Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League .... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 9. | Tim Kerr Tim Kerr Timothy E. Kerr is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers and Hartford Whalers.-Playing career:... (F) |
Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 10. | Kelly Kisio Kelly Kisio Kelvin Wade Kisio is a former professional ice hockey player. Born in Peace River, Alberta, he is currently the General Manager of the Calgary Hitmen.... (F) |
New York Rangers New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in the borough of Manhattan in New York, New York, USA. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Playing their home games at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers are one of the... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 11. | Jeff Madill Jeff Madill Jeff Madill is a retired ice hockey right winger. He was drafted by the New Jersey Devils in the 1987 NHL Supplemental Draft.... (RW Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... ) |
New Jersey Devils New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey, United States. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 12. | Randy Gilhen Randy Gilhen Randy Gilhen is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. He grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba.Gilhen started his National Hockey League career with the Hartford Whalers in 1982. He also played for the Winnipeg Jets, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and... (C Centre (ice hockey) The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player... ) |
Pittsburgh Penguins Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 13. | David Bruce David Bruce (ice hockey) David Bruce was a professional ice hockey player who played for the Vancouver Canucks, St. Louis Blues, and San Jose Sharks of the NHL.-Career statistics:-External links:... (LW Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... ) |
St. Louis Blues | San Jose Sharks |
| 14. | Rob Murray Rob Murray Rob Murray is a former ice hockey player and former head coach of the Providence Bruins from 2008-2011. He is currently the head coach of the Alaska Aces. He played most of his career as captain of the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons... (C) |
Washington Capitals Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 15. | Greg Paslawski Greg Paslawski Gregory Stephen "Mud" Paslawski is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played eleven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Montreal Canadiens, St... (RW) |
Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 16. | Tyler Larter Tyler Larter Tyler Larter is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre. He played in one National Hockey League game for the Washington Capitals.-External links:... (F) |
Winnipeg Jets | Minnesota North Stars |
| 17. | Bengt-Ake Gustafsson Bengt-Åke Gustafsson Bengt-Åke Gustafsson is a retired Swedish ice hockey player. Gustafsson is a former head coach of the Sweden men's national ice hockey team, a post he held from February 2005 to May 2010. During his American career he was often called Bengt Gustafsson or Gus.Gustafsson spent nine seasons in the... (F) |
Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 18. | Jim Thomson (RW) | Los Angeles Kings Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League... |
Minnesota North Stars |
| 19. | Craig Coxe Craig Coxe Craig R. Coxe is a retired professional ice hockey player. In addition to playing in the National Hockey League with the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, and the San Jose Sharks... (C) |
Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,... |
San Jose Sharks |
| 20. | Guy Lafleur Guy Lafleur Guy Damien "The Flower" / "Le Démon Blond" Lafleur, OC, CQ is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player who is widely regarded as one of the most naturally gifted and popular players ever to play professional ice hockey... (RW) |
Quebec Nordiques Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League... |
Minnesota North Stars |
Post-draft
Not all of the players selected by the Sharks and North Stars in these drafts stayed with their new teams for long. Among players moved before the start of the 1991–92 season were the following:- Tim Kerr, selected by San Jose in the Expansion Draft, was traded to the New York Rangers for Brian MullenBrian MullenBrian Patrick Mullen is a former professional ice hockey player who spent eleven seasons in the NHL playing for the Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, San Jose Sharks, and New York Islanders...
and future considerations on May 30, 1991, - Rob Murray, selected by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft, was traded to Winnipeg for a seventh-round pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft1991 NHL Entry DraftThe 1991 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 22 at the Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. A total of 264 players were drafted. The draft was famous for the controversy surrounding star first overall draft pick, touted by some observers to be The Next One, Eric Lindros, who was drafted by the...
on May 31, 1991, - Greg Paslawski, selected by San Jose in the Expansion Draft, was traded to Quebec for Tony HrkacTony HrkacAnthony J. "Tony" Hrkac is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player who played eighteen season of professional hockey. He is currently head coach of the Concordia University Men's Ice Hockey Team.-College:...
on May 31, 1991, - Shane Churla, selected by San Jose in the Dispersal Draft, was traded back to Minnesota for Kelly Kisio, whom the North Stars had selected in the Expansion Draft, on June 3, 1991,
- Dave Babych, selected by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft, was traded to Vancouver for Tom KurversTom KurversThomas James Kurvers is a retired professional ice hockey defenseman who spent 11 seasons in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1995. He was a member of the 1986 Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens...
on June 22, 1991, - Charlie Huddy, Randy Gilhen and Jim Thomson, all drafted by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft, were traded along with a fourth-round pick in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft to Los Angeles for Todd ElikTodd ElikTodd Sloan Elik is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey centre.-Biography:Elik grew up in Bolton, Ontario and played Midget hockey with the St. Michael's Midgets...
on June 22, 1991, - Dan Keczmer, selected by San Jose in the Dispersal Draft, was traded to Hartford for Dean EvasonDean EvasonDean C. Evason is a Canadian former National Hockey League player who is currently an assistant coach for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:...
on October 2, 1991, - Guy Lafleur, selected by Minnesota in the Expansion Draft, was traded back to Quebec for Alan HaworthAlan HaworthAlan Joseph Gordon Haworth is a retired Canadian ice hockey player.Selected in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, Haworth was traded to the Washington Capitals in 1982. After five seasons in Washington, he was dealt to the Quebec Nordiques in 1987 in the trade that brought Dale...
, as he retired before the 1991–92 season began.
As with most other Expansion Drafts, the majority of the players selected did not have lengthy NHL careers; many of them ended up in the minor leagues. San Jose's original minor league affiliate was the Kansas City Blades
Kansas City Blades
The Kansas City Blades was a professional ice hockey team in the International Hockey League from 1990–2001 until the demise of the league after the 2000–01 season. The Blades was based in Kansas City, Missouri at Kemper Arena....
of the International Hockey League. The Blades won the IHL Championship, the Turner Cup
Turner Cup
The Turner Cup is the championship trophy of the International Hockey League. The Cup is named for Joe Turner, a goaltender from Windsor, Ontario. Turner became professional with the Detroit Red Wings organization, and played one season with the Indianapolis Capitals in the American Hockey League...
, in 1992, and a majority of their players were under contract to San Jose. In fact, many of those players were under contract with the North Stars the previous year and played for a rival IHL team, the Kalamazoo Wings.