Quebec Nordiques
Encyclopedia
The Quebec Nordiques ' onMouseout='HidePop("33388")' href="/topics/Quebec_French">Quebec French
, nɔrˈdiːks in Canadian English
, meaning "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey
team based in Quebec City
, Quebec
, Canada
. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association
(1972–1979) and the National Hockey League
(1979–1995). The franchise was relocated to Denver, Colorado
, in 1995, and renamed the Colorado Avalanche
.
The Nordiques hold the distinction of being the only major professional sports team
to have been based in Quebec City in the modern era, and one of only two ever; the other, the Quebec Bulldogs
, played one season in the NHL in 1919–20.
The Quebec Nordiques formed as one of the original World Hockey Association
teams in 1972. The franchise was originally awarded to a group in San Francisco, as the San Francisco Sharks. However, the San Francisco group's funding collapsed prior to the start of the first season, and the WHA hastily sold the organization to a group of six Quebec City-based businessmen who owned the highly profitable Quebec Remparts junior team. They were named the Nordiques because they were one of the northernmost teams in professional sports in North America. Quebec City is located at 46 degrees north
latitude
; the only WHA teams located further north were the Edmonton Oilers
, Calgary Cowboys
, Vancouver Blazers
and Winnipeg Jets.
The Nordiques' first head coach was the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard
but he lasted two games, a 3–2 loss to the Cleveland Crusaders
, and a 3-0 win against the Alberta Oilers. The "Rocket" decided coaching wasn't his forte and stepped down.
The Nordiques' first star was two-way defenceman J. C. Tremblay, who led the WHA in assists in the league's first season and would be named a league All-Star for his first four years in Quebec. The next season Serge Bernier
and Rejean Houle
joined the Nordiques. In 1974–75, they finally made the playoffs with the help of the high-scoring Marc Tardif
; the year also saw the debut of Real Cloutier
, who would be one of the WHA's great stars. They beat the Phoenix Roadrunners
and the Minnesota Fighting Saints
to reach the finals, where they were swept in four games by the Gordie Howe
-led Houston Aeros
.
The next season saw the squad become a high-flying offensive juggernaut, becoming the only team in major professional history to have five players break 100 points (Tardif, Cloutier, Chris Bordeleau, Bernier and Houle). The season ended in disappointment as the Nordiques lost to the Calgary Cowboys
in the first round of the playoffs, after losing Marc Tardif
to injury after a controversial hit by the Cowboys' Rick Jodzio
.
Despite injuries to Tardif and an aging Tremblay, the Nordiques finally captured the Avco World Trophy
in 1976–77 as they took out the New England Whalers and the Indianapolis Racers
in five games before beating the Winnipeg Jets in seven, behind Bernier's record 36 points in 17 playoff games. They represented Canada at the Izvestia Hockey Tournament in Moscow
, finishing last with an 0–3–1 record.
By 1978, the WHA was on shaky ground, and Aubut, by then the team's President under ownership of the Carling-O'Keefe Brewery, began putting out feelers to the NHL. The Nordiques were unable to defend their title and fell in the playoffs to the New England Whalers. The 1978–79 season would be the final one for the WHA and for J. C. Tremblay, who retired at the end of the season and had his number #3 jersey retired.
, the WHA insisted on including all of its surviving Canadian teams, including the Nordiques, among the teams taken into the NHL at the end of the 1978–79 season. As a result, the Nordiques entered the NHL along with the Whalers, Oilers and Jets.
Forced to let all but three players go in a dispersal draft
, the Nordiques sank to the bottom of the standings. They finished the 1979–80 NHL season last in their division despite the play of promising rookie left winger Michel Goulet
. An early highlight to the otherwise dreary season came when Real Cloutier
became the second (following Alex Smart) NHL player ever to score a hat trick
in his first NHL game.
In August 1980 the Nordiques announced that they signed newly defected brothers Peter
and Anton Stastny
, members of the Czechoslovak national team, since they drafted Anton in the 1979 amateur draft. Their brother, Marian
, would follow and also sign with Quebec in the summer of 1981. The following season, led by Peter Stastny's 109-point Calder Trophy-winning performance, the Nordiques made the NHL playoffs for the first time, but fell in the best-of-five opening round in five games to the Philadelphia Flyers
.
Led by Goulet and Peter Stastny, the Nordiques made the playoffs eight years in a row. In 1981–82, despite notching only 82 points in the regular season, they defeated the Montreal Canadiens
and then the Boston Bruins
, both in winner-take-all games on the road. Their Cinderella run ended when they were swept by the New York Islanders
in the conference finals.
The rivalry with the Montreal Canadiens
intensified during the 1983–84 NHL season culminating in the infamous "Vendredi Saint" brawl, otherwise known as the Good Friday Massacre
, during the 1984 playoffs. The Habs scored five unanswered goals in the third period of Game 6 at the Montreal Forum
to eliminate the Nordiques. The goals all came after Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter
were ejected in the brawl.
In 1984–85, Montreal and Quebec battled for the Adams Division championship. The Nordiques finished with 91 points, at the time their highest point total as an NHL team. However, the Habs won the division by three points—solidified by a 7–1 Canadiens trashing of the Nordiques at The Forum in the final week of the regular season. The Nordiques would exact revenge in the Adams finals with a seven-game victory, which was clinched by Peter Stastny's overtime goal at the Forum. They then took the powerful Philadelphia Flyers
, who had the league's best record, to six games.
They won their first NHL division title in 1985–86 (and as it turned out, one of their two in Quebec, the other 1994-1995), but a defensive collapse in the playoffs allowed the Hartford Whalers
to sweep the Nordiques in three games.
The next season saw more of the Nords-Habs rivalry as the playoff series went to seven games, with the Canadiens coming out on top. In that same season, when Quebec hosted Rendez-Vous '87, an alteration of the All-Star Game to include the Soviet national team, a costumed mascot, Badaboum—a fuzzy, roly-poly blue creature—began entertaining fans at the Colisée with his bizarre dance routines. Badaboum was created just for Rendez-Vous, but generated such a following that the Nordiques made it a permanent fixture at home games.
Decline began the following season. The Nordiques finished last in their division—the first of five straight years of finishing at the bottom of the Adams Division—and missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The slide continued: in 1988–89 they had the league's worst record.
Michel Bergeron, who had coached the team from 1980 to 1987, returned for 1989–90. The season was also highlighted by the arrival of Hall of Famer Guy Lafleur
, who turned down a lucrative offer from the Los Angeles Kings
so he could finish his career in his home province. It soon became clear Lafleur's best years were far behind him. "The Flower" managed only 24 goals in 98 games with Quebec over two seasons, but the 38-year-old was still among the team's best players while receiving diminished ice time. The season saw the Nords hit rock bottom; they finished with a hideous record of 12–61–7 (31 points)--the second of three straight seasons with the worst record in the league, and still the worst record in franchise history.
Both Michel Goulet and Peter Stastny were traded in 1990, winding up with the Chicago Blackhawks
and New Jersey Devils
respectively. Despite the stellar play of young forward Joe Sakic
, the Nordiques struggled throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, in that year's draft
they drafted Swedish prospect Mats Sundin
, making him the first European to be selected first overall in the NHL draft. The following year
Quebec chose first again, taking Owen Nolan
.
, the Nordiques once again had the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. They picked junior star Eric Lindros
, even though he had let it be known well in advance that he would never play in Quebec. Among the reasons, Lindros cited distance, lack of marketing potential, and having to speak French. After the Nordiques selected him anyway, Lindros then refused to wear the team jersey on Draft Day and only held it for press photographs. Lindros, on advice of his mother Bonnie, refused to sign with the team and began a holdout that lasted over a year. The Nordiques president publicly announced that they would make Lindros the centerpiece of their franchise turnaround, and refused to trade Lindros, saying that he would not have a career in the NHL as long as he held out. Meanwhile, the Nordiques finished with another dreadful season in 1991–92, missing the 70-point barrier for the fifth year in a row.
Because of Lindros' popularity and marketability, the Nordiques soon came under significant pressure from the NHL to trade him. Finally on June 30, 1992, after confusion over whether Quebec had traded Lindros' rights to the Philadelphia Flyers
or New York Rangers
was settled by an arbitrator, the Nordiques sent Lindros to the Flyers in exchange for forwards Peter Forsberg
and Mike Ricci
, goaltender Ron Hextall
, defencemen Steve Duchesne
and Kerry Huffman
, "future considerations" which eventually became enforcer Chris Simon
, two first-round picks and US$15 million. One of the draft picks was used by the Nordiques to select goaltender Jocelyn Thibault
, the other was traded twice and ultimately used by the Washington Capitals
to select Nolan Baumgartner
.
The deal transformed the Nordiques from league doormats to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender almost overnight. Forsberg won the Calder Memorial Trophy
in 1995, his first season with the Nordiques, and would be one of the cornerstones of the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise for almost a decade with his playmaking and physical presence (albeit being out with injury for periods of time like Lindros), winning the Hart and Art Ross Trophies in 2003. Ricci would give six useful seasons to the franchise before being traded. Hextall was moved after a single season to the New York Islanders
, and in return the Nordiques got Mark Fitzpatrick
(who would go on to be left unprotected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
in which he was claimed by the Florida Panthers
) and a first round pick, which the Nordiques used to select Adam Deadmarsh
, who would be a key member of the Avalanche Cup-winning teams. Thibault would be traded for Montreal goalie Patrick Roy
, after the franchise moved to Denver.
The Lindros deal has since been considered by many columnists as the most significant NHL transaction of the decade, as well as one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history. While Lindros had been initially hyped as the most valuable junior player in North America, being nicknamed "The Next One
" as a nod to Wayne Gretzky
's moniker "The Great One", injuries limited his effectiveness in 1992-93 and the Flyers missed the 1993 and 1994 playoffs. Lindros won the Hart Memorial Trophy
as MVP in 1995 and remained one of the league's elite players for the next five years, but the Flyers underperformed in the playoffs and only made the Stanley Cup finals in 1997 where they were swept by the Detroit Red Wings
. Lindros' skills diminished after further injuries and a dispute with Flyers General Manager Bobby Clarke
. While he managed to stay in the league until 2007, he never really recovered the form he enjoyed in the early and mid-1990s.
. Sakic and Sundin both scored over 100 points each, and head coach Pierre Page
was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award
.
The Nordiques missed the playoffs in 1993–94 as they struggled with injuries. After that season, Sundin was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs
in return for Wendel Clark
. This trade was controversial for both teams, as Sundin was one of the Nordiques' rising talents, while Clark was the Leafs captain and fan favorite. While Clark performed respectably, he then became embroiled in a contract dispute after the season ended and was sent to the New York Islanders
.
was hired as the new head coach, and Forsberg was deemed ready to finally join the team, but first there was the problem of a lockout. In the shortened season of 48 games, the Nordiques played well and finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference. However, the team faltered in the postseason and was eliminated in the first round by the defending Stanley Cup
champion New York Rangers
.
The playoff loss proved to be the Nordiques' swan song in the NHL as the team's financial troubles increasingly took centre stage, even in the face of renewed fan support over the previous three years. The league's Canadian teams (with the exception of Montreal, Toronto, and to a lesser extent, Vancouver
) found it difficult to compete in a new age of rising player salaries. The financial difficulties were even more pronounced by a weakening Canadian dollar, since the Canadian teams' revenues are earned in Canadian dollars, but player salaries are paid in US dollars. The Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers
, Calgary Flames
, and Winnipeg Jets were all in danger of being forced to move while the expansion Ottawa Senators
changed owners before they even played a game.
Arguably, the Nordiques felt the difficulties created by the new environment more than the league's other Canadian teams. Quebec City was the smallest market in the NHL, and the second-smallest major-league city in North America, behind only Green Bay, Wisconsin
, home to the National Football League
's Packers
. However, the Nordiques didn't have a nearby major market on which to draw support, like the Packers do with Milwaukee. Additionally, Quebec City is a virtually monolingual francophone city. Unlike in Montreal and Ottawa (the other NHL cities with large francophone fan bases), all public address announcements were only given in French. Then as now, there were no privately-owned English-language radio stations, and only one privately-owned English language television station. Then as now, the only English-language newspaper was the weekly Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph
. These factors severely limited the Nordiques' marketability in the anglophone market even in their best years, and made many non-French players (most notably Lindros) wary of playing for them. While the Nordiques had a fairly loyal fan base, it was not enough for them to be viable in the new environment.
Aubut asked for a bailout from Quebec's provincial government, but the request was turned down, as few in Quebec were willing to be seen as subsidizing a hockey club that paid multimillion-dollar salaries (bailouts for Ottawa and Edmonton were also rejected for the same reason). In May 1995, shortly after the Nordiques were eliminated from the playoffs, Aubut announced that he had no other choice but to sell the team to a group of investors in Denver, Colorado
. The franchise was moved to Denver where it was renamed the Colorado Avalanche
. Maintaining their momentum from their successful last season as the Nordiques, the Avalanche would win the Stanley Cup
in their first season after the move, and added another in 2001. The year after the Nordiques moved to Denver, the Jets followed them to the United States as the Phoenix Coyotes
. Afterwards the NHL implemented the Canadian Assistance Plan, a revenue-sharing agreement that saw the league provide financial support for the four small-market Canadian teams in order to have them remain in their cities to protect the NHL's lucrative Canadian television contracts.
The last active NHL player who played for the Nordiques was Adam Foote
who, on April 8, 2011, announced his retirement to follow the 2010–2011 season. Foote played 16 years with the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise over two stints. Three former Nordiques - Owen Nolan
, Martin Rucinsky
and Chris Simon
- were still active in European leagues in the 2011 season. Milan Hejduk
and Tim Thomas
were both drafted by the Nordiques but never played a regular season game in Quebec City. Hejduk still plays for the Avalanche today, while Tim Thomas is the starting goaltender with the Boston Bruins
.
The Nordiques had planned to change their logo, colors, and uniforms for the 1995–96 season had they been able to stay in Quebec, and the new design had already appeared in the press.
(co-captains)
Quebec French
Quebec French , or Québécois French, is the predominant variety of the French language in Canada, in its formal and informal registers. Quebec French is used in everyday communication, as well as in education, the media, and government....
, nɔrˈdiːks in Canadian English
Canadian English
Canadian English is the variety of English spoken in Canada. English is the first language, or "mother tongue", of approximately 24 million Canadians , and more than 28 million are fluent in the language...
, meaning "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
team based in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
(1972–1979) and the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(1979–1995). The franchise was relocated to Denver, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, in 1995, and renamed the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
.
The Nordiques hold the distinction of being the only major professional sports team
Major professional sports leagues of the United States and Canada
The major professional sports leagues, or simply major leagues, in the United States and Canada are the highest professional competitions in team sports...
to have been based in Quebec City in the modern era, and one of only two ever; the other, the Quebec Bulldogs
Quebec Bulldogs
The Quebec Bulldogs were a men's senior-level ice hockey team officially known as the Quebec Hockey Club, later as the Quebec Athletic Club. Their recorded play goes back as far as the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada in 1889, although the Quebec Hockey Club is known to have played since 1880...
, played one season in the NHL in 1919–20.
Beginnings in the WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
teams in 1972. The franchise was originally awarded to a group in San Francisco, as the San Francisco Sharks. However, the San Francisco group's funding collapsed prior to the start of the first season, and the WHA hastily sold the organization to a group of six Quebec City-based businessmen who owned the highly profitable Quebec Remparts junior team. They were named the Nordiques because they were one of the northernmost teams in professional sports in North America. Quebec City is located at 46 degrees north
46th parallel north
The 46th parallel north is a circle of latitude that is 46 degrees north of the Earth's equatorial plane. It crosses Europe, Asia, the Pacific Ocean, North America, and the Atlantic Ocean....
latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
; the only WHA teams located further north were the 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 ....
, Calgary Cowboys
Calgary Cowboys
The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, though it never played a game in Miami...
, Vancouver Blazers
Vancouver Blazers
The Vancouver Blazers were a professional ice hockey team that played in the World Hockey Association from 1973-75. The Blazers played at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, sharing the facility with the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League. The Blazers were owned by...
and Winnipeg Jets.
The Nordiques' first head coach was the legendary Maurice "Rocket" Richard
Maurice Richard
Joseph Henri Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, Sr., was a French-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50...
but he lasted two games, a 3–2 loss to the Cleveland Crusaders
Cleveland Crusaders
The Cleveland Crusaders were a professional ice hockey team from Cleveland, Ohio. The Crusaders were founded by Nick Mileti, and played in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1976...
, and a 3-0 win against the Alberta Oilers. The "Rocket" decided coaching wasn't his forte and stepped down.
The Nordiques' first star was two-way defenceman J. C. Tremblay, who led the WHA in assists in the league's first season and would be named a league All-Star for his first four years in Quebec. The next season Serge Bernier
Serge Bernier
Serge Joseph Bernier is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and Quebec Nordiques. He also played six seasons in the World Hockey Association for Quebec...
and Rejean Houle
Réjean Houle
Réjean Houle is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward, most notably for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League, for whom he also served a controversial stint as general manager.-Playing career:...
joined the Nordiques. In 1974–75, they finally made the playoffs with the help of the high-scoring Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association, principally for the Quebec Nordiques.-Playing career:...
; the year also saw the debut of Real Cloutier
Real Cloutier
Réal "Buddy" Cloutier is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger. Cloutier spent his most prolific years in the World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques...
, who would be one of the WHA's great stars. They beat the Phoenix Roadrunners
Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
The Phoenix Roadrunners were a team in the now defunct World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1977. They played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona...
and the Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
to reach the finals, where they were swept in four games by the Gordie Howe
Gordie Howe
Gordon "Gordie" Howe, OC is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey player who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League , and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the World Hockey Association . Howe is often referred to as Mr...
-led Houston Aeros
Houston Aeros (WHA)
The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1978.-Franchise history:The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972...
.
The next season saw the squad become a high-flying offensive juggernaut, becoming the only team in major professional history to have five players break 100 points (Tardif, Cloutier, Chris Bordeleau, Bernier and Houle). The season ended in disappointment as the Nordiques lost to the Calgary Cowboys
Calgary Cowboys
The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association from 1975–1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles, though it never played a game in Miami...
in the first round of the playoffs, after losing Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif
Marc Tardif is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association, principally for the Quebec Nordiques.-Playing career:...
to injury after a controversial hit by the Cowboys' Rick Jodzio
Rick Jodzio
Richard Joseph Jodzio is a former professional ice hockey left winger. He played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Rockies and the Cleveland Barons; additionally, he played in the World Hockey Association with the Vancouver Blazers and the Calgary Cowboys.In his NHL career, Jodzio...
.
Despite injuries to Tardif and an aging Tremblay, the Nordiques finally captured the Avco World Trophy
Avco World Trophy
The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, was the championship trophy of the original World Hockey Association . The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation , a defense contractor who bought the rights to advertise their consumer finance division...
in 1976–77 as they took out the New England Whalers and the Indianapolis Racers
Indianapolis Racers
The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena...
in five games before beating the Winnipeg Jets in seven, behind Bernier's record 36 points in 17 playoff games. They represented Canada at the Izvestia Hockey Tournament in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, finishing last with an 0–3–1 record.
By 1978, the WHA was on shaky ground, and Aubut, by then the team's President under ownership of the Carling-O'Keefe Brewery, began putting out feelers to the NHL. The Nordiques were unable to defend their title and fell in the playoffs to the New England Whalers. The 1978–79 season would be the final one for the WHA and for J. C. Tremblay, who retired at the end of the season and had his number #3 jersey retired.
1980s
As part of its merger with the NHLNHL–WHA merger
The 1979 merger of the NHL and WHA was the culmination of several years of negotiations between the National Hockey League and the World Hockey Association that resulted in four WHA franchises joining the NHL as expansion franchises for the 1979–80 season...
, the WHA insisted on including all of its surviving Canadian teams, including the Nordiques, among the teams taken into the NHL at the end of the 1978–79 season. As a result, the Nordiques entered the NHL along with the Whalers, Oilers and Jets.
Forced to let all but three players go in a dispersal draft
1979 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets...
, the Nordiques sank to the bottom of the standings. They finished the 1979–80 NHL season last in their division despite the play of promising rookie left winger Michel Goulet
Michel Goulet
This page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
. An early highlight to the otherwise dreary season came when Real Cloutier
Real Cloutier
Réal "Buddy" Cloutier is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger. Cloutier spent his most prolific years in the World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques...
became the second (following Alex Smart) NHL player ever to score a hat trick
Hat Trick
Hat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
in his first NHL game.
In August 1980 the Nordiques announced that they signed newly defected brothers Peter
Peter Stastny
Peter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a...
and Anton Stastny
Anton Stastny
Anton Šťastný is a former Slovak professional ice hockey left winger who played nine seasons with the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League from 1980 until 1989. He was the first player born and trained in Slovakia to be drafted by an NHL team...
, members of the Czechoslovak national team, since they drafted Anton in the 1979 amateur draft. Their brother, Marian
Marian Stastny
Marián Šťastný is a former Slovak professional ice hockey right wing who played for five seasons in the National Hockey League from 1981 through 1986....
, would follow and also sign with Quebec in the summer of 1981. The following season, led by Peter Stastny's 109-point Calder Trophy-winning performance, the Nordiques made the NHL playoffs for the first time, but fell in the best-of-five opening round in five games to the 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...
.
Led by Goulet and Peter Stastny, the Nordiques made the playoffs eight years in a row. In 1981–82, despite notching only 82 points in the regular season, they defeated the 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 ...
and then the 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...
, both in winner-take-all games on the road. Their Cinderella run ended when they were swept by the 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...
in the conference finals.
The rivalry with the 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 ...
intensified during the 1983–84 NHL season culminating in the infamous "Vendredi Saint" brawl, otherwise known as the Good Friday Massacre
Good Friday Massacre
The Good Friday Massacre, ,was a second-round playoff match-up during the 1984 NHL Playoffs. The game occurred on Good Friday, April 20, 1984 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, between the Quebec Nordiques and the Montreal Canadiens. After a number of fights, a bench-clearing brawl broke out at the end...
, during the 1984 playoffs. The Habs scored five unanswered goals in the third period of Game 6 at the Montreal Forum
Montreal Forum
The Montreal Forum was an indoor arena located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by Sporting News, it was home of the National Hockey League's Montreal Maroons from 1924 to 1938 and the Montreal Canadiens from 1926 to 1996...
to eliminate the Nordiques. The goals all came after Peter Stastny and Dale Hunter
Dale Hunter
Dale Robert Hunter is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-NHL career:...
were ejected in the brawl.
In 1984–85, Montreal and Quebec battled for the Adams Division championship. The Nordiques finished with 91 points, at the time their highest point total as an NHL team. However, the Habs won the division by three points—solidified by a 7–1 Canadiens trashing of the Nordiques at The Forum in the final week of the regular season. The Nordiques would exact revenge in the Adams finals with a seven-game victory, which was clinched by Peter Stastny's overtime goal at the Forum. They then took the powerful 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...
, who had the league's best record, to six games.
They won their first NHL division title in 1985–86 (and as it turned out, one of their two in Quebec, the other 1994-1995), but a defensive collapse in the playoffs allowed the 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...
to sweep the Nordiques in three games.
The next season saw more of the Nords-Habs rivalry as the playoff series went to seven games, with the Canadiens coming out on top. In that same season, when Quebec hosted Rendez-Vous '87, an alteration of the All-Star Game to include the Soviet national team, a costumed mascot, Badaboum—a fuzzy, roly-poly blue creature—began entertaining fans at the Colisée with his bizarre dance routines. Badaboum was created just for Rendez-Vous, but generated such a following that the Nordiques made it a permanent fixture at home games.
Decline began the following season. The Nordiques finished last in their division—the first of five straight years of finishing at the bottom of the Adams Division—and missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The slide continued: in 1988–89 they had the league's worst record.
Michel Bergeron, who had coached the team from 1980 to 1987, returned for 1989–90. The season was also highlighted by the arrival of Hall of Famer 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...
, who turned down a lucrative offer from the 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...
so he could finish his career in his home province. It soon became clear Lafleur's best years were far behind him. "The Flower" managed only 24 goals in 98 games with Quebec over two seasons, but the 38-year-old was still among the team's best players while receiving diminished ice time. The season saw the Nords hit rock bottom; they finished with a hideous record of 12–61–7 (31 points)--the second of three straight seasons with the worst record in the league, and still the worst record in franchise history.
Both Michel Goulet and Peter Stastny were traded in 1990, winding up with the 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...
and 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...
respectively. Despite the stellar play of young forward Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic
Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
, the Nordiques struggled throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s. However, in that year's draft
1989 NHL Entry Draft
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
they drafted Swedish prospect Mats Sundin
Mats Sundin
Mats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11...
, making him the first European to be selected first overall in the NHL draft. The following year
1990 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...
Quebec chose first again, taking Owen Nolan
Owen Nolan
Owen Liam Nolan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with...
.
Lindros draft and trade
In 19911991 NHL Entry Draft
The 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...
, the Nordiques once again had the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. They picked junior star Eric Lindros
Eric Lindros
Eric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
, even though he had let it be known well in advance that he would never play in Quebec. Among the reasons, Lindros cited distance, lack of marketing potential, and having to speak French. After the Nordiques selected him anyway, Lindros then refused to wear the team jersey on Draft Day and only held it for press photographs. Lindros, on advice of his mother Bonnie, refused to sign with the team and began a holdout that lasted over a year. The Nordiques president publicly announced that they would make Lindros the centerpiece of their franchise turnaround, and refused to trade Lindros, saying that he would not have a career in the NHL as long as he held out. Meanwhile, the Nordiques finished with another dreadful season in 1991–92, missing the 70-point barrier for the fifth year in a row.
Because of Lindros' popularity and marketability, the Nordiques soon came under significant pressure from the NHL to trade him. Finally on June 30, 1992, after confusion over whether Quebec had traded Lindros' rights to the 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...
or 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...
was settled by an arbitrator, the Nordiques sent Lindros to the Flyers in exchange for forwards Peter Forsberg
Peter Forsberg
Peter Mattias "Foppa" Forsberg is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player and currently an assistant general manager of Modo Sports. Known for his on-ice vision and physical play, Forsberg is considered one of the most complete players of his generation...
and Mike Ricci
Mike Ricci
Michael Ricci is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played 16 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks and Phoenix Coyotes....
, goaltender Ron Hextall
Ron Hextall
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played 13 National Hockey League seasons for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques, and New York Islanders...
, defencemen Steve Duchesne
Steve Duchesne
Steve Duchesne is a Canadian retired professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the NHL with several teams from 1986 until 2002...
and Kerry Huffman
Kerry Huffman
Kerry Huffman is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who played for the Philadelphia Flyers, Quebec Nordiques and Ottawa Senators in the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
, "future considerations" which eventually became enforcer Chris Simon
Chris Simon
Chris Simon is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger whose last club was UHC Dynamo of the Kontinental Hockey League . He played 15 seasons in the NHL.-Minor hockey:...
, two first-round picks and US$15 million. One of the draft picks was used by the Nordiques to select goaltender Jocelyn Thibault
Jocelyn Thibault
Jocelyn Thibault is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres...
, the other was traded twice and ultimately used by the 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...
to select Nolan Baumgartner
Nolan Baumgartner
Nolan Baumgartner is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays within the Vancouver Canucks organization of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
.
The deal transformed the Nordiques from league doormats to a legitimate Stanley Cup contender almost overnight. Forsberg won the Calder Memorial Trophy
Calder Memorial Trophy
The Calder Memorial Trophy is an annual award given "to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the National Hockey League." The Rookie of the Year trophy has been awarded 79 times since its creation for the 1936–37 NHL season...
in 1995, his first season with the Nordiques, and would be one of the cornerstones of the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise for almost a decade with his playmaking and physical presence (albeit being out with injury for periods of time like Lindros), winning the Hart and Art Ross Trophies in 2003. Ricci would give six useful seasons to the franchise before being traded. Hextall was moved after a single season to the 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...
, and in return the Nordiques got Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender. He moved to Kitimat, British Columbia, where he started minor hockey, when he was ten years old...
(who would go on to be left unprotected in the 1993 NHL Expansion Draft
1993 NHL Expansion Draft
The 1993 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 24, 1993, in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's two expansion teams for the 1993–94 season, the Florida Panthers and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.-Rules:...
in which he was claimed by the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
) and a first round pick, which the Nordiques used to select Adam Deadmarsh
Adam Deadmarsh
Adam Deadmarsh is a former Canadian-American professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings. He is currently an Assistant Coach to Joe Sacco for the Avalanche...
, who would be a key member of the Avalanche Cup-winning teams. Thibault would be traded for Montreal goalie Patrick Roy
Patrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
, after the franchise moved to Denver.
The Lindros deal has since been considered by many columnists as the most significant NHL transaction of the decade, as well as one of the most one-sided trades in NHL history. While Lindros had been initially hyped as the most valuable junior player in North America, being nicknamed "The Next One
The Next One
The Next One is a nickname that has belonged to the following ice hockey players:* Eric Lindros* Sidney Crosby* John TavaresThe name is a play on Wayne Gretzky's nickname, "The Great One". Each of the players listed has been or is currently billed as the next Wayne Gretzky...
" as a nod to Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
's moniker "The Great One", injuries limited his effectiveness in 1992-93 and the Flyers missed the 1993 and 1994 playoffs. Lindros won the Hart Memorial Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy
The Hart Memorial Trophy, originally known as the Hart Trophy, the "oldest and most prestigious individual award in hockey", is awarded annually to the "player adjudged most valuable to his team" in the National Hockey League . The Hart Memorial Trophy has been awarded 86 times to 53 different...
as MVP in 1995 and remained one of the league's elite players for the next five years, but the Flyers underperformed in the playoffs and only made the Stanley Cup finals in 1997 where they were swept by the 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...
. Lindros' skills diminished after further injuries and a dispute with Flyers General Manager Bobby Clarke
Bobby Clarke
Robert Earle Clarke, OC , better known as Bobby Clarke or, in later life, Bob Clarke, is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played his entire National Hockey League career with the Philadelphia Flyers and is currently an executive with the team...
. While he managed to stay in the league until 2007, he never really recovered the form he enjoyed in the early and mid-1990s.
1992-1994
During the 1992–93 NHL season, these new players, along with Sakic — now a bona fide NHL All-Star — and the rapidly developing Sundin and Nolan, led Quebec to the biggest single-season turnaround in NHL history. They leaped from 52 points in the previous season to 104—in the process, going from the second-worst record in the league to the fourth-best, as well as notching the franchise's first 100-point season as an NHL team. They made the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, but fell to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Canadiens in the first round, winning the first two games but then losing the next four due to inspired goaltending from Montreal's Patrick RoyPatrick Roy
Patrick Edward Armand Roy is a former Canadian ice hockey goaltender. Nicknamed "Saint Patrick," Roy split his professional career between the Montreal Canadiens, whom he played with for 10 years, and the Colorado Avalanche, whom he played with for 8 years, both of the National Hockey League...
. Sakic and Sundin both scored over 100 points each, and head coach Pierre Page
Pierre Pagé
Pierre Pagé, also spelled Pierre Page is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and executive. He currently coaches EC Red Bull Salzburg. He is also a former head coach in the National Hockey League .-Coaching career:...
was a finalist for the Jack Adams Award
Jack Adams Award
The Jack Adams Award is awarded annually to the National Hockey League coach "adjudged to have contributed the most to his team's success." It has been awarded 37 times to 32 different coaches. The winner is selected by a poll of the National Hockey League Broadcasters Association at the end of the...
.
The Nordiques missed the playoffs in 1993–94 as they struggled with injuries. After that season, Sundin was traded to the 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...
in return for Wendel Clark
Wendel Clark
Wendel L. Clark is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. He is perhaps best known for being a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League , captaining the team from 1991 to 1994...
. This trade was controversial for both teams, as Sundin was one of the Nordiques' rising talents, while Clark was the Leafs captain and fan favorite. While Clark performed respectably, he then became embroiled in a contract dispute after the season ended and was sent to the 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...
.
Move to Denver
For the 1994–95 season, Marc CrawfordMarc Crawford
Marc Joseph John Crawford is a Canadian professional ice hockey head coach, most recently employed by the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. He was previously the head coach of three other organizations and won a Stanley Cup in 1996 with the Colorado Avalanche...
was hired as the new head coach, and Forsberg was deemed ready to finally join the team, but first there was the problem of a lockout. In the shortened season of 48 games, the Nordiques played well and finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference. However, the team faltered in the postseason and was eliminated in the first round by the defending Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
champion 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...
.
The playoff loss proved to be the Nordiques' swan song in the NHL as the team's financial troubles increasingly took centre stage, even in the face of renewed fan support over the previous three years. The league's Canadian teams (with the exception of Montreal, Toronto, and to a lesser extent, Vancouver
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,...
) found it difficult to compete in a new age of rising player salaries. The financial difficulties were even more pronounced by a weakening Canadian dollar, since the Canadian teams' revenues are earned in Canadian dollars, but player salaries are paid in US dollars. The Nordiques, 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 ....
, 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...
, and Winnipeg Jets were all in danger of being forced to move while the expansion Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
changed owners before they even played a game.
Arguably, the Nordiques felt the difficulties created by the new environment more than the league's other Canadian teams. Quebec City was the smallest market in the NHL, and the second-smallest major-league city in North America, behind only Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, home to the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
. However, the Nordiques didn't have a nearby major market on which to draw support, like the Packers do with Milwaukee. Additionally, Quebec City is a virtually monolingual francophone city. Unlike in Montreal and Ottawa (the other NHL cities with large francophone fan bases), all public address announcements were only given in French. Then as now, there were no privately-owned English-language radio stations, and only one privately-owned English language television station. Then as now, the only English-language newspaper was the weekly Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph
Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph
The Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph, founded by William Brown as the Quebec Gazette on 21 June 1764, claims to be the oldest newspaper in North America...
. These factors severely limited the Nordiques' marketability in the anglophone market even in their best years, and made many non-French players (most notably Lindros) wary of playing for them. While the Nordiques had a fairly loyal fan base, it was not enough for them to be viable in the new environment.
Aubut asked for a bailout from Quebec's provincial government, but the request was turned down, as few in Quebec were willing to be seen as subsidizing a hockey club that paid multimillion-dollar salaries (bailouts for Ottawa and Edmonton were also rejected for the same reason). In May 1995, shortly after the Nordiques were eliminated from the playoffs, Aubut announced that he had no other choice but to sell the team to a group of investors in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
. The franchise was moved to Denver where it was renamed the Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
. Maintaining their momentum from their successful last season as the Nordiques, the Avalanche would win the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
in their first season after the move, and added another in 2001. The year after the Nordiques moved to Denver, the Jets followed them to the United States as the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. Afterwards the NHL implemented the Canadian Assistance Plan, a revenue-sharing agreement that saw the league provide financial support for the four small-market Canadian teams in order to have them remain in their cities to protect the NHL's lucrative Canadian television contracts.
The last active NHL player who played for the Nordiques was Adam Foote
Adam Foote
Adam David Vernon Foote is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman. He was best known for his physical presence and gritty play as a stay-at-home defenceman....
who, on April 8, 2011, announced his retirement to follow the 2010–2011 season. Foote played 16 years with the Nordiques/Avalanche franchise over two stints. Three former Nordiques - Owen Nolan
Owen Nolan
Owen Liam Nolan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with...
, Martin Rucinsky
Martin Rucinsky
Martin Ručinský is a Czech professional ice hockey player currently playing for HC Litvínov of the Czech Extraliga. Ručínský was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in the first round as the 20th overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, 1991. Ručinský led the Montreal Canadiens in...
and Chris Simon
Chris Simon
Chris Simon is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger whose last club was UHC Dynamo of the Kontinental Hockey League . He played 15 seasons in the NHL.-Minor hockey:...
- were still active in European leagues in the 2011 season. Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk
Milan Hejduk is a Czech professional ice hockey forward and the captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
and Tim Thomas
Tim Thomas (ice hockey)
Timothy James Thomas, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey goaltender with the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League . Raised in Davison, MI, Thomas played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years, from 1993–1997, during which he was drafted 217th overall by the...
were both drafted by the Nordiques but never played a regular season game in Quebec City. Hejduk still plays for the Avalanche today, while Tim Thomas is the starting goaltender with the 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...
.
Season-by-season record
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals scored for, GA = Goals scored against, PIM = Penalty minutesWHA era
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1972–73 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques season The 1972–73 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' first season, as they were one of the original teams in the newly created WHA. The Nordiques franchise was originally awarded to a group in San Francisco, California, and was named the San Francisco Sharks, however, funding collapsed prior to... |
78 | 33 | 40 | 5 | 71 | 276 | 313 | 1354 | fifth in Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 1973–74 1973–74 Quebec Nordiques season The 1973–74 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 2nd season, as they were coming off a 33–40–5 record, earning 71 points, failing to qualify for the playoffs in their first season.... |
78 | 38 | 36 | 4 | 80 | 306 | 280 | 909 | fifth in Eastern | Did not qualify |
| 1974–75 1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season The 1974–75 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' 3rd season, as they were coming off a 38–36–4 record in 1973–74, earning 80 points, however, they failed to qualify for the post-season for the 2nd straight season.... |
78 | 46 | 32 | 0 | 92 | 331 | 299 | 1132 | first in Canadian | Won Quarter-final (Phoenix Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA) The Phoenix Roadrunners were a team in the now defunct World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1977. They played at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona... ) Won Semifinal (Minnesota Minnesota Fighting Saints The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and... ) Lost Final (Houston Houston Aeros (WHA) The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1978.-Franchise history:The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972... ) |
| 1975–76 1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season The 1975–76 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 4th season, as they were coming off their best season to date in 1974–75, earning 92 points and finishing on top of the Canadian Division in the regular season, and making it to the Avco Cup finals in the playoffs, where they were swept by the... |
81 | 50 | 27 | 4 | 104 | 371 | 316 | 1654 | second in Canadian | Lost Quarter-final (Calgary Blazers/Cowboys (WHA) The Blazers/Cowboys were an ice hockey franchise in the World Hockey Association from 1972–1977. Originally in 1972, the franchise was to be based out of Miami, Florida, called the Miami Screaming Eagles. But due to money problems and a lack of a suitable arena, they never played a game in Miami... ) |
| 1976–77 1976–77 Quebec Nordiques season The 1976–77 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques 5th season, as they were coming off their best season to date in 1975–76, earning a team record 50 victories and 104 points, as they finished in second place in the Canadian Division. In the post-season, Quebec win their first Avco Cup in team... |
81 | 47 | 31 | 3 | 97 | 353 | 295 | 1485 | first in Eastern | Won Quarter-final (New England 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... ) Won Semi-final (Indianapolis Indianapolis Racers The Indianapolis Racers were a franchise in the former World Hockey Association from 1974 to 1978. They competed in five seasons, folding 25 games into the 1978–79 season. They played at Market Square Arena... ) Won Final (Winnipeg) |
| 1977–78 1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season The 1977–78 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques sixth season in the WHA, as they were coming off of a 47-31-3 record in the 1976-77 season, finishing in first place in the Eastern Division... |
80 | 40 | 37 | 3 | 83 | 349 | 347 | 1185 | fourth in WHA | Won Quarter-final (Houston Houston Aeros (WHA) The Houston Aeros were a professional ice hockey team in the World Hockey Association from 1972 to 1978.-Franchise history:The Aeros became one of the original franchises in the World Hockey Association when the Dayton Arrows franchise was moved to Houston in 1972... ) Lost Semi-final (New England 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... ) |
| 1978–79 1978–79 Quebec Nordiques season The 1978–79 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' seventh season in the WHA, were coming off of a 40-37-3 record in the 1977–78 season and a loss in the playoff semi-finals... |
80 | 41 | 34 | 5 | 87 | 288 | 271 | 1399 | second in WHA | Lost Semi-final (Winnipeg) |
| WHA totals | 556 | 295 | 237 | 24 | 614 | 2,274 | 2,121 | 9,118 |
NHL era
| Season | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM | Finish | Playoffs |
| 1979–80 1979–80 Quebec Nordiques season The 1979–80 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques eighth season overall, however, it marked as their expansion season in the National Hockey League. Quebec had played their previous seven seasons in the now defunct World Hockey Association... |
80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 61 | 248 | 313 | 1062 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1980–81 1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season The 1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques second season in the National Hockey League. Quebec improved on their inaugural NHL season, making the playoffs, only to lose in the first round.-Off-season:... |
80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 78 | 314 | 318 | 1524 | fourth, Adams | Lost in Preliminary Round (Philadelphia 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... ) |
| 1981–82 1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season The 1981–82 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' third season in the National Hockey League. The Nordiques would have a successful regular season, qualifying for the playoffs, but had a better playoff, making it to the Wales Final before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion New York... |
80 | 33 | 31 | 16 | 82 | 356 | 345 | 1757 | fourth, Adams | Won Adams Semi-final (Montreal 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 ... ),Won Adams Final (Boston 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... ),Lost Wales Conference Final (NY 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... ) |
| 1982–83 1982–83 Quebec Nordiques season The 1982–83 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques fourth season in the National Hockey League. In the 1981–82 season, Quebec recorded their first winning season in the NHL, as they had a record of 33-31-16, earning 82 points, in which they finished fourth in the Adams Division, qualifying for... |
80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 80 | 343 | 336 | 1648 | fourth, Adams | Lost Adams Semi-final (Boston 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... ) |
| 1983–84 1983–84 Quebec Nordiques season The 1983–84 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques fifth season in the National Hockey League. In the 1982-83 season, Quebec won a club record 34 games, and finished fourth in the Adams Division earning 80 points, making the post-season for the third consecutive season... |
80 | 42 | 28 | 10 | 94 | 360 | 278 | 1600 | third, Adams | Won Adams Semi-final (Buffalo 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:... ),Lost Adams Final (Montreal 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 ... ) |
| 1984–85 1984–85 Quebec Nordiques season -Offseason:The Nordiques had a pretty quiet off-season, as they looked to build off of their successful 1983-84 season. The club hired the recently retired Guy Lapointe as an assistant coach, while they also signed goaltender Richard Sevigny as a free agent from the Montreal Canadiens... |
80 | 41 | 30 | 9 | 91 | 323 | 275 | 1643 | second, Adams | Won Adams Semi-final (Buffalo 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:... )Won Adams Final (Montreal 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 ... )Lost Wales Conference Final (Philadelphia 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... ) |
| 1985–86 1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season -Offseason:The Nordiques had a pretty quiet off-season, with the only trade during the summer was acquiring John Anderson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Brad Maxwell. Anderson was second in Leafs scoring with 32 goals and 63 points in 1984-85. Quebec also made a trade late in the pre-season, as... |
80 | 43 | 31 | 6 | 92 | 330 | 289 | 1847 | first, Adams | Lost Adams Semi-final (Hartford 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... ) |
| 1986–87 1986–87 Quebec Nordiques season The aspect of the Quebec Nordiques season was that it hosted Rendez-vous '87, a series of two matches consisting of NHL All-Stars versus Russian All-Stars.-Offseason:... |
80 | 31 | 39 | 10 | 72 | 267 | 276 | 1741 | fourth, Adams | Won Adams Semi-final (Hartford 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... )Lost Adams Final (Montreal 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 ... ) |
| 1987–88 1987–88 Quebec Nordiques season -Offseason:Quebec made a huge trade during the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, as the Nordiques traded away Dale Hunter and Clint Malarchuk to the Washington Capitals for Gaetan Duchesne, Alan Haworth, and the Capitals first round draft pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, in which the Nordiques selected Joe... |
80 | 32 | 43 | 5 | 69 | 271 | 306 | 2042 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1988–89 1988–89 Quebec Nordiques season The 1988–89 Quebec Nordiques season saw the team finish in fifth place in the Adams Division with a record of 27 wins, 46 losses, and 7 ties for 61 points.-Off-season:... |
80 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 61 | 269 | 342 | 2004 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1989–90 1989–90 Quebec Nordiques season -Offseason:The Nordiques would not bring back Jean Perron, who finished the 1988-89 season as the interim head coach of the team. Quebec would bring back former head coach Michel Bergeron, who had coached the club from 1980-1987. Bergeron left the Nordiques to coach the New York Rangers from... |
80 | 12 | 61 | 7 | 31 | 240 | 407 | 2104 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1990–91 1990–91 Quebec Nordiques season The aspect of the Quebec Nordiques season was that it was Guy Lafleur’s final season.-Offseason:After finishing in last place in the NHL in 1989-90 with only 31 points, Quebec hired Pierre Page to become the general manager, as Maurice Filion finished the previous season on an interim basis... |
80 | 16 | 50 | 14 | 46 | 236 | 354 | 1741 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1991–92 1991–92 Quebec Nordiques season -Off-season:Quebec once again had the first overall draft pick heading into the 1991 NHL Entry Draft, as this marked the third consecutive season the Nordiques had the first overall selection. With the pick, Quebec selected Eric Lindros of the Oshawa Generals... |
80 | 20 | 48 | 12 | 52 | 255 | 318 | 2044 | fifth, Adams | Did not qualify |
| 1992–93 1992–93 Quebec Nordiques season In the 1992–93 Quebec Nordiques season, the Nordiques qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 1986–87 season. Joe Sakic became captain . Four Nordiques In the 1992–93 Quebec Nordiques season, the Nordiques qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 1986–87 season. Joe... |
84 | 47 | 27 | 10 | 104 | 351 | 300 | 1846 | second, Adams | Lost Adams Semi-final (Montreal 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 ... ) |
| 1993–94 1993–94 Quebec Nordiques season The 1993–94 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques' twenty-second season of operation, fifteenth in the National Hockey League. The Nordiques failed to qualify for the playoffs.-Game log:-Player stats:-Transactions:... |
84 | 34 | 42 | 8 | 76 | 277 | 292 | 1625 | fifth, Northeast | Did not qualify |
| 1994–95 1994–95 Quebec Nordiques season The 1994–95 Quebec Nordiques season was the twenty-third season of operation of the Nordiques and the last season that the team played in Quebec. The Nordiques would finish first over-all in the Eastern Conference, but lost in the first round to the New York Rangers... 1 |
48 | 30 | 13 | 5 | 65 | 185 | 134 | 770 | first, Northeast | Lost Eastern Quarter-final (NY 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... ) |
| NHL totals | 1,256 | 497 | 599 | 160 | 1,154 | 4,625 | 4,883 | 26,998 | ||
| Grand total | 1,812 | 792 | 836 | 184 | 1768 | 6,899 | 7,004 | 36,116 |
- 1Season was shortened due to the 1994–95 NHL lockout.
Team captains
Includes WHA captains(co-captains)
- Mike HoughMike HoughMichael Lloyd Hough is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played thirteen seasons in the National Hockey League from 1986–87 until 1998–99....
1991–92 - Joe SakicJoe SakicJoseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
1992–95
Hall of Famers
- Michel GouletMichel GouletThis page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
, LW, 1979–1990, inducted 1998 - Guy LafleurGuy LafleurGuy 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, 1989–91, inducted 1988 - Jacques PlanteJacques PlanteJoseph Jacques Omer Plante was a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender. During a career lasting from 1947–1975, he was considered to be one of the most important innovators in hockey...
, coach, 1973–1974, inducted 1978 - Peter StastnyPeter StastnyPeter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a...
, C, 1980–1990, inducted 1998 - Maurice RichardMaurice RichardJoseph Henri Maurice "the Rocket" Richard, Sr., was a French-Canadian professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League from 1942 to 1960. The "Rocket" was the most prolific goal-scorer of his era, the first to achieve the feat of 50 goals in 50...
, coach, 1972–1973, inducted 1961
Retired numbers
- 3 – J. C. Tremblay, D, 1972–79
- 8 – Marc TardifMarc TardifMarc Tardif is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association, principally for the Quebec Nordiques.-Playing career:...
, LW, 1974–83 - 16 – Michel GouletMichel GouletThis page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
, C, 1979–90 - 26 – Peter StastnyPeter StastnyPeter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a...
, C, 1980–90
After the move to Denver, the Avalanche returned all four of these numbers to circulation. Peter's son Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny
Paul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques...
is currently wearing #26.
First round draft picks
Note: This list does not include selections from the WHAWorld Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
.
- 19791979 NHL Entry DraftThe 1979 NHL Entry Draft took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those...
: Michel GouletMichel GouletThis page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League...
(20th overall) - 19801980 NHL Entry DraftThe 1980 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the...
: none - 19811981 NHL Entry DraftThe 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
: Randy MollerRandy MollerRandall W. Moller is a retired professional ice hockey player. He was drafted in the first round, eleventh overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1981 NHL entry draft. The majority of his career was spent with the Quebec Nordiques...
(11th overall) - 19821982 NHL Entry DraftThe 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1981–82 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players...
: David Shaw (13th overall) - 19831983 NHL Entry DraftThe 1983 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, on June 8, 1983. The NHL Entry Draft is the primary means by which players arrive in the National Hockey League. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in this draft, shortly after the league blocked the franchise's...
: none - 19841984 NHL Entry DraftThe 1984 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 9, 1984, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.The 1984 Entry Draft was noted for the unusually high number of future Hall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition to Mario Lemieux being taken first overall, Patrick Roy was chosen...
: Trevor StienburgTrevor StienburgTrevor Stienburg is a former professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft...
(15th overall) - 19851985 NHL Entry DraftThe 1985 NHL Entry Draft was the first draft outside of Montreal. The event was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Toronto, Ontario, and attended by 7,000 fans. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the...
: David LattaDavid Latta (ice hockey)David Latta is a former professional ice hockey left winger. He was drafted in the first round, 15th overall, by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. He played thirty-six games in the National Hockey League, all with the Nordiques.-External links:...
(15th overall) - 19861986 NHL Entry DraftThe 1986 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 21, 1986 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1985–86 NHL season and playoff standings...
: Ken McRaeKen McRaeKenneth Duncan McRae is the head coach of the Peterborough Petes in the OHL. McRae is also a former right winger who played in 137 games in the National Hockey League with the Quebec Nordiques and Toronto Maple Leafs...
(18th overall) - 19871987 NHL Entry DraftThe 1987 NHL Entry Draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. The National Hockey League teams selected 252 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1986–87 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected.-Selections...
: Bryan FogartyBryan FogartyBryan Fogarty was a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who played for the Quebec Nordiques, Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.-Personal life:...
(ninth overall) and Joe SakicJoe SakicJoseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL...
(15th overall) - 19881988 NHL Entry DraftThe 1988 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.-Selections by round:Below are listed the selections in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft...
: Curtis LeschyshynCurtis LeschyshynCurtis Leschyshyn is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Leschyshyn played 1033 games in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
(third overall) and Daniel DoreDaniel DoréDaniel Doré is a Canadian former professional ice hockey right winger. He was drafted in the first round, fifth overall, by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft...
(fifth overall) - 19891989 NHL Entry DraftThe 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 17 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. Some believe that the Detroit Red Wings' 1989 draft was the most successful ever, with 5,721 total NHL games played by the players selected.-Selections by round:...
: Mats SundinMats SundinMats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11...
(first overall) - 19901990 NHL Entry DraftThe 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...
: Owen NolanOwen NolanOwen Liam Nolan is a Canadian professional ice hockey player, who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames and the Minnesota Wild before signing with...
(first overall) - 19911991 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...
: Eric LindrosEric LindrosEric Bryan Lindros is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey player. Lindros played junior hockey in the OHL for the Oshawa Generals prior to being selected first overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the Quebec Nordiques...
(first overall) - 19921992 NHL Entry DraftThe 1992 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 20 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 264 players were drafted.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:...
: Todd WarrinerTodd WarrinerTodd Eaton Warriner is a retired Canadian ice hockey forward. Over the course of his career, Warriner has played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tampa Bay Lightning, Phoenix Coyotes, Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Nashville Predators of the NHL...
(fourth overall) - 19931993 NHL Entry DraftThe 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
: Jocelyn ThibaultJocelyn ThibaultJocelyn Thibault is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks, Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres...
(10th overall) and Adam DeadmarshAdam DeadmarshAdam Deadmarsh is a former Canadian-American professional ice hockey player who played in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche and the Los Angeles Kings. He is currently an Assistant Coach to Joe Sacco for the Avalanche...
(14th overall) - 19941994 NHL Entry DraftThe 1994 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Hartford Civic Center on June 28–29, 1994.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
: Wade BelakWade BelakWade Belak was a Canadian professional ice hockey forward and defenceman. He was drafted 12th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft...
(12th overall) and Jeff KealtyJeff KealtyJeff Kealty is a former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted in the first round, 22nd overall, by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft...
(22nd overall)
Franchise scoring leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in Quebec Nordiques history, combining NHL and WHA totals.Legend: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | P/G |
| Peter Stastny Peter Stastny Peter Šťastný , also known colloquially as "Peter the Great" and "Stosh", is a retired Slovak professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League from 1980 to 1995. During his time with the Quebec Nordiques, Stastny became a Canadian citizen. Since 2004, he has also served as a... |
C | 737 | 380 | 668 | 1048 | 1.42 |
| Michel Goulet Michel Goulet This page is about the ice hockey player. For the sculptor, please see Michel Goulet .Michel Goulet is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey forward who played for the Birmingham Bulls in the World Hockey Association and the Quebec Nordiques and Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League... |
LW | 813 | 456 | 489 | 945 | 1.16 |
| Real Cloutier Real Cloutier Réal "Buddy" Cloutier is a retired Canadian ice hockey winger. Cloutier spent his most prolific years in the World Hockey Association with the Quebec Nordiques... |
RW | 605 | 405 | 445 | 850 | 1.40 |
| Marc Tardif Marc Tardif Marc Tardif is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who is the leading goal scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association, principally for the Quebec Nordiques.-Playing career:... |
LW | 620 | 380 | 443 | 823 | 1.33 |
| Anton Stastny Anton Stastny Anton Šťastný is a former Slovak professional ice hockey left winger who played nine seasons with the Quebec Nordiques of the National Hockey League from 1980 until 1989. He was the first player born and trained in Slovakia to be drafted by an NHL team... |
LW | 650 | 252 | 384 | 636 | .98 |
| Joe Sakic Joe Sakic Joseph Steven "Joe" Sakic is a former Canadian professional ice hockey player and current hockey executive. He played his entire National Hockey League career with the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche franchise. In his 20-year tenure, Sakic won the Stanley Cup twice, captured numerous NHL... |
C | 508 | 234 | 392 | 626 | 1.23 |
| Serge Bernier Serge Bernier Serge Joseph Bernier is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played seven seasons in the National Hockey League for the Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings and Quebec Nordiques. He also played six seasons in the World Hockey Association for Quebec... |
RW | 495 | 240 | 358 | 598 | 1.21 |
| Dale Hunter Dale Hunter Dale Robert Hunter is a former professional ice hockey player and current head coach of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League.-NHL career:... |
C | 523 | 140 | 318 | 458 | .88 |
| J.C. Tremblay J.C. Tremblay Jean-Claude Tremblay was an ice hockey defenceman for the NHL Montreal Canadiens and the WHA Quebec Nordiques, notable for playmaking and defensive skills.... |
D | 454 | 66 | 358 | 424 | .93 |
| Mats Sundin Mats Sundin Mats Johan Sundin is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey player. Originally drafted first overall in 1989, Sundin played his first four seasons in the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques. He was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1994, where he played the majority of his career, serving 11... |
C | 324 | 135 | 199 | 334 | 1.03 |
See also
- List of Quebec Nordiques players
- List of Quebec Nordiques draft picks
- List of Quebec Nordiques head coaches
- List of defunct NHL teams
- Colorado AvalancheColorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
- Quebec BulldogsQuebec BulldogsThe Quebec Bulldogs were a men's senior-level ice hockey team officially known as the Quebec Hockey Club, later as the Quebec Athletic Club. Their recorded play goes back as far as the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada in 1889, although the Quebec Hockey Club is known to have played since 1880...
- World Hockey AssociationWorld Hockey AssociationThe World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
- List of NHL seasons
- List of WHA seasons
External links
- Quebec Nordiques Preservation Society
- CBC Archives CBC Television on the dying days of the team from 1995.
- Just Another Job, a National Film Board of CanadaNational Film Board of CanadaThe National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
documentary on the Nordique's first home game