The Lou Kaplan Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's (WHA) rookie of the year. History Lou Kaplan was one of the original owners of the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA. On August 10, 1973, the WHA officially named its trophies after the team officials at the WHA's founding meeting in 1972. The rookie-of-the-year trophy was named after Kaplan. Winners 1973 – Terry Caffery, New England Whalers 1974 – Mark Howe, Houston Aeros 1975 – Anders Hedberg, Winnipeg Jets 1976 – Mark Napier, Toronto Toros 1977 – George Lyle, New England Whalers 1978 – Kent Nilsson, Winnipeg Jets 1979 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers References World Hockey Association trophies and awards