 In 1972 , the NHL faced competition from the newly formed World Hockey Association ( WHA ) . The WHA lured many players away from the NHL , including Derek Sanderson , J. C. Tremblay and Ted Green . The WHA 's biggest coup was to lure Bobby Hull from the Black Hawks to play for the Winnipeg Jets . Hull signed a 10 @-@ year deal : five years as a player for $ 250 @,@ 000 per season , and five more for $ 100 @,@ 000 per season in a front @-@ office position . It also included a $ 1 million signing bonus . The deal totaled $ 2 @.@ 7 million , and lent instant credibility to the new league . After Hull signed , several other players quickly followed suit . Bernie Parent , Gerry Cheevers , Johnny McKenzie and Rick Ley jumped to the WHA as the NHL suddenly found itself in a war for talent . By the time the 1972 – 73 WHA season began , 67 players had switched from the NHL to the WHA . Defections continued following the season , and the WHA scored another major coup when it signed Gordie Howe 's sons Mark and Marty . The league then convinced Gordie to come out of retirement to play with them on the Houston Aeros . 
