Did You Know?
The Draft That Changed Everything
Four new teams, a lowered age limit, and a generation of icons—1979 was the year the NHL's future finally arrived.
The civil war was over and the superstar era had begun.
Two years of elite talent arrived in a single afternoon.
The draft produced a staggering seven Hall of Fame players.
One draft class redefined the limits of the game forever.
01. A League Transformed
The hockey world looked fundamentally different on June 9, 1979. The long-standing war between the NHL and the WHA had finally ended, resulting in the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers joining the league. This wasn't just an expansion; it was a total reset of the professional landscape. The draft that followed would provide the fuel for a new era of dominance and high-scoring flair.
02. Lowering The Bar
Before 1979, the NHL draft age was strictly 20, but the merger forced the league's hand to include 18- and 19-year-olds. This rule change effectively doubled the talent pool overnight, creating a 'Super Draft' unlike any seen before. Teams were suddenly looking at teenagers who would have normally been off-limits for two more years. It was a gold rush for scouts who suddenly had a surplus of elite prospects to choose from.
03. Icons On The Board
The names called that day in Montreal read like a Hall of Fame induction list. While Wayne Gretzky was already a pro with the Edmonton Oilers, legends like Ray Bourque, Mike Gartner, and Michel Goulet were all snagged in the first round. Even deeper in the order, the Edmonton Oilers found Mark Messier in the third round with the 48th overall pick. These were the players who would go on to define the scoring booms and defensive dynasties of the 1980s.
04. The Eighties Blueprint
The 1979 draft didn't just fill rosters; it established the blueprint for the modern, fast-paced NHL. By integrating the WHA's offensive creativity with the NHL's established structure, the league set the stage for the most explosive decade in hockey history. The teenagers who stepped onto the stage in Montreal would go on to win dozens of Stanley Cups. The league was finally whole, and its talent level had reached an all-time peak.