WHA Top 10 All-Time Scoring Leaders

Recently, we published a short video on our YouTube Channel featuring the top 10 all-time scoring leaders in the World Hockey Association. Here, we’re going to take a bit of a deeper look at these ten great hockey players.

This is a pretty special group of hockey players. Three are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Nine of the ten are in the WHA Hall of Fame.

WHA Top 10 All Time Scoring Leaders Video

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Number 10

Ulf Nilsson

Ulf Nilsson played for the Winnipeg Jets for four years from 1974-75 to 1977-78. In just 300 regular season games, Nilsson put up 484 points. This places him tenth all time in the WHA with the other nine playing 73 or more games over their careers.

Despite his numbers, Nilsson has little to show in the way of individual accolades. Ulf was named the WHA Playoff MVP in 1975-76, helping the Jets to the championship. He was also part of an Avco World Trophy winning team with Winnipeg in 1977-78.

Ulf Nilsson Career WHA Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974-75	Winnipeg Jets	78	26	94	120	79
1975-76	Winnipeg Jets	78	38	76	114	84
1976-77	Winnipeg Jets	71	39	85	124	89
1977-78	Winnipeg Jets	73	37	89	126	89
	Total	300	140	344	484	341

Number 9

Chris Bordeleau

Christian Bordeleau was a career WHAer. He played in the league from its inception in 1972-73 until its demise following the 1978-79 season. His career started with the Jets but Bordeleau moved to the Quebec Nordiques early in the 1974-75 season.

Over his seven years, Chris topped 100 points three times. He did it once with the Jets and twice with the Nordiques. He helped Quebec to an Avco World Trophy championship in 1976-77.

Chris Bordeleau Career WHA Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972-73	Winnipeg Jets	78	47	54	101	12
1973-74	Winnipeg Jets	75	26	49	75	22
1974-75	Winnipeg Jets	18	8	8	16	0
1974-75	Quebec Nordiques	53	15	33	48	24
1975-76	Quebec Nordiques	74	37	72	109	42
1976-77	Quebec Nordiques	72	32	75	107	34
1977-78	Quebec Nordiques	26	9	22	31	28
1978-79	Quebec Nordiques	16	5	12	17	0
	Total	412	179	325	504	162

Number 8

Mark Howe

Steady as a rock, Mark Howe had just one 100 point season in the WHA, his last with the New England Whalers in 1978-79. Yet, Howe places eighth overall in the Rebel League. His career started with the Houston Aeros and ended with the Whalers.

In 1973-74, Mark won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as WHA rookie of the year. That year, he was also named a Second Team All-Star and his Houston Aeros won the championship.

Howe would be named a First Team All-Star just once, in 1978-79. He would help the Aeros to one more Avco World Trophy, in 1974-75. Mark joined his father, Gordie Howe, and five others from this list, on Team Canada at Summit ’74. Against the Soviets, Mark scored two and assisted on two in seven games.

Mark Howe Career WHA Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973-74	Houston Aeros	76	38	41	79	20
1974-75	Houston Aeros	74	36	40	76	30
1975-76	Houston Aeros	72	39	37	76	38
1976-77	Houston Aeros	57	23	52	75	46
1977-78	New England Whalers	70	30	61	91	32
1978-79	New England Whalers	77	42	65	107	32
	Total	426	208	296	504	198

Number 7

Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe came out of retirement for the 1973-74 World Hockey Association season. All ready inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, Howe joined sons Mark and Marty with the Houston Aeros. He moved with both to the New England Whalers for the 1977-78 season.

In his first year, Gordie won the Gary L. Davidson Award as WHA most valuable player. That award was renamed the Gordie Howe Trophy for the 1975-76 season. He helped the Aeros to two consecutive Avco World Trophy championships in 1973-74 and 1974-75.

Howe excelled for Canada at Summit ’74. In seven games, Gordie scored three goals and assisted on four for seven points.

Gordie Howe WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973-74	Houston Aeros	70	31	69	100	46
1974-75	Houston Aeros	75	34	65	99	84
1975-76	Houston Aeros	78	32	70	102	76
1976-77	Houston Aeros	62	24	44	68	57
1977-78	New England Whalers	76	34	62	96	85
1978-79	New England Whalers	58	19	24	43	51
	Total	419	174	334	508	399

Number 6

Robbie Ftorek

Playing for two teams out of the WHA limelight, Robbie Ftorek put up 523 points in just 373 games (five seasons). Ftorek started his career in 1974-75 with the Phoenix Roadrunners. He moved to the Cincinnati Stingers in 1977-78. In his first year with the Stingers, Robbie scored 59 goals.

There were no championships playing in Phoenix and Cincinnati. However, Ftorek’s production did not go unnoticed. He was handed the Gordie Howe Trophy as MVP for the 1976-77 season.

Robbie Ftorek WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974-75	Phoenix Roadrunners	53	31	37	68	29
1975-76	Phoenix Roadrunners	80	41	72	113	109
1976-77	Phoenix Roadrunners	80	46	71	117	86
1977-78	Cincinnati Stingers	80	59	50	109	54
1978-79	Cincinnati Stingers	80	39	77	116	87
	Total	373	216	307	523	365

Number 5

Serge Bernier

Serge Bernier played six years in the WHA from 1973-74 to 1978-79, all with the Quebec Nordiques. He was a member of the Summit ’74 Canada squad, scoring a goal and two assists in eight games.

In 1976-77, Bernier and the Nordiques captured the Avco World Trophy. Serge was named the WHA Playoff MVP.

Serge Bernier WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973-74	Quebec Nordiques	74	37	49	86	107
1974-75	Quebec Nordiques	76	54	68	122	75
1975-76	Quebec Nordiques	70	34	68	102	91
1976-77	Quebec Nordiques	74	43	53	96	94
1977-78	Quebec Nordiques	58	26	52	78	48
1978-79	Quebec Nordiques	65	36	46	82	71
	Total	417	230	336	566	486

Number 4

Real Cloutier

The WHA Hall of Fame exists. Everyone on this list has been inducted into that Hall of Fame. Everyone, that is, except for Real Cloutier. Why that is is a complete mystery to me.

Real Cloutier played five years in the WHA from 1974-75 to 1978-79. In his final four campaigns, he scored no less than 56 goals and topped out with 75 in 1978-79.

He was named to the All-Star team in his final four seasons. From 1975-76 to 1977-78, Cloutier was a Second Team All-Star. In 1978-79, he was bumped to the First Team. He led the WHA in scoring in 1976-77 and 1978-79, earning the Bill Hunter Trophy both seasons. He helped the Nordiques to the Avco World Trophy in 1976-77.

Real Cloutier WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1974-75	Quebec Nordiques	63	26	27	53	36
1975-76	Quebec Nordiques	80	60	54	114	27
1976-77	Quebec Nordiques	76	66	75	141	39
1977-78	Quebec Nordiques	73	56	73	129	19
1978-79	Quebec Nordiques	77	75	54	129	48
	Total	369	283	283	566	169

Number 3

Bobby Hull

The initial face of the league, Bobby Hull did not disappoint. From 1972-73 to 1978-79, Hull was a mainstay with the Winnipeg Jets. He topped out with 77 goals and 142 points in 1974-75 and topped the 100 point plateau on three other occasions.

Bobby was named MVP in 1972-73 and 1974-75. He helped Winnipeg to two championships, 1975-76 and 1977-78. At Summit ’74, Hull scored seven and assisted on two in eight games.

Bobby Hull WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972-73	Winnipeg Jets	63	51	52	103	37
1973-74	Winnipeg Jets	75	53	42	95	38
1974-75	Winnipeg Jets	78	77	65	142	41
1975-76	Winnipeg Jets	80	53	70	123	30
1976-77	Winnipeg Jets	34	21	32	53	14
1977-78	Winnipeg Jets	77	46	71	117	23
1978-79	Winnipeg Jets	4	2	3	5	0
	Total	411	303	335	638	183

Number 2

Marc Tardif

After starting his WHA career with the Los Angeles Sharks, Michigan Stags and Baltimore Blades, Marc Tardif settled in with the Quebec Nordiques fairly early on in the 1974-75 season. he scored 71 goals in his first full season with that team and put up 154 points in 1977-78.

A First Team All-Star in 1975-76, 1976-77 and 1977-78, Tardif was also named to the Second Team in 1974-75. He led the league in scoring in 1975-76 and 1977-78. In both those seasons, he also earned the Gordie Howe Trophy as MVP.

The captain of the Nordiques from 1976-77 to 1978-79 (and two more seasons in the NHL) played a major role in the team’s championship run in 1976-77. At Summit ’74, he added two assists in five games.

Marc Tardif WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1973-74	Los Angeles Sharks	75	40	30	70	47
1974-75	Stags / Blades	23	12	5	17	9
1974-75	Quebec Nordiques	53	38	34	72	70
1975-76	Quebec Nordiques	81	71	77	148	79
1976-77	Quebec Nordiques	62	49	60	109	65
1977-78	Quebec Nordiques	78	65	89	154	50
1978-79	Quebec Nordiques	74	41	55	96	98
	Total	446	316	350	666	418

Number 1

Andre Lacroix

Despite his small stature. Despite playing for teams like the Philadelphia Blazers, New York Blades and San Diego Mariners. Andre Lacroix will forever be the all-time leading scorer in the history of the World Hockey Association.

Andre played the full seven years in the league from 1972-73 to 1978-79. He started out in the media shadow of Derek Sanderson with the Blazers in 1972-73. Despite that circus, he scored 50 and totaled 124 points. It started a string of six consecutive seasons with 100 or more points.

Scoring titles came in 1972-73 and 1974-75 for Lacroix. He was a First Team All-Star in 1972-73, 1973-74 and 1974-75. At Summit ’74, he scored a goal and assisted on six over eight games.

Andre Lacroix WHA Career Stats

Year	Team	Gms	G	A	Pts	PIM
1972-73	Philadelphia Blazers	78	50	74	124	83
1973-74	Blades / Knights	78	31	80	111	54
1974-75	San Diego Mariners	78	41	106	147	63
1975-76	San Diego Mariners	80	29	72	101	42
1976-77	San Diego Mariners	81	32	82	114	79
1977-78	Houston Aeros	78	36	77	113	57
1978-79	New England Whalers	78	32	56	88	34
	Total	551	251	547	798	412