Beliveau placed loyalty to Canadiens ahead of WHA offer

In 1973, a Montreal legend turned down a $1 million offer to join Quebec and instead chose to follow in the footsteps of Howe and Hull by joining a rival league.

Having already netted two incredible goals, the young World Hockey Association was now aiming to secure what could potentially be the most remarkable hat trick ever.

But this July week in 1973, when Jean Beliveau saw the yawning WHA net, he chose instead to pass.

Future Hall of Famer Bobby Hull had made the jump from the Chicago Black Hawks to the Winnipeg Jets in June 1972. The electrifying left wing, who won the Stanley Cup in Chicago in 1961, gave the WHA instant credibility when he signed a 10-year playing and personal services contract that, with expected endorsements, was worth an estimated $3 million.

Gordie Howe had concluded a magnificent 25-season career with the Detroit Red Wings in 1971, and the traditional three-year waiting period was waived for his 1972 Hall of Fame induction.

In June 1973, the Houston Aeros of the WHA approached Mr. Hockey, who had previously achieved four Stanley Cup wins with Detroit in the 1950s. Delighted, he and his family eagerly accepted the offer.

Bobby Hull in a publicity portrait with the Winnipeg Jets of the WHA.

Howe accepted the Aeros offer of $1 million, the legend’s sons Marty Howe and Mark Howe welcomed to the fold for lesser sums. One of hockey’s biggest stars ever would line up with his boys, a trio for the ages.

The Quebec Nordiques’ pursuit of Beliveau would have been the third remarkable addition to their roster, with Hull and Howe already providing invaluable marketing value to the WHA.

Similar to Howe, Beliveau concluded his NHL career in 1971, achieving his 10th and ultimate Stanley Cup victory as a player. Subsequently, he was honored in the Hall of Fame alongside Howe in 1972.

However, throughout his hockey career, spanning from his junior years to his senior years with the Quebec Aces, and eventually in the NHL with the Canadiens, Beliveau remained steadfastly loyal to the individuals who held significance in his life.

He considered the offer from Nordiques president Paul Racine, whom he’d known since junior, of $1 million for a season on the ice and then a great deal more for three more years in senior management. It went as far as a meeting at a Montreal airport hotel with Racine and Jacques Plante, the goaltending great and former Beliveau teammate who now was the Nordiques’ general manager.

Gordie Howe (left) and Jean Beliveau at the Montreal Forum before a 1950s NHL All-Star Game, and Beliveau with the Chicago Black Hawks’ Bobby Hull following the Canadiens’ 4-0 win in Game 7 of the 1965 Stanley Cup Final.

In a statement issued to the media the following day, Beliveau outlined three factors that led to his decision to decline Quebec’s lucrative offer. Firstly, he acknowledged that at the age of 42, he doubted his ability to perform at the level he held himself to. Additionally, he expressed his delight in finally having quality time with his family, which had been long overdue. Lastly, he expressed contentment with his current role as vice president and director of corporate relations for the Canadiens organization.

Beliveau expressed, “After my conversation with Mr. Racine today, I believe our friendship remains as strong as ever. We have been friends since my junior hockey days. When I informed him, his response was simply that he would gladly assist me in any field if needed.”

The Quebec offer was both generous and appealing. I believe that to accumulate a similar amount of money with the Canadiens, it might require an additional five to ten years. However, when considering the future in the long run, the prospects seem more promising with the Canadiens.

Beliveau stayed in senior management until his retirement on his 62nd birthday, August 31, 1993. During this time, he played a crucial role in winning seven more Stanley Cup championships for the franchise, specifically championships 18 through 24, with the most recent one occurring in 1993.

The Nordiques would have loved to sign another Canadiens star who had played brilliantly as a junior in Quebec but Guy Lafleur was untouchable, having signed a three-year contract in 1971 upon his NHL arrival in Montreal.

Jean Beliveau in the Montreal Canadiens replica dressing room at the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1993, shortly after his retirement from the team’s front office.

In his 1994 autobiography, “My Life In Hockey,” Beliveau firmly stated to the Nordiques that he would not reconsider their generous offer, no matter what they presented on the table.

Whether it’s ten million or twenty million dollars, it holds no significance. I am no longer capable of playing the type of hockey I once enjoyed. Even if I had the ability and desire to return to the game, I would choose to play for the Canadiens. It would be unfair to the Nordiques, the fans, and myself. I simply cannot continue, and I am the first to acknowledge this reality.

Plante’s comprehension of a proud player’s mindset surpassed that of anyone else. In 1974-75, he decided to make a comeback for another season with the Edmonton Oilers of the WHA. Despite being a goalie and not a skater, Plante’s abilities did not diminish, as noted by Beliveau.

Consider this: “Take a moment to reflect and ask yourself: are you truly contributing to your teammates’ success? Are you making a significant impact on the ice? Or are you simply benefiting the owners due to your popularity? If you find contentment in playing a style of hockey that involves scoring a mere 15 goals and convincing yourself that it constitutes a successful comeback season, it ultimately remains your decision and you will have to come to terms with it.”

Gordie Howe in action with the Hartford Whalers during his final NHL season in 1979-80. With him at the Montreal Forum, from left: goalie John Garrett, Al Sims and Tim Sheehy.

Naturally, Howe’s construction was composed of alloys that were quite possibly not even created at that time. He participated in six seasons with the Houston team and the New England Whalers of the WHA, followed by another season with the Hartford Whalers in the NHL. After the 1979-80 season, at the remarkable age of 52, he retired for the second time.

While the financial incentive to leave was undoubtedly enticing, Mr. Hockey could have potentially stayed with the Red Wings in their management team if he had felt valued.

When the Aeros approached Howe, he didn’t hesitate to join them as he was dissatisfied with the trivial tasks he had been given during his short retirement from the team.

During a news conference on June 19, 1973, Howe expressed that he felt it necessary to be compensated adequately, and emphasized the importance of his name and reputation. He mentioned that they were willing to meet his demands, as his identity and standing were integral to him. This statement was made when Howe announced his signing with Houston.

I recently had a conversation with Ned Harkness, the Red Wings GM, and he expressed regret for not being aware of my sentiments earlier. According to him, had he known, he would have willingly stepped down from his role as GM and served as my assistant instead. That’s what he claimed, at least.

Gordie Howe with his sons Mark (left) and Marty, talking to reporters at the Montreal Forum, the three having signed with the WHA Houston Aeros in 1973.

I informed Ned that I had a difference of opinion with his perspective. It wasn’t a major offense, but I wasn’t actively participating or gaining knowledge from the situation. Gradually, I started sensing that a few individuals didn’t genuinely want me around. Therefore, I couldn’t pretend to be something I’m not. I concluded that the best course of action was to leave. And now, here I am.

NHL President Clarence Campbell, who joined the League at the same time as Howe in 1946, initially expressed disappointment and unnecessary anxiety over the superstar’s decision to move to a rival league.

Campbell expressed his concern, saying, “I really hope Gordie doesn’t endure the same fate as others who have stayed in the game for too long. It would truly upset me if instead of receiving applause, he was met with boos. I would be genuinely saddened to witness him in such a predicament.”

In 1973, the Howe-Beliveau friendship, which is considered one of the most remarkable connections in the history of hockey, remained strong despite their diverging paths.

The iconic Canadiens figure pondered Howe’s decision to join the WHA and genuinely extended his best wishes to his rival.

He said, “Gordie and I could have faced off once more, but unfortunately I don’t have two sons representing Quebec!”

Top photo: Jean Beliveau with the early 1950s Quebec Aces, a portrait displayed in his suburban Montreal home in a photo taken shortly after his death in 2014, and his favorite Montreal Canadiens portrait, which appeared on the cover of his 1994 autobiography.