The 1979 WHA playoffs were the final postseason tournament of the World Hockey Association (WHA), culminating in the awarding of the Avco World Trophy. The playoffs marked the end of the WHA as a major professional ice hockey league, as four of its six remaining franchises were absorbed into the National Hockey League (NHL) shortly thereafter.
Background
By the 1978–79 season, the WHA had been in operation for seven years, serving as a rival to the established NHL. However, the league had faced significant financial struggles and team instability throughout its existence. The 1978–79 season saw only six teams complete the schedule: the Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, Cincinnati Stingers, and Birmingham Bulls. Negotiations for a merger with the NHL had been ongoing for several years, and it was widely understood that this would be the WHA's final season.
Participating Teams
Due to the reduced number of teams and the impending merger, the playoff format was streamlined. The top four teams in the final regular season standings qualified for the postseason:
- Edmonton Oilers (55-20-6, 116 points)
- Quebec Nordiques (41-34-6, 89 points)
- Winnipeg Jets (39-33-8, 85 points)
- New England Whalers (37-34-9, 83 points)
The Cincinnati Stingers and Birmingham Bulls did not qualify for the playoffs.
Tournament Format
The 1979 WHA playoffs consisted of two rounds, both played as best-of-seven series:
- Semifinals:
- First seed vs. Fourth seed
- Second seed vs. Third seed
- Avco World Trophy Final: Winners of the two semifinal series.
Playoff Bracket
┌───────────────────────────────────┐
│ Semifinals │
└───────────────────────────────────┘
1. Edmonton Oilers ───────┐
├─── Edmonton Oilers (4) ───┐
4. New England Whalers (3)┘ │
├─── Winnipeg Jets (4)
2. Quebec Nordiques ──────┐ │ (Avco World Trophy Champions)
├─── Winnipeg Jets (4) ─────┘
3. Winnipeg Jets (3)──────┘
Semifinals
Edmonton Oilers (1) vs. New England Whalers (4)
The top-seeded Edmonton Oilers, led by a young Wayne Gretzky (who tied for the WHA MVP award and won the Lou Kaplan Award as rookie of the year), faced the New England Whalers. The Oilers were heavy favorites but found the Whalers to be a formidable opponent. The series went the full seven games, with the Oilers ultimately prevailing 4-3 to advance to the final.
- Game 1: New England 6, Edmonton 3
- Game 2: Edmonton 5, New England 2
- Game 3: New England 4, Edmonton 3 (OT)
- Game 4: Edmonton 5, New England 4 (OT)
- Game 5: Edmonton 9, New England 3
- Game 6: New England 8, Edmonton 3
- Game 7: Edmonton 6, New England 3
Quebec Nordiques (2) vs. Winnipeg Jets (3)
The second semifinal pitted the defending Avco World Trophy champion Winnipeg Jets against the Quebec Nordiques. The series was hard-fought, with the Jets showcasing their playoff experience. Winnipeg defeated Quebec 4-3 in another thrilling seven-game series, setting up a final clash of WHA titans.
- Game 1: Winnipeg 7, Quebec 5
- Game 2: Quebec 5, Winnipeg 2
- Game 3: Winnipeg 6, Quebec 2
- Game 4: Quebec 3, Winnipeg 2
- Game 5: Winnipeg 4, Quebec 3 (OT)
- Game 6: Quebec 3, Winnipeg 2
- Game 7: Winnipeg 3, Quebec 2
Avco World Trophy Final
Edmonton Oilers (1) vs. Winnipeg Jets (3)
The final series for the last Avco World Trophy saw a matchup between the league's most successful franchise, the Winnipeg Jets (who had won the trophy twice previously), and the rising star power of the Edmonton Oilers, featuring Gretzky in his first professional playoff final.
The Winnipeg Jets, led by veteran players and goaltender Gary Smith, demonstrated their championship pedigree. Despite the Oilers' offensive talent, the Jets' experience and defensive play proved to be the difference. Winnipeg won the series 4-2, capturing their third Avco World Trophy and cementing their place in WHA history as the league's most dominant team.
- Game 1: Winnipeg 3, Edmonton 2
- Game 2: Winnipeg 6, Edmonton 4
- Game 3: Edmonton 5, Winnipeg 3
- Game 4: Edmonton 3, Winnipeg 2 (OT)
- Game 5: Winnipeg 9, Edmonton 3
- Game 6: Winnipeg 7, Edmonton 3
Winnipeg Jets win the Avco World Trophy, 4 games to 2.
Legacy
The 1979 WHA playoffs hold a significant place in hockey history as the final chapter of a rival league that challenged the NHL for seven years. The four teams that participated in these playoffs – the Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers (who became the Hartford Whalers), Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets – were the franchises ultimately admitted into the NHL for the 1979–80 season.
The Jets' victory marked a fitting end for a team that had been a cornerstone of the WHA's identity. For the Oilers, it was an early playoff experience for Wayne Gretzky and other future NHL stars like Mark Messier and Jari Kurri, foreshadowing their future dynasty in the NHL. The WHA playoffs closed a unique and often turbulent era of professional hockey, paving the way for a unified NHL that incorporated some of the WHA's most talented players and innovative practices.