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Niagara Falls, ON- Philadelphia Flyers left wing Simon Gagne was the first player selected in the World Hockey Association's free agent draft, one of a number of current NHL players among those chosen by the re- born league.
Gagne was chosen by the Quebec Nordiks with the number one choice, with Boston Bruins center Travis Green picked second overall by the Halifax franchise.
Atlanta Thrashers standout Dany Heatley was tabbed by Detroit with the third pick, followed by Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Ryder (Hamilton), Boston star Joe Thornton (Toronto) and Vancouver's controversial forward Todd Bertuzzi, who was taken by the franchise currently run by the league's founders which has not yet been assigned a city.
Other notables selected in the 30-round draft were former New York Rangers center Eric Lindros, 2004 Conn Smythe trophy winner Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils center Scott Gomez, Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and ex-NHL star Theo Fleury.
With the NHL's 2004-05 season currently in limbo as the league's current collective bargaining agreement expires September 15, the WHA hopes to lure much of the NHL's talent if a work stoppage does indeed occur.
The WHA, which is set to begin play in late October, originally started in 1971 as a rival to the NHL and lured away such legends as Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe before disbanding in 1979. The new WHA will have franchises in Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Halifax, Hamilton, Quebec, Toronto as well as the undetermined founder's franchise.
Gagne was chosen by the Quebec Nordiks with the number one choice, with Boston Bruins center Travis Green picked second overall by the Halifax franchise.
Atlanta Thrashers standout Dany Heatley was tabbed by Detroit with the third pick, followed by Montreal Canadiens right wing Michael Ryder (Hamilton), Boston star Joe Thornton (Toronto) and Vancouver's controversial forward Todd Bertuzzi, who was taken by the franchise currently run by the league's founders which has not yet been assigned a city.
Other notables selected in the 30-round draft were former New York Rangers center Eric Lindros, 2004 Conn Smythe trophy winner Brad Richards of the Tampa Bay Lightning, New Jersey Devils center Scott Gomez, Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk and ex-NHL star Theo Fleury.
With the NHL's 2004-05 season currently in limbo as the league's current collective bargaining agreement expires September 15, the WHA hopes to lure much of the NHL's talent if a work stoppage does indeed occur.
The WHA, which is set to begin play in late October, originally started in 1971 as a rival to the NHL and lured away such legends as Bobby Hull and Gordie Howe before disbanding in 1979. The new WHA will have franchises in Dallas, Detroit, Florida, Halifax, Hamilton, Quebec, Toronto as well as the undetermined founder's franchise.