Bobby Hull, 1939 – 2023

In 1972 Bobby Hull was signed by the WHA Winnipeg Jets as a player/coach with a contract worth $1.75 million over 10 years, plus a $1 million signing bonus.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Subscribe and receive a limited-edition Free Press branded hat or tote.

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $205*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/01/2023 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In 1972 Bobby Hull was signed by the WHA Winnipeg Jets as a player/coach with a contract worth $1.75 million over 10 years, plus a $1 million signing bonus.

 

Bobby Hull (foreground) after receiving his million-dollar cheque from Winnipeg Jets owner Ben Hatskin (left) at the corner of Portage and Main, in 1972. (Jack Ablett / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull (foreground) after receiving his million-dollar cheque from Winnipeg Jets owner Ben Hatskin (left) at the corner of Portage and Main, in 1972. (Jack Ablett / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull with his million-dollar cheque after signing with the Winnipeg Jets. (The Canadian Press files)
Bobby Hull with his million-dollar cheque after signing with the Winnipeg Jets. (The Canadian Press files)
Bobby Hull at the corner of Portage and Main after signing his contract with the Winnipeg Jets. (Winnipeg Free Press files)
Bobby Hull at the corner of Portage and Main after signing his contract with the Winnipeg Jets. (Winnipeg Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a game against the San Diego Mariners. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a game against the San Diego Mariners. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a game against the Houston Aeros. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a game against the Houston Aeros. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
From left: Tommy Bergman (2), Bobby Hull (8) and Jets captain Lars-Erik Sjöberg rush down the ice in a game against the Birmingham Bulls in 1977. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
From left: Tommy Bergman (2), Bobby Hull (8) and Jets captain Lars-Erik Sjöberg rush down the ice in a game against the Birmingham Bulls in 1977. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull gets into a pushing match with Cincinnati Stinger players during a game in March 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull gets into a pushing match with Cincinnati Stinger players during a game in March 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull (left) with Peter Sullivan during a playoff game against the New England Whalers in 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull (left) with Peter Sullivan during a playoff game against the New England Whalers in 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull with the Avco Cup. Hull led the Winnipeg Jets to two Avco Cup championships in 1976 and 1978.  (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull with the Avco Cup. Hull led the Winnipeg Jets to two Avco Cup championships in 1976 and 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull at a Avco Cup victory parade in Winnipeg. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull at a Avco Cup victory parade in Winnipeg. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull and with a fan at the victory parade after the Winnipeg Jets won the WHA's Avco Cup in 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull and with a fan at the victory parade after the Winnipeg Jets won the WHA's Avco Cup in 1978. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
The cover of a 1978 hockey program featured the faces of the 'Hot Line': Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson. (Winnipeg Free Press files)
The cover of a 1978 hockey program featured the faces of the 'Hot Line': Bobby Hull, Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson. (Winnipeg Free Press files)
Bobby Hull's hockey card. (Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull's hockey card. (Boris Minkevich / Free Press files)
An autographed picture of Bobby Hull. (Ted Foreman Collection / Free Press files)
An autographed picture of Bobby Hull. (Ted Foreman Collection / Free Press files)
Ulf Nilsson (left) with Bobby Hull.
Ulf Nilsson (left) with Bobby Hull.
Bobby Hull in a late '70s game. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a late '70s game. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull on the cover of the Winnipeg Jets magazine. (University of Manitoba / Free Press archives)
Bobby Hull on the cover of the Winnipeg Jets magazine. (University of Manitoba / Free Press archives)
Bobby Hull in a game in the late '70s. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull in a game in the late '70s. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull gets held back by Russa's Boris Mikhailov. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull gets held back by Russa's Boris Mikhailov. (Jon Thordarson / Winnipeg Tribune / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull signs an autography for hockey fan Marg Kozak. Hull was in town to play in Hockey Hero's charity hockey game in March 2003. (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Bobby Hull signs an autography for hockey fan Marg Kozak. Hull was in town to play in Hockey Hero's charity hockey game in March 2003. (Ken Gigliotti / Winnipeg Free Press files)
Bobby Hull signs autographs in November 1995. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)
Bobby Hull signs autographs in November 1995. (Marc Gallant / Free Press files)
Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Gold mine accused of sparking wildfire that caused evacuations

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Preview

Gold mine accused of sparking wildfire that caused evacuations

Erik Pindera 5 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:11 PM CDT

A Lynn Lake-area gold mine is being sued over a massive wildfire that burned more than 210,000 acres last spring, causing evacuations as the flames closed in on the community.

Provincial conservation officials alleged in court documents filed last year the wildfire started May 7, 2025, after a controlled burn pile reignited at Alamos Gold Inc., located about 7.5 kilometres northeast of Lynn Lake. The blaze spread to within five kilometres of the small northern community.

A Manitoba government spokesman said Monday the fire remains under investigation.

The wildfire led to the late May 2025 evacuations of Lynn Lake, home to nearly 600 residents and located about 800 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg, and Marcel Colomb First Nation.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 2:11 PM CDT

Man armed with ‘edged weapon’ dies after dispute in Linden Woods home

Scott Billeck 6 minute read Preview

Man armed with ‘edged weapon’ dies after dispute in Linden Woods home

Scott Billeck 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 4:21 PM CDT

The family of a 42-year-old Winnipeg man shot and killed by police in Linden Woods on Monday night says the incident raises troubling questions about how officers respond to people in mental-health crisis.

“Their reaction to mental health is my concern,” said the man’s sister-in-law, Erica Smith, who spoke outside her brother-in-law’s Avon Gate home on Tuesday. She said her brother-in-law struggled with his mental health.

“It didn’t have to end like this,” she said, fighting back tears. “It could have ended differently.”

Police said officers encountered the man armed with an “edged weapon” at the home when they arrived shortly before 10:30 p.m.

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 4:21 PM CDT

Toys ‘R’ Us closing Polo Park store

Free Press staff 2 minute read Preview

Toys ‘R’ Us closing Polo Park store

Free Press staff 2 minute read Monday, Jul. 13, 2026

Embattled toy retailer Toys “R” Us is closing its store in Winnipeg’s Polo Park area.

Staff hung signs sharing the news — and advertising liquidation pricing — on Friday. The signage does not indicate when the store, located at 1445 St. Matthews Ave., will close for good.

A store manager declined to comment on Monday, directing a reporter to Toys “R” Us Canada Ltd.’s head office. The company did not respond to interview requests.

Toys “R” Us announced in January it would close its Polo Park location, but reversed course a few weeks later. The Canada-wide company has been in creditor protection since February.

Read
Monday, Jul. 13, 2026

Police to report Tuesday on Linden Woods shooting

1 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 2:35 PM CDT

The Winnipeg Police Service will hold a news conference Tuesday to provide details about a shooting involving an officer in the Linden Woods neighbourhood Monday night.

No other details have been released.

The 1 p.m. news conference will be livestreamed on the WPS's YouTube page.

WestJet cabin crews issue warning

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Preview

WestJet cabin crews issue warning

Gabrielle Piché 5 minute read Yesterday at 7:22 PM CDT

Travellers leaving Winnipeg got an unexpected view Tuesday — a line of silent WestJet flight attendants, wearing sunglasses and holding signs protesting unfair wages.

“Ready to Strike” and “Unpaid Work Won’t Fly!” boards faced passersby hurrying into the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport’s departures level.

Some 66 Manitoba-based WestJet workers stood silently outside the terminal for a half-hour, before noon.

Elsewhere, their colleagues cast strike votes. Some 4,400 flight attendants across Canada began voting July 9; the vote closes Wednesday.

Read
Yesterday at 7:22 PM CDT

Buckled cement gives drivers the heave-ho

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Preview

Buckled cement gives drivers the heave-ho

Joyanne Pursaga 5 minute read Yesterday at 6:11 PM CDT

Highways, local roads and sidewalks have buckled and broken thanks to extreme heat in recent days, wreaking havoc with travel.

Garth Thomson was driving on the Perimeter Highway, just north of Assiniboia Downs, around 4 p.m. Sunday when he suddenly came upon a major gap in the road.

“There was a big break in the highway, which was the heaving. I had about four seconds to decide what I was going to do. So, I kind of hit my brakes and drove more towards the centre, where the big chunks weren’t (located),” said Thomson. “It happened so fast … there were big chunks (of concrete), probably a foot (per) square, sticking up.”

His convertible had bumper damage and a hole in its gas tank, he said.

Read
Yesterday at 6:11 PM CDT