“Whatever you put on the table, I won’t go back”- Habs legend Jean Beliveau once turned down lucrative $1,000,000 WHA offer

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 18, 2024 04:02 GMT

Montreal Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau rejected an offer to play in the WHA despite a hefty payday. The Habs Hall of Famer passed on a $1 million contract in 1973 to join other NHL greats like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull in the rival league.

The World Hockey Association (WHA) opened in 1972, looking to compete with the NHL. In its early years, the league was able to attract high-caliber players like Hull and Howe, giving the league credibility.

The WHA wanted Jean Beliveau, one of the NHL’s all-time greats, to jump aboard with the Quebec franchise. However, Jean Beliveau had retired after the 1970-71 season. So, like Howe, the WHA attempted to persuade Beliveau to come out of retirement to join the new league.

However, Beliveau would not hear any of it. NHL.com quoted Beliveau’s comments regarding the offer, stating:

“Whatever you put on the table, I won’t go back,” The famous words were penned in Beliveau’s 1994 autobiography.

Jean Beliveau added:

“Ten million, twenty million [dollars], it doesn’t matter. I can’t play the quality of hockey I liked to play anymore. If I could, and if I wanted to play again, I’d play with the Canadiens. It wouldn’t be fair to [the Nordiques], the fans, or me. I just can’t do it anymore, and I’m the first guy to recognize it.”

The WHA folded by 1979, with four teams joining the NHL: The Winnipeg Jets, Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, and New England Whalers. Among the players that entered the NHL was a rising star named Wayne Gretzky, a member of the Oilers.

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Jean Beliveau remained loyal to the Canadiens

Money wasn’t enough to break Jean Beliveau’s loyalty to the Montreal Canadiens. Beliveau stated the following regarding the offer made by the Quebec Nordiques:

“The Quebec offer was generous and attractive. I suppose that in order to earn the same kind of money from the Canadiens, it would take me maybe five 10 years longer. But the long-range future looks better with the Canadiens.”

That long-range future kept Beliveau in Montreal in a front-office role until 1993. The 1993 Stanley Cup championship was Beliveau’s seventh as part of the Habs’ organization. Beliveau retired after the 1993 season, and he passed away in 2014.

Beliveau is often remembered as one of the NHL’s 10 best players. He suited up for 1,125 games, notching 1,219 points. His best season was in 1958-1959, during which he scored 45 goals and 91 points in 64 games. He was among the best players during the Original Six Era.

In 1972, Beliveau gained entry into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He will always be remembered as a Hab for life.