The on-going speculation of the return of a National Hockey League franchise to Winnipeg, Manitoba is at its strongest since the team left for Phoenix after the 1995-96 season. With the Canadian dollar more valuable than its American counterpart, a brand new NHL grade arena in Winnipeg and continued financial problems with the Phoenix Coyotes, the time couldn’t be better for a rebirth.

Although Teemu Selanne is most likely bound for the Hockey Hall of Fame when he finally hangs up the skates, at this point, there currently are just three players that played for the Winnipeg Jets in the Hall.

Bobby Hull was not only the face of the Winnipeg Jets right from the beginning but was the face of the whole World Hockey Association in the league’s first year of play. Hull was enticed away from the NHL’s Chicago Black Hawks with a huge contract that was paid for by all the WHA teams. Bobby played for the Jets throughout the entire seven year lifespan of the WHA. He appeared in 18 games with the team in 1979-80 after the Jets were absorbed by the NHL.

Hull had the most goals and points of any Jet during the WHA era. His number 9 was retired by the Jets in 1989 and that retirement is still honoured by the Phoenix Coyotes. Bobby Hull was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Although better known for his play with the Montreal Canadiens through their 1970’s dynasty, Serge Savard retired in a Winnipeg Jets jersey after playing two seasons with the club, 1981-82 and 1982-83. The tough defenseman entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.

Dale Hawerchuk was the only first overall pick for the Winnipeg Jets in either the WHA Amateur Draft or the NHL Entry Draft. Hawerchuk was picked in the 1981 draft after the Jets earned the first overall slot by winning only nine games during the 1980-81 season. The Jets were quickly rewarded with Hawerchuk winning the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie in 1981-82.

Hawerchuk is the all-time leader in goals and points for the Jets with 379 and 929. Dale served as team captain from 1984 to 1990. Although his jersey number 10 was not retired by the Jets, it was later retired by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007. Dale became a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.

Although the team has long since moved out of town, there are still former members that could end up joining these three. As mentioned, Teemu Selanne is almost a guarantee. Recently retired Keith Tkachuk and current Phoenix Coyotes captain Shane Doan are long shot hopefuls. If the speculation surround Phoenix’s possible return to Winnipeg come to fruition, there’s potential for many more to come.