A Look Inside Stan Mikita's Most Important Contract Negotiation

Hall-of-Fame NHL star Stan Mikita is one of the best Chicago Blackhawks in history and is considered the best center of the 1960s. He led the league in scoring on four separate occasions, is the only player to win Hart, Art Ross, and Lady Byng trophies in the same season, and was named one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players in 2017. However, in 1973, Mikita’s tenure with the Blackhawks almost ended abruptly as the result of stalled contract negotiations. 

In 1972, the birth of the World Hockey Association caused a “player war” between several NHL and WHA teams. Sixty-seven players jumped to the new league, with Mikita’s teammate Bobby Hull earning a record-breaking 10-year, $1.75 million contract that included a $1 million signing bonus to become both a player and coach for the Winnipeg Jets. 

At the time, Mikita had been paid $90,000, $95,000, and $100,000 across the previous three seasons, respectively. With greater leverage (via the WHA) available, Mikita and his representatives at IMG felt his salary could be doubled. 

On April 4, 1973, Mikita’s lead representative, Edward Keating, sent a letter to Blackhawks President William “Bill” Wirtz asking for an update on the team’s thoughts of IMG’s initial offer. His letter suggested, “while we are not so naive to think that you would accept that proposal, we would at least like to know your position.”  

With the Blackhawks’ stance unknown, Mikita’s representation decided to gauge the interest of the local WHA team. IMG received a letter from Walter Kaiser, President of the Chicago Cougars Hockey Club, on July 5, stating the team “would consider a long-term contract with Stan Mikita in excess of one million dollars which would include a signing bonus of up to a half-million dollars in cash.”  

On July 16, Keating wrote back detailing the terms and conditions that would bring Mikita to the WHA. The terms suggest a $500,000 signing bonus with $200,000 per year in base salary. Deferred payments of $30,000 would be due in years two through six and an endowment insurance policy of $50,000 would be payable to Mikita at the ages of 45, 50, and 60. In total, Mikita would receive $1.8 million from the Cougars. 

Back in the NHL, upon his reception of a letter from Keating, Bill Wirtz wrote on July 24, stating he was “greatly concerned” Mikita might reject the Blackhawks’ current offer. 

“I take great exception to your comment that you are not yet convinced that the Blackhawks are dealing in good faith and that you would so advise Stan to that effect,” the missive reads. “Indeed, a comment of this nature is an attention getting mechanism and I do not care to comment any further at this time.” 

It can be assumed the Blackhawks remained steadfast on paying Mikita a base salary of $200,000 per season over five years but were unwilling to budge on the deferred payments, signing bonus, and other benefits. 

This letter from Wirtz seemingly worried Keating, who penned a response three days later, apologizing for his comment suggesting the Blackhawks were not dealing in good faith. While Keating wrote Mikita had always enjoyed his relationship with the Blackhawks and was aware the NHL was superior, it would take more than the current offer to retain Mikita’s services. 

A handwritten note dated August 10, 1973 stands as the official contract between Mikita and the Blackhawks, listing payments of $10,000 per year to be made from December 1973 through 1977. 

Considering the Chicago Cougars folded in 1975, staying in the NHL proved to be the best course of action for Mikita. Wirtz helped merge the WHA into the NHL when the upstart league ended in 1979.