Lou Kaplan Trophy

The Lou Kaplan Trophy was presented annually to the World Hockey Association's (WHA) rookie of the year. Terry Caffery won the first award.^[1]

History

Lou Kaplan was one of the original owners of the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA.^[2] On August 10, 1973, the WHA officially named its trophies after the team officials at the WHA's founding meeting in 1972. The rookie-of-the-year trophy was named after Kaplan.^[3]

Winners

• 1973 – Terry Caffery, New England Whalers
• 1974 – Mark Howe, Houston Aeros
• 1975 – Anders Hedberg, Winnipeg Jets
• 1976 – Mark Napier, Toronto Toros
• 1977 – George Lyle, New England Whalers
• 1978 – Kent Nilsson, Winnipeg Jets
• 1979 – Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton Oilers

^[3]