Dave Keon: Difference between revisions

He would remain with the Whalers through the rest of his career. In the [[1977–78 WHA season|1977–78 season]], Keon was joined on the Whalers by [[Gordie Howe]] who, at age 50, was the team's leading scorer that season. Keon returned to the NHL in [[1979–80 NHL season|1979]] when the renamed [[Hartford Whalers]] became one of four WHA teams to join the NHL. The merger agreement allowed existing NHL teams to reclaim most of the WHA players whose NHL rights they held. Nevertheless, even though Keon was not protected from reclamation by the Whalers in the reclamation draft, the Maple Leafs declined to reclaim their former captain, allowing him to remain in Hartford. [[Bobby Hull]] joined the Whalers that season, with Keon, Howe, and Hull sometimes playing as a forward line. Howe and Hull retired at the end of the season. [[Terry Harper]]'s retirement in 1981 left Keon as the oldest active player in the NHL. Keon played two more seasons with the Whalers and announced his retirement on June 30, 1982, at age 42. Keon was the last active player who played an full season in [[Carol Vadnais|t]][[Serge Savard|h]][[Wayne Cashman|e]] Original Six era.