| The Chicago Cougars were one of the WHA's original 12 teams that began play in the 1972-1973 season. The Cougars had a miserable inaugural campaign, but the following season, buoyed by the signings of NHL veterans Pat Stapleton and Ralph Backstrom, the Cougars were greatly improved and made the playoffs, advancing all the way to the AVCO Cup final before losing out to the Houston Aeros. The next year, the Cougars again struggled and might have folded if Stapleton, Backstrom and goaltender Dave Dryden had not purchased the team. The club's fortunes failed to improve with the ownership change, however, and the team folded after the 1974-1975 season. |
