Sunday, May 27, 2012

1966 NHL Amateur Draft

As promised, the results of the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft, including the picks of the WHL, AHL and CPHL teams. The draft took place in the middle of the playoffs on April 25, 1966 at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal.

OverallPlayer ChosenByFrom
Round 1
1Barry GibbsBoston BruinsEstevan Bruins (SJHL)
2Brad ParkNew York RangersToronto Marlboros (OHA Jr. A)
3Terry CafferyChicago Black HawksToronto Marlboros (OHA Jr. A)
4John WrightToronto Maple LeafsWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
5Phil MyreMontreal CanadiensShawinigan Bruins (QPJHL)
6Steve AtkinsonBoston Bruins1Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA Jr. A)
Round 2
7Rick SmithBoston BruinsHamilton Red Wings (OHA Jr. A)
8Joey JohnstonNew York RangersPeterborough Petes (OHA Jr. A)
9Ron DussiaumeChicago Black HawksOshawa Generals (OHA Jr. A)
10Cam CrosbyToronto Maple LeafsToronto Marlboros (OHA Jr. A)
11Maurice St. JacquesMontreal CanadiensLondon Nationals (OHA Jr. A)
12Jim WhittakerDetroit Red WingsOshawa Generals (OHA Jr. A)
Round 3
13Garnet BaileyBoston BruinsEdmonton Oil Kings (CAHL)
14Don LuceNew York RangersKitchener Rangers (OHA Jr. A)
15Larry GibbonsChicago Black HawksMarkham Seal-A-Wax (OHA Jr. B)
16Rick LeyToronto Maple LeafsNiagara Falls Flyers (OHA Jr. A)
17Jude DrouinMontreal CanadiensVerdun Maple Leafs (MetMtlJHL)
18Lee CarpenterDetroit Red WingsHamilton Mountain Bees (OHA Jr. B)
Round 4
19Tom WebsterBoston BruinsNiagara Falls Flyers (OHA Jr. A)
20Jack EgersNew York RangersKitchener Greenshirts (OHA Jr. B)
21Brian MorenzChicago Black HawksOshawa Generals (OHA Jr. A)
22Dale MacLeishToronto Maple LeafsPeterborough Petes (OHA Jr. A)
23Bob PateMontreal CanadiensMontreal Junior Canadiens (OHA Jr. A)
24Grant ColeDetroit Red WingsSt. Michael's Buzzers (OHA Jr. B)
1. Detroit Red Wings traded their first round pick to the Boston Bruins with Gary Doak, Bill Lesuk and Ron Murphy for Leo Boivin and Dean Prentice, February 17, 1966.


Players selected by the American Hockey League teams:

OverallPlayer ChosenByFrom
Round 1
Bill LewisProvidence RedsWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
Brian LefleyBaltimore ClippersWinnipeg Rangers (MJHL)
Dave BurrowsBuffalo BisonsDixie Beehives (OHA Jr. B)
Jim AdairSpringfield IndiansHamilton Mountain Bees (OHA Jr. B)
Doug HintonPittsburgh HornetsWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
Claude HoudeCleveland BaronsSt. Jerome Alouettes (QPJHL)
Ross WebleyHershey BearsStamford Bruins (OHA Jr. B)
John HughesRochester AmericansWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
Hugh HarrisQuebec AcesStratford Braves (OHA Jr. B)
Round 2
Joe MeehanProvidence RedsSt. Michael's Buzzers (OHA Jr. B)
Bruce BuchananBaltimore ClippersWinnipeg Braves (MJHL)
Ken HancockBuffalo BisonsEtobicoke Indians (OHA Jr. B)
Bob BlackSpringfield IndiansOshawa Generals (OHA Jr. A)
Frank SawyerPittsburgh HornetsOshawa Crushmen (OHA Jr. B)
Merose StelmaschukCleveland BaronsEdmonton (Jr. B)
Bill RysnickHershey BearsSt. Mary's Lincolns (OHA Jr. B)
Murray McLachlanRochester AmericansWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
John CowleyQuebec AcesArnprior Packers (CJrAHL)
Round 3
Phil RobertoProvidence RedsStamford Bruins (OHA Jr. B)
Roger KnowlesBaltimore ClippersOshawa Crushmen (OHA Jr. B)
Ron AndersonBuffalo BisonsHamilton Mountain Bees (OHA Jr. B)
Robert LeadleySpringfield IndiansSt. Catharines Falcons (OHA Jr. B)
Jim SchraefelPittsburgh HornetsEdmonton Oil Kings (CAHL)
Trevor ConnCleveland BaronsEtobicoke Indians (OHA Jr. B)
Ross GrayHershey BearsStamford Bruins (OHA Jr. B)
Larry Vander GraafRochester AmericansEast Elmwood (Manitoba)
Rey ComeauQuebec AcesWest Island Flyers (MetMtlJHL)

Players selected by the Western Hockey League teams:

OverallPlayer ChosenByFrom
Round 1
Tim SheehySan Diego GullsInternational Falls H. S. (MSHSL)
Gerry PinderLos Angeles BladesSaskatoon Blades (SJHL)
Bob MurraySeattle TotemsPeterborough Don Byes (OHA Jr. B)
Karl HaggartySan Francisco SealsNiagara Falls Flyers (OHA Jr. A)
Jarmo LehtonenVancouver CanucksKitchener Greenshirts (OHA Jr. B)
Peter NevinVictoria Maple LeafsOshawa Crushmen (OHA Jr. B)
Doug AcombPortland BuckaroosWestclair York Steel (OHA Jr. B)
Round 2
Brad DavidsonSan Diego GullsMarkham Seal-A-Wax (OHA Jr. B)
Jerry KorabLos Angeles BladesSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (NOJHA)
Doug McFadyenSeattle TotemsCalgary
Bill McKaySan Francisco SealsNew Liskeard (Ontario)
Gratien GuayVancouver CanucksDolbeau Castors (SagJHL)
Archie MacDonaldVictoria Maple LeafsHalifax Canadiens
Jean PotvinPortland BuckaroosHull Hawks (CJrAHL)
Round 3
Barry ByspalkoSan Diego GullsSt. Catharines Falcons (OHA Jr. B)
Barry LongLos Angeles BladesMoose Jaw Canucks (SJHL)
Doug AbelSeattle TotemsLashburn Red Wings (Sask. Jr. B)
Ron RileySan Francisco SealsPicton Merchants (OHA Jr. C)
Brian CadleVancouver CanucksEast Elmwood (Manitoba)
Don Culbert Victoria Maple LeafsNew Hamburg Hahns (OHA Jr. C)
Richard BrownPortland BuckaroosSilver Heights (Winnipeg)

Players selected by the Central Professional Hockey League:

OverallPlayer ChosenByFrom
Round 1
Rick RowellMemphis WingsHamilton Mountain Bees (OHA Jr. B)
Seppo RuuskaHouston ApollosChatham Maroons (OHA Jr. B)
Bob ChannellSt. Louis BravesThorold Jaycees (OHA Jr. B)
John GouldTulsa OilersAurora (OHA Jr. C)
Paul GamsbyOklahoma City BlazersChatham Maroons (OHA Jr. B)
Lorne WallisMinnesota RangersWeston (Winnipeg)
Round 2
Randy ManeryMemphis WingsLeamington (Ontario)
Bob ShannonHouston ApollosHalifax Canadiens
John DanbySt. Louis BravesDixie Beehives (OHA Jr. B)
Joe CooperTulsa OilersNorth Kildonan (Manitoba)
Scott HarveyOklahoma City BlazersFredericton (Jr. B)
Denis DupereMinnesota RangersJonquiere Marquis (SagJHL)



Legend:
CAHL = Central Alberta Hockey League
CJrAHL = Central Junior A Hockey League
MJHL = Manitoba Junior Hockey League
MetMtlJHL = Metropolitan Montreal Junior Hockey League
MSHSL = Minnesota State High School League
NOJHA = Northern Ontario Junior Hockey Association
OHA = Ontario Hockey Association
SagJHL = Saguenay Junior Hockey League
SJHL = Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League


The NHL had affiliation agreements with most of the teams involved and according to one source made the picks on the minor league teams' behalves. The Bruins were affiliated with the Hershey Bears, San Francisco Seals and Oklahoma City Blazers; the Black Hawks were affiliated with the Buffalo Bisons, Los Angeles Blades and St. Louis Braves; the Red Wings were affiliated with the Pittsburgh Hornets, San Diego Gulls and Memphis Wings; the Montreal Canadiens were affiliated with the Quebec Aces, Seattle Totems and Houston Apollos; the Rangers were affiliated with the Baltimore Clippers, Vancouver Canucks and Minnesota Rangers; the Toronto Maple Leafs were affiliated with the Rochester Americans, Victoria Maple Leafs and Tulsa Oilers. In effect they were drafting on their own behalf. Many of the players nominally chosen by the minor league clubs were assigned to another of the parent club's affiliates.


Notice that I didn't put overall pick numbers to the picks of the WHL, AHL and CPHL teams. I know the players were drafted in that order with respect to each league but I'm not sure if they drafted separately (i.e. I don't know if the leagues drafted in the same rounds together or one after the other; the AHL and WHL played an interlocking schedule that year so I suspect they might have drafted together).

Steve Atkinson and the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft

You probably have two questions:


1) Who is Steve Atkinson?
2) Why are you bringing him up?


Steve Atkinson was a winger who played 256 of his 308 career NHL games with the Buffalo Sabres from 1970 to 1974 (the other 47 games were with the Bruins and Capitals). He was a junior star with the Niagara Falls Flyers of the OHA where he won two Memorial Cups in the late 1960s and was rookie of the year in the Central League in 1969, but even his Legends of Hockey biography describes him as "flash-in-the-pan" (http://www.legendsofhockey.net/LegendsOfHockey/jsp/SearchPlayer.jsp?player=11879).


As for why I'm posting this it has to do with the 1966 NHL Amateur Draft. Steve Atkinson was taken #6 overall. Pretty much every 'encyclopedic' source of today says he was drafted by the Red Wings. The NHL's website says so (http://www.nhl.com/ice/draftsearch.htm?year=1966&team=&position=&round=), the NHL website's profile of Atkinson says so (http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8444984&view=notes) and so too do hockeydraftcentral.com (http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1966/66006.html), hockeydb.com (http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=127) and his Legends of Hockey biography. Total Hockey, probably the greatest single print source of hockey stats, also says he was drafted by Detroit as does the 1972-73 NHL Guide, which had a recap of every amateur draft choice taken from 1963 to 1972.


I'm thoroughly convinced they're all wrong.


If you look at his career stats from any of the sources mentioned above you'll notice he never played a game for the Red Wings. In fact his first pro experience came with the Oklahoma City Blazers of the CPHL, an affiliate of the Boston Bruins, and his first NHL game was with the Bruins. How did he get to be a Bruins player?


All of those other sources say something to the effect of "traded to Boston by Detroit to complete transaction that sent Leo Boivin and Dean Prentice to Detroit (February, 1966), June 6, 1966". Boivin and Prentice were traded to Detroit in February that year as part of the Red Wings' push for a Stanley Cup. Sent the other way were Gary Doak, Ron Murphy, Bill Lesuk and Steve Atkinson.


Okay, fine, but there's a curious little problem with this: every source of the time I can find says Atkinson was drafted by Boston. An article from the Toronto Star and a Canadian Press release listed the draft picks, and Atkinson was among the Bruins' choices. Explanation for this is in the CP release printed in the Regina Leader-Post on April 26, 1966: "Boston Bruins had an extra choice as Detroit Red Wings waived their first draft choice to that club by prior arrangement." That sounds a little cumbersome to the modern reader but the gist is that the Red Wings traded their first-round pick to the Bruins. When? In the deal for Prentice and Boivin in February.


From the Montreal Gazette, Feb. 18, 1966: "In addition to Murphy and Doak, Boston will receive an amateur player to be named later plus an amateur draft concession." The amateur to be named later was Bill Lesuk, and the "amateur draft concession" was Steve Atkinson. Or rather the pick used to select Steve Atkinson. Steve Atkinson wasn't drafted by Detroit, he was drafted by Boston.


I think I have an explanation for why the reporting of this was so confusing: this was the first ever NHL draft pick traded. It had never been done before! It wouldn't be done again until 1968, when the Canadiens selected Jim Pritchard using the first-round pick they acquired from the Seals in a deal for Norm Ferguson and Stan Fuller.


As for where the June 6, 1966 date for Atkinson's transfer to the Bruins came from, I don't know. Perhaps this was the date Bill Lesuk was traded to the Bruins.


Later I will post the complete results of the 1966 Draft, which not only included the 24 picks made by the NHL teams but also included another 60 players drafted by the teams of the WHL, AHL and CPHL. The courtesy of allowing the WHL, AHL and CPHL teams to draft players was enacted in 1965. That year only one team exercised that option: the AHL's Pittsburgh Hornets selected Gary Beattie (who went on to never play a pro game, even a minor pro game, as far as I know). This practice was abandoned after expansion in 1967.


Sources:
"Wings Get Boivin, Prentice; Give Boston Murphy, Doak". Montreal Gazette. Associated Press. February 18, 1966. p. 25. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=q5ouAAAAIBAJ&sjid=np8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=6638%2C4229944
"Pros Spend $192,000 In Draft". Montreal Gazette. April 26, 1966. p. 26. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hcUtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=up8FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5170%2C6241115
"Pro prospects pinpointed". Regina Leader-Post. Canadian Press. April 26, 1966. p. 22. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yOhUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dDwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=6703%2C5055068
Andrews, Ron (ed.). 1972-73 NHL Guide. The National Hockey League. 1972. pp. 135-137.
Burnett, Red. "Bob Davidson loses even his nephew in draft". Toronto Star. April 26, 1966. p. 10.
Diamond, Dan et al (eds.). Total Hockey. New York: Total Sports, 1998. p. 286.

Monday, May 21, 2012

The Los Angeles Kings, Long Beach Arena and the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena


There have been a few occasions in NHL history where a team has been forced to play in a temporary home because of a problem with their regular home arena. For example on March 1, 1968 the roof of the Spectrum in Philly was damaged in a wind storm. The Flyers were forced to play their last seven regular season 'home' games at neutral sites: March 3 at Madison Square Garden in New York versus the Seals, March 7 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto versus the Bruins, and games on March 10, 14, 17, 28 and 30 at Le Colisée de Québec. In 1979 the Hartford Whalers played their first home games in the NHL at the Springfield Civic Center in Springfield, Massachusetts because the Hartford Civic Center's roof collapsed under the weight of snow in January, 1978. They didn't return to the Hartford Civic Center until February 6, 1980.

Another such example was the Los Angeles Kings in 1967, the beginning of their inaugural season. Kings and L.A. Lakers owner Jack Kent Cooke was building his own arena, The Forum in Inglewood, to house his hockey and basketball teams. He had had a 'prickly' relationship with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission, the Lakers' landlord at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (located next to the gargantuan Memorial Coliseum). In fact they had supported a rival bid for an NHL expansion team led by Jim Piggott and Dan Reeves, owners of the WHL's Los Angeles Blades. The Blades held the hockey lease at the Sports Arena and the Coliseum Commission wouldn't let the new NHL team play there.

So Cooke built his "Fabulous Forum" and it opened December 30, 1967. Unfortunately for him NHL seasons start in October, not December. The Kings were forced to play in two temporary homes in the Los Angeles area until the Forum opened. The Kings themselves say as much in their online history (see http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=40920). They note that the team opened the season at home at Long Beach Arena, played a couple games there, and then played at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena until the Forum opened December 30. 

The L.A. Kings have botched their own history.

The Kings did indeed play their two inaugural home games at Long Beach Arena: October 14 versus the Flyers and October 15 versus the North Stars. And they did start playing at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena thereafter, beginning October 31 versus the Rangers. The incorrect information here is that the Kings' website says "Those two games would be the only games the Kings ever played at the Long Beach Arena, posting an all-time mark of 2-0-0," and "The Kings would play their final game [at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena] on Dec. 21, a 4-1 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins." Neither are true.

The latter is quite obviously not true because the Forum opened December 30 and the Kings had another home game after the 21st, before the Forum opened: on the 23rd against the Blues. This was their last home game at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (a 4-0 shutout). This is blatantly obvious on the Kings' own webpage about their 1967-68 season: http://kings.nhl.com/club/page.htm?id=41005

Concerning their games played at Long Beach they say only two but other sources say otherwise. In fact I have found sources of the time saying the games on December 6, 8, 15 and 16 were played at Long Beach Arena, with quotes like:

"The Kings, with an 11-9-3 record and 25 points, hope to gain their first victory over the Blues when the two teams tangle in the Long Beach Sports Arena." (The Press-Courier, Dec. 4, 1967)

"The Kings have a chance to either lengthen their lead of lose it Friday when they meet the Flyers at the Long Beach Arena." (Windsor Star, Dec. 7, 1968)

"The Kings, shut out in their previous two games, were beaten by the East Division-leading Boston Bruins 5-2 at the Long Beach Arena." (The Press-Courier, Dec. 18, 1967)

The only one up in the air is the game on the 15th against the Minnesota North Stars. Most newspapers at the time simply referred to the game having been played "at Los Angeles", not naming the particular arena. I have found a short article from the Associated Press carried in a few newspapers about the results of the game, with the reporting location cited as Long Beach. Another article dated Monday the 18th said "The slumping Los Angeles Kings, losers of seven of their last 10 National Hockey League starts, play three games this week—all at the [Los Angeles Memorial] Sports Arena," which suggests the games played the week before (Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th) were played at Long Beach. It seems most likely that this game on the 15th was played at Long Beach.

That means that the Kings played the following games at Long Beach Arena:
  • October 14 vs. the Flyers (4-2W)
  • October 15 vs. the North Stars (5-3W)
  • December 6 vs. the Blues (3-2W)
  • December 8 vs. the Flyers (3-0L)
  • December 15 vs. the North Stars (3-0L)
  • December 16 vs. the Bruins (5-2L)


And the following were played at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena:
  • October 31 vs. the Rangers (6-1L)
  • November 2 vs. the Black Hawks (3-1L)
  • November 7 vs. the Seals (5-4W)
  • November 9 vs. the Maple Leafs (4-1W)
  • November 17 vs. the Red Wings (4-1L)
  • November 19 vs. the Canadiens (4-2W)
  • November 22 vs. the Seals (3-1W)
  • November 24 vs. the Penguins (5-3W)
  • December 19 vs. the Seals (3-1W)
  • December 21 vs. the Penguins (4-1W)
  • December 23 vs. the Blues (4-0W)


In six home games at Long Beach the Kings went 3-3-0 with 14 GF, 18 GA, and overall attendance of a paltry 30,918 (an average of 5,153). In 11 home games at Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena they went 8-3-0, 35 GF, 26 GA, with 71,846 fans attending (6,531 average). At The Forum they went 9-7-4, 67 GF, 52 GA and 194,490 fans (9,725 average). The Kings had better results on the ice at their temporary homes in '67 but their gate receipts were much better at the Forum. So it goes ...

Update — August 30, 2016

Perhaps the most definitive, irrefutable proof I've found that the Kings played the games on December 6, 8, 15 and 16 at Long Beach Arena is this ticket order form from the program from the King's first home game on October 14, which clearly shows where each home game was scheduled. This image is by former FAN590 reporter Howard Berger, who posted it to his blog at betweentheposts.ca from his personal memorabilia collection. Thanks, Howard!


Sources:
"Kings Beaten By NY, Fall Out of First". The Press-Courier. Associated Press. (Oxnard, California). Dec. 4, 1967. p. 11. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HP1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iDQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4398%2C717795
"Kings take over top spot". Windsor Star. Dec. 7, 1967. p. B3. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ojU_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=n1EMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4638%2C2677934
"Kings Blanked gain, 3-0, By Minnesota's Maniago". The Press-Courier. Associated Press. (Oxnard, California). Dec. 16, 1967. p. 10. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KP1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iDQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=1959%2C3396598
"Kings Seek to Regain Cool On Ice This Week". The Press-Courier. United Press International (Oxnard, California). Dec. 18, 1967. p. 13. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Kv1RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iDQNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5720%2C3945252

1973 NHL Inter-League Draft

I thought I'd follow up today's earlier post about the Inter-League and Reserve Drafts with the results of the 1973 Inter-League Draft. Why that draft? An interesting piece of trivia: only one player was taken.


That's right, only one. Hartland Monahan, son-in-law of Bernie Geoffrion, was picked by the California Golden Seals from their WHL affiliate in Salt Lake City.


Monahan was an Amateur Draft pick of the Golden Seals in 1971. Why he had to be reacquired from the WHL farm team I don't know; at some point in 1972 his rights must have been transferred to the Golden Eagles. In 1971-72 he split his time between the AHL's Baltimore Clippers (who had an affiliation agreement with the Golden Seals) and the IHL's Columbus Golden Seals (who were another Golden Seals farm club). The Golden Seals added the Salt Lake Golden Eagles as an affiliate in 1972. I presume they acquired Monahan's rights as part of the affiliation agreement.


The reason for only one player being selected? Floyd Curry, then the Assistant General Manager of the Canadiens, was quoted saying, " ... with the price tag set at $30,000 I don't think anybody was too interested in making a move."


Source:
Gilbert, Doug. (June 12, 1973). "Monahan lone pick". Montreal Gazette. p. 35. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=85guAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r6EFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2024%2C3310883

The NHL Inter-League Draft & Reverse Draft

A lot of my research into the Seals has gone into player transactions. That's why I wanted to track down the draft order of the 1967 Expansion Draft. It wasn't enough for me to copy and paste a list of players drafted by the Seals: I wanted to know how the draft played out. Why the Seals picked one player over another. To see who was still available at any given point, who got picked before who, who got passed over.


This also led me to do a little investigating into the annual NHL drafts of the time. The NHL had instituted a "Intra-League Draft" in the early 1950s to help the Bruins and Black Hawks be more competitive. This eventually became the Waiver Draft, which lasted until the 2003-2004 season. The 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and NHLPA eliminated the Waiver Draft. The purpose of this draft was to improve the non-playoff teams by allowing them to acquire their pick of some of the worst players on the playoff teams.


In the 1960s three other drafts were instituted: the Amateur Draft (now the Entry Draft), the Inter-League Draft and the Reverse Draft. The Inter-League Draft was akin to the Amateur Draft in that NHL teams picked players from other leagues but whereas the Amateur Draft was a draft of (mostly) junior players the Inter-League Draft was a draft of minor-league professionals playing in the Western Hockey League (not to be confused with the current Major Junior WHL), AHL and CPHL.


The Reverse Draft, inaugurated in 1965, was a 'reverse' version of the Inter-League Draft: WHL and AHL teams could draft players from the NHL teams. Pickings were usually quite slim as the number of players 'protected' by the NHL teams was two to three dozen. The minor pro teams were drafting players who were already playing in the minors anyway, some already playing for the minor team in question after been loaned to them by an NHL affiliate.


The results of Inter-League and Reverse Drafts weren't always reported well, probably because in some years these affairs were very brief. Tracing my way back through rosters there were a few players picked up by or lost from NHL teams for seemingly no reason when in fact they had been exchanged as part of these drafts.


The following are the results of the 1968 Inter-League Draft, which weren't even published in the NHL Guide that year.


OverallPlayer ChosenByFrom
Round 1
1Brian PerryOakland SealsProvidence Reds (AHL)
passDetroit Red Wings
passPittsburgh Penguins
passToronto Maple Leafs
2Larry HaleMinnesota North StarsSeattle Totems (WHL)
3Myron StankiewiczSt. Louis BluesHershey Bears (AHL)
passLos Angeles Kings
passPhiladelphia Flyers
4Larry LeachChicago Black HawksPortland Buckaroos (WHL)
passBoston Bruins
passNew York Rangers
5Len RonsonMontreal CanadiensSan Diego Gulls (WHL)
Round 2
all teams passed


The NHL teams paid the respective minor league teams $30,000 for each pick.


Sources:
"NHL clubs pick 5 players in interleague drafting". The Globe & Mail (Toronto). p. 30. June 12, 1968.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

The 1967 NHL Expansion Draft

The NHL's expansion in 1967 was the first expansion of the league since 1926 when the Chicago Black Hawks (that's "Black Hawks", not Blackhawks; the spelling wasn't changed until 1986!) and Detroit Cougars (later renamed the Red Wings) joined the NHL and pushed the number of teams up to 10. Slowly over the course of the 1930s the NHL dwindled to six teams. In 1930 the Pittsburgh Pirates moved to Philly and played a season as the Quakers before folding. The Ottawa Senators suspended operations in 1931, resumed operations in 1932, moved to St. Louis in 1934 and folded in 1935. The Montreal Maroons (original tenants of the famed Forum) withdrew from the league in 1938. Finally in 1942 the Brooklyn Americans (née New York Americans; they played in Madison Square Garden in Manhattan) folded. From 1942 to the end of the 1967 season the NHL consisted of only six teams: the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Bruins, Rangers, Black Hawks and Red Wings.

In the mid–1960s the NHL, following the lead of the pro football and baseball leagues, decided to expand. The NHL was tempted by the potential for revenue from a U.S. national television deal to plunk new teams down west and south of the Original Six sites. The six new franchises were conditionally awarded on February 9, 1966 with new teams in St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, the Twin Cities of Minnesota, Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area.

The price for each new franchise to enter the league was $2,000,000. Nominally this fee would go to the owners of the existing franchises as consideration for purchasing the contracts of 20 players; $100,000 per player. How else was an expansion team to stock its roster?

On June 5, 1967 the new teams (the Blues, Flyers, Penguins, North Stars, Kings and Seals) presented cheques for $2,000,000 to the existing NHL owners to officially receive their franchises and the following day, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, the first NHL Expansion Draft was held.

The problem I had found in researching this event was not that I couldn't find the list of players taken; it's easy enough to work that out by looking at the 1967-68 rosters and working backward to June 5, 1967. The problem was finding the rules of the draft and the draft order. The draft order of, say, an NHL Entry Draft is well known and documented but the order of this expansion draft was not in any source I'd ever seen. The 1967-68 NHL Guide doesn't even have this information, just a summary of the players taken by the new teams and the lists of players protected by the old teams.

The rules of the draft were as follows:
  • The new teams would chose 20 players: 2 goaltenders and 18 skaters. The goaltenders would be chosen in the first two rounds.
  • The existing teams would file lists of protected players, their best players who would be exempt from being chosen. These lists consisted of 11 skaters (forwards & defencemen) and one goaltender. They were presented to Don Ellis, the Director of the NHL's Central Registry by 5 p.m. on the 5th, and posted at the draft proceedings on the 6th at 9 a.m. Other players exempted from the draft proceedings included junior-eligible players who played on a pro team, any pro team, in the 1966-67 season. This meant players such as Bobby Orr were exempt. Players sold to a minor league team in the 1966-67 season would not be eligible either. Rookies in 1966-67 would not be eligible until their team had protected 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders total (including the goalie and 11 players on the initial protected list; this clause was used to great effect by the Montreal Canadiens, who were able to keep players like Serge Savard, Carol Vadnais and Jacques Lemaire without having to put them on their original protected list).
  • NHL President Clarence Campbell would chose the draft order by picking ballots out of the Stanley Cup. The teams would draft in the order of ballots picked out of the Cup in the first round of goaltenders taken. In the second round the draft order was reversed. The draft order for the third round, the first round of skaters, would be chosen at random again and the order of every round that followed would be the same except that the team that picked first in the previous round was bumped to last in the following round and all the others moved up one position (i.e. if the first round of players was A-B-C-D-E-F the second would be B-C-D-E-F-A, third would be C-D-E-F-A-B, and so on).
  • New teams had three minutes to pick a player or would forfeit their pick (as far as I can tell this did not happen to any team).
  • After the first goalie was taken from a team that existing team would add another goalie to its 'protected' list. Existing teams would "fill in" their protected lists after the first, second, fifth and all subsequent skaters chosen. An existing team could lose only 18 players.

Special thanks to Paul Shallenberger for helping suss it all out.


OverallPlayer ChosenByFromFill-In
Round 1
1Terry SawchukLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple LeafsAl Smith
2Bernie ParentPhiladelphia FlyersBoston BruinsEddie Johnston
3Glenn HallSt. Louis BluesChicago Black HawksDave Dryden
4Cesare ManiagoMinnesota North StarsNew York RangersGilles Villemure
5Joe DaleyPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Gardner
6Charlie HodgeCalifornia SealsMontreal CanadiensRogie Vachon
Round 2
7Gary SmithCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
8Roy EdwardsPittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black Hawks
9Gary BaumanMinnesota North StarsMontreal Canadiens
10Don CaleySt. Louis BluesDetroit Red Wings
11Doug FavellPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
12Wayne RutledgeLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
Round 3
13Dave BalonMinnesota North StarsMontreal CanadiensClaude Larose
14Bobby BaunCalifornia SealsToronto Maple LeafsMurray Oliver
15Earl IngarfieldPittsburgh PenguinsNew York RangersReg Fleming
16Gord LabossiereLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensClaude Provost
17Ed Van ImpePhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black HawksEric Nesterenko
18Jim RobertsSt. Louis BluesMontreal Canadiens
Round 4
19Kent DouglasCalifornia SealsToronto Maple LeafsAllan Stanley
20Al MacNeilPittsburgh PenguinsNew York RangersRed Berenson
21Bob WallLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red WingsHowie Young
22Joe WatsonPhiladelphia FlyersBoston BruinsDallas Smith
23Noel PicardSt. Louis BluesMontreal Canadiens
24Ray CullenMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsFloyd Smith
Round 5
25Larry JeffreyPittsburgh PenguinsToronto Maple Leafs
26Eddie JoyalLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
27Brit SelbyPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple LeafsGeorge Armstrong
28Al ArbourSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple LeafsDuane Rupp
29Bob WoytowichMinnesota North StarsBoston BruinsSkip Krake
30Bill HickeCalifornia SealsNew York Rangers
Round 6
31Real LemieuxLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
32Lou AngottiPhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black HawksWayne Maki
33Rod SeilingSt. Louis BluesNew York Rangers
34Jean-Guy TalbotMinnesota North StarsMontreal CanadiensDick Duff
35Billy HarrisCalifornia SealsDetroit Red Wings
36Ab McDonaldPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red WingsGary Jarrett
Round 7
37Leon RochefortPhiladelphia FlyersMontreal CanadiensCarol Vadnais
38Ron SchockSt. Louis BluesBoston Bruins
39Wayne ConnellyMinnesota North StarsBoston Bruins
40Larry CahanCalifornia SealsNew York RangersLarry Mickey
41Leo BoivinPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red WingsBob Falkenberg
42Poul PopeilLos Angeles KingsBoston BruinsRon Buchanan
Round 8
43Terry CrispSt. Louis BluesBoston BruinsWayne Cashman
44Ted TaylorMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsNick Libett
45Wally BoyerCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
46Noel PricePittsburgh PenguinsMontreal CanadiensSerge Savard
47Terry GrayLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red WingsRon Anderson
48Don BlackburnPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple LeafsDarryl Sly
Round 9
49Pete GoeganMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsCraig Cameron
50Joe SzuraCalifornia SealsMontreal CanadiensDanny Grant
51Keith McCrearyPittsburgh PenguinsMontreal CanadiensJacques Lemaire
52Bryan CampbellLos Angeles KingsNew York RangersBob Plager
53John MiszukPhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black Hawks
54Don McKenneySt. Louis BluesDetroit Red WingsJim Watson
Round 10
55Bob LemieuxCalifornia SealsMontreal CanadiensAndre Boudrias
56Ken SchinkelPittsburgh PenguinsNew York RangersPaul Andrea
57Ted IrvineLos Angeles KingsBoston BruinsJean Pronovost
58Garry PetersPhiladelphia FlyersMontreal CanadiensMike McMahon
59Wayne RiversSt. Louis BluesBoston BruinsBob Heaney
60Len LundeMinnesota North StarsChicago Black HawksMatt Ravlich
Round 11
61Bob DillaboughPittsburgh PenguinsBoston BruinsTed Hodgson
62Howie HughesLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensBob Charlebois
63Dick CherryPhiladelphia FlyersBoston BruinsRon Murphy
64Bill HaySt. Louis BluesChicago Black HawksPaul Terbenche
65Bill GoldsworthyMinnesota North StarsBoston BruinsJohn Arbour
66Jean-Paul PariseCalifornia SealsBoston BruinsGlen Sather
Round 12
67Bill InglisLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensDon Johns
68Jean GauthierPhiladelphia FlyersMontreal CanadiensBill McCreary
69Darryl EdestrandSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple LeafsRed Kelly
70Andre PronovostMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Harris
71Ron HarrisCalifornia SealsBoston BruinsDave Woodley
72Art StrattonPittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black HawksGeoff Powis
Round 13
73Jim JohnsonPhiladelphia FlyersNew York RangersGeorge Konik
74Norm BeaudinSt. Louis BluesDetroit Red WingsIrv Spencer
75Elmer VaskoMinnesota North StarsChicago Black HawksDoug Shelton
76Terry ClancyCalifornia SealsToronto Maple LeafsGerry Ehman
77Val FonteynePittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red WingsJim Peters
78Doug RobinsonLos Angeles KingsNew York RangersGary Sabourin
Round 14
79Larry KeenanSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple LeafsDick Gamble
80Murray HallMinnesota North StarsChicago Black HawksWayne Smith
81Tracy PrattCalifornia SealsChicago Black HawksMike Chernoff
82Jeannot GilbertPittsburgh PenguinsBoston BruinsBrian Bradley
83Mike CorriganLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple LeafsDon Cherry
84Gary DornhoeferPhiladelphia FlyersBoston BruinsTed Snell
Round 15
85Bryan WatsonMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsFred Hilts
86Autry EricksonCalifornia SealsToronto Maple LeafsNorm Armstrong
87Tom McCarthyPittsburgh PenguinsMontreal CanadiensBill Plager
88Jacques LemieuxLos Angeles KingsMontreal CanadiensLeo Thiffault
89Forbes KennedyPhiladelphia FlyersBoston BruinsWayne Maxner
90Ron StewartSt. Louis BluesBoston BruinsBob Leiter
Round 16
91Ron BoehmCalifornia SealsNew York RangersDunc McCallum
92Billy DeaPittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black HawksRoger Bellerive
93Lowell MacDonaldLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple LeafsBronco Horvath
94Pat HanniganPhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black HawksAl Lebrun
95Fred HuculSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple LeafsLes Duff
96Bill CollinsMinnesota North StarsNew York RangersBob Jones
Round 17
97Bobby RivardPittsburgh PenguinsMontreal CanadiensJim Paterson
98Ken BlockLos Angeles KingsNew York RangersBob Blackburn
99Dwight CarruthersPhiladelphia FlyersDetroit Red WingsGary Marsh
100John BrennemanSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple LeafsBarry Watson
101Sandy FitzpatrickMinnesota North StarsNew York RangersBob Ash
102Alain CaronCalifornia SealsChicago Black HawksOscar Gaudet
Round 18
103Bill FlettLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple LeafsStan Smrke
104Bob CourcyPhiladelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens
105Gerry MelnykSt. Louis BluesChicago Black HawksJack Stanfield
106Parker MacDonaldMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red WingsRick McCann
107Mike LaughtonCalifornia SealsToronto Maple LeafsMilan Marcetta
108Mel PearsonPittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black HawksBrian McDonald
Round 19
109Keith WrightPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
110Gary VeneruzzoSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
111Billy TaylorMinnesota North StarsChicago Black HawksDick Meissner
112Bryan Hextall, Jr.California SealsNew York RangersBill Knibbs
113Andy BathgatePittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red WingsLarry Billows
114Brent HughesLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
Round 20
115Max MestinsekSt. Louis BluesNew York RangersRon Ingram
116Dave RichardsonMinnesota North StarsChicago Black HawksRoss Eichler
117Gary KilpatrickCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
118Les HuntPittsburgh PenguinsNew York RangersGord Vejprava
119Marc DufourLos Angeles KingsNew York RangersWayne Hall
120Terry BallPhiladelphia FlyersNew York Rangers

The protected lists:

Boston BruinsChicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsMontreal CanadiensNew York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
Gerry CheeversDenis DeJordyRoger CrozierGump WorsleyEd GiacominJohnny Bower
Ted GreenDoug JarrettGary BergmanJ.C. TremblayArnie BrownTim Horton
Gary DoakGilles MarotteBert MarshallJacques LaperriereWayne HillmanLarry Hillman
John BucykPierre PiloteBob McCordTerry HarperHarry HowellMarcel Pronovost
Ed WestfallPat StapletonAlex DelvecchioTed HarrisJim NeilsonMike Walton
Tom WilliamsDennis HullGordie HoweJean BeliveauRod GilbertJim Pappin
John McKenzieBobby HullNorm UllmanRalph BackstromPhil GoyettePete Stemkowski
Ken HodgeChico MakiPaul HendersonHenri RichardVic HadfieldBob Pulford
Phil EspositoPit MartinBruce MacGregorGilles TremblayOrland KurtenbachFrank Mahovlich
Eddie ShackStan MikitaTed HampsonJohn FergusonDon MarshallDave Keon
Fred StanfieldDoug MohnsDoug RobertsYvan CournoyerBob NevinRon Ellis
Don AwreyKen WharramDean PrenticeBobby RousseauJean RatelleBrian Conacher


Junior-age players who were exempt from the draft proceedings included Ross Lonsberry, Bobby Orr, Doug Barrie, Bart Crashley, Pete Mahovlich, David Rochefort, Lucien Grenier, Al Hamilton, Wayne Carleton and Jim McKenny. (This list is not exhaustive; I'll look into who else may have been exempt under this rule later.)

The fill-ins:

Boston BruinsChicago Black HawksDetroit Red WingsMontreal CanadiensNew York RangersToronto Maple Leafs
Eddie JohnstonDave DrydenGeorge GardnerRogie VachonGilles VillemureAl Smith
Dallas SmithEric NesterenkoHowie YoungClaude LaroseReg FlemingMurray Oliver
Skip KrakeWayne MakiFloyd SmithClaude ProvostRed BerensonAllan Stanley
Ron BuchananMatt RavlichGary JarrettDick DuffLarry MickeyGeorge Armstrong
Wayne CashmanPaul TerbencheBob FalkenbergCarol VadnaisBob PlagerDuane Rupp
Jean PronovostGeoff PowisNick LibettSerge SavardPaul AndreaDarryl Sly
Bob HeaneyDoug SheltonRon AndersonDanny GrantGeorge KonikRed Kelly
Ted HodgsonWayne SmithCraig CameronJacques LemaireGary SabourinGerry Ehman
Ron MurphyMike ChernoffJim WatsonAndre BoudriasDunc McCallumDick Gamble
John ArbourRoger BelleriveGeorge HarrisMike McMahonBob JonesDon Cherry
Glen SatherAl LebrunIrv SpencerBob CharleboisBob BlackburnNorm Armstrong
Dave WoodleyOscar GaudetJim PetersDon JohnsBob AshBronco Horvath
Brian BradleyJack StanfieldFred HiltsBill McCrearyBill KnibbsLes Duff
Ted SnellBrian McDonaldGary MarshBill PlagerRon IngramBarry Watson
Wayne MaxnerDick MeissnerRick McCannLeo ThiffaultGord VejpravaStan Smrke
Bob LeiterRoss EichlerLarry BillowsJim PatersonWayne HallMilan Marcetta

The draft got started at 10 a.m. on the 6th of June and was wrapped up around 3:30 that afternoon.


Sources:
Andrews, Ron. (ed.) 1967-68 NHL Guide. The National Hockey League. 1967. pp. 108-109.
Curran, Pat. "What if the cheque bounces?". Montreal Gazette. p. 37, June 5, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yp4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BqAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6612,1033677
Curran, Pat. "Habs Regain Larose In Draft Deal". Montreal Gazette. p. 37, June 7, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zJ4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BqAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=6814%2C1482922
Curran, Pat. "California, Philadelphia Rate Top Expansion Clubs". Montreal Gazette. p. 38, June 7, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=zJ4tAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BqAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7138%2C1487536
"Today's NHL Draft". The Vancouver Sun. p. 19, June 6, 1967. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M5plAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tIoNAAAAIBAJ&dq=dave%20balon&pg=5930%2C1935659

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Introduction

Before you delve too far into the meat of this blog I would like to make known why I have posted this information and where I got it from.

The purpose of this blog is to act as a repository of random historical hockey stats, with a particular focus (at least at the start) on '60s and '70s info. Why the '60s and '70s? Truth be told I'm working on a book about the California Seals/Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons. The book is to be similar to a team media guide. Media guides have all sorts of information in them, particularly historical statistics: goals, points, penalty minutes, rosters, records, uniform numbers, trades, draft picks, etc. For example you can pick up a Montreal Canadiens media guide, even a brand new one, and find all sorts of information about the Canadiens going back to before the NHL existed. 

What about teams that no longer exist? The NHL went through a period of great expansion beginning in 1967 when the league doubled in size from six teams to twelve. By 1974 the league had ballooned to 18 teams; tripled! Not all of those teams were successful on and off the ice. The Minnesota North Stars, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Scouts, Cleveland Barons, Atlanta Flames and California Golden Seals have long been defunct. Some are better remembered (the North Stars) than others (the Scouts), but you can still find info on the Kansas City Scouts in a New Jersey Devils media guide (the Scouts moved to Denver in 1976 and became the Colorado Rockies, and the Rockies moved to Jersey in 1982 where they have remained since). The franchise itself just moved. The Cleveland Barons, née California Seals (one of the six expansion teams in 1967), didn't move: they ceased to exist. They folded. Merged with the North Stars. All that information, all those franchise records, were forgotten. There is no 1978-79 Cleveland Barons media guide to refer back to.

So that's my goal: compile the stats of the Seals/Golden Seals/Barons (at some point I think I'm going to have to come up with an acronym for that ... ) and write a sort of media guide. A comprehensive reference for any Seals/Barons fan out there, what few are left.

In the process of researching for this book I've come across a great deal of information that hasn't been compiled in any easy-to-find resource. Rather than keep this info all to myself I feel I should share it, as it's not central to my base work. It's basic, simple stuff that fell through the cracks of time. Stuff that might hold interest for other researchers out there, other hockey fans, who might use it.

So to you dear hockey fan/researcher I leave this information for your use and perusal. Even if you're another hockey author feel free to use the information in your work; all I ask is that you cite your source: me.


I will strive to provide my sources here too. Some will come from print sources (the annual NHL Guide for example, predecessor of today's more comprehensive NHL Guide & Record Book), some from newspapers of the time, some from team media guides, some from press releases. 


Thank you for reading this, and enjoy!

Copyright

© 2012-2017 Mark Parsons