1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division 5th West
1967–68 record 27–34–13
Home record 15–12–10
Road record 12–22–3
Goals for 195
Goals against 216
Team information
General Manager Jack Riley
Coach Red Sullivan
Captain Ab McDonald
Alternate captains Leo Boivin
Earl Ingarfield
Al MacNeil
Arena Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance 7,405 (59.2%)
(36 games)[1]
Team leaders
Goals Ab McDonald (22)
Assists Andy Bathgate (39)
Points Andy Bathgate (59)
Penalties in minutes Leo Boivin (74)
Wins Les Binkley (20)
Goals against average Hank Bassen (2.86)

The 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their first in the NHL. Pittsburgh was one of six cities awarded an expansion team during the 1967 NHL expansion.

After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was going to play in an "Igloo",[2] the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Center), a logo was chosen, that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which is thought to be in tribute to the "Golden Triangle".[3]

Offseason

On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded a franchise to the Hockey Club of Pittsburgh, Incorporated: a partnership of several investors headed by Pennsylvania State Senator Jack McGregor and his friend and business associate Peter Block. McGregor became the public face of the ownership, as President and Chief Executive Officer, and representing the club at Board of Governors meetings.

Later that year McGregor and Block began assembling their new hockey team. American Hockey League executive Jack Riley was named the club's general manager, and began immediately acquiring the services of players. He signed minor-leaguers Les Binkley, Ted Lanyon, Dick Mattiussi and Bill Speer to contracts before the club had ever taken to the ice.

The name of the new team was chosen by a contest in a local newspaper: on February 10, 1967, the new team became known as the Penguins.

In the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Riley chose experienced players, particularly former New York Rangers players. Coincidentally Penguins head coach Red Sullivan was a former Ranger player and head coach. Earl Ingarfield, Ken Schinkel, Val Fonteyne, Mel Pearson, Al MacNeil, Noel Price, Billy Dea and Art Stratton had each spent time in their careers with the Rangers, but the Penguins' most prized acquisition was former Rangers star Andy Bathgate. Bathgate, then 34 years old, was near the end of his career and deemed expendable by the Red Wings, who had previously acquired his rights.

The rest of the roster was filled with minor-leaguers, particularly members of the Pittsburgh Hornets, the American Hockey League club which had served the Pittsburgh market since the late 1930s.

Expansion Draft

The Pittsburgh Penguins made 20 selections in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft held in Montreal from June 5–7.[4]

Round # Player Position Drafted from
1Joe DaleyGoaltenderDetroit Red Wings
2Roy EdwardsGoaltenderChicago Black Hawks
3Earl IngarfieldCenterNew York Rangers
4Al MacNeilDefenseNew York Rangers
5Larry JeffreyLeft WingToronto Maple Leafs
6Ab McDonaldLeft WingDetroit Red Wings
7Leo BoivinDefenseDetroit Red Wings
8Noel PriceDefenseMontreal Canadiens
9Keith McCrearyRight WingMontreal Canadiens
10Ken SchinkelRight WingNew York Rangers
11Bob DillaboughCenterBoston Bruins
12Art StrattonCenterChicago Black Hawks
13Val FonteyneLeft WingDetroit Red Wings
14Jeannot GilbertCenterBoston Bruins
15Tom McCarthyLeft WingMontreal Canadiens
16Billy DeaLeft WingChicago Black Hawks
17Bob RivardCenterMontreal Canadiens
18Mel PearsonLeft WingChicago Black Hawks
19Andy BathgateRight WingDetroit Red Wings
20Les HuntDefenseNew York Rangers

Regular season

The Penguins' first general manager was Jack Riley. His team (along with the other expansion teams) was hampered by restrictive rules that kept most major talent with the "Original Six." Beyond aging sniper Andy Bathgate and tough defenceman Leo Boivin, the first Penguins team was manned by a cast of former minor-leaguers. The club missed the playoffs, but were a mere six points out of 1st place in the close-fought West Division.

  • October 11, 1967 – Andy Bathgate of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores a goal in a 2–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first goal ever scored by a player for an expansion team.

Final standings

West Division[5]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Philadelphia Flyers74313211173179−673
2Los Angeles Kings74313310200224−2472
3St. Louis Blues74273116177191−1470
4Minnesota North Stars74273215191226−3569
5Pittsburgh Penguins74273413195216−2167
6Oakland Seals74154217153219−6647

Record vs. opponents

1967-68 NHL Records
Team BOS CHI DET LAK MIN MON NYR OAK PHI PIT STL TOR
Boston —5–3–25–3–23–12–25–56–2–22–23–12–22–1–12–5–3
Chicago 3–5–2—4–3–32–1–13–12–6–23–4–33–0–13–12–1–12–0–25–4–1
Detroit 3–5–23–4–3—1–2–12–23–6–13–5–23–0–13–13–12–1–11–8–1
Los Angeles 1–31–2–12–1–1—2–6–22–22–24–4–25–4–16–44–3–32–2
Minnesota 2–21–32–26–2–2—1–2–10–2–25–2–33–6–13–4–33–5–21–2–1
Montreal 5–56–2–26–3–12–22–1–1—4–4–23–12–1–14–03–0–15–3–2
New York 2–6–24–3–35–3–22–22–0–24–4–2—4–03–13–0–13–17–3
Oakland 2–20–3–10–3–14–4–22–5–31–30–4—4–3–31–5–40–7–31–3
Philadelphia 1–31–31–34–5–16–3–11–2–11–33–4–3—3–4–37–1–23–1
Pittsburgh 2–21–2–11–34–64–3–30–40–3–15–1–44–3–3—4–62–1–1
St. Louis 1–2–10–2–21–2–13–4–35–3–20–3–11–37–0–31–7–26–4—2–1–1
Toronto 5–2–34–5–18–1–12–22–1–13–5–23–73–11–31–2–11–2–1—

Schedule and results

1967–1968 Schedule
Legend:           = Win           = Loss           = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins did not qualify for the 1968 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[7]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Les Binkley542024101516
Hank Bassen257103621
Total2734132137

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

  • Les Binkley recorded the first shutout in team history with a 1–0 win against Oakland on November 4th.
  • Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 50 points in a season. He did so by recording an assist in a 6–6 tie against Oakland on March 2nd.
  • Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 20 goals in a season. He did so by scoring in a 4–6 loss against Montreal on March 16th.
  • Andy Bathgate, Al MacNeil and Ab McDonald each became the first players to suit up for all of the Penguins' games for an entire season.
  • Les Binkley became the first Penguins goaltender to record 20 wins in a season. He did so in a 5–1 win against Philadelphia on March 30th.
  • By leading the team in scoring in its first season, Andy Bathgate set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 59 points.
  • Noel Price became the first Penguin to lead defenseman in scoring. He set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 33 points.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1967–68 season:

Trades

September 7, 1967 To Detroit Red Wings

Roy Edwards

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Hank Bassen

February 27, 1968 To Philadelphia Flyers

Art Stratton

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Wayne Hicks
cash

May 21, 1968 To Boston Bruins

cash

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Jean Pronovost
John Arbour

June 11, 1968 To Montreal Canadiens

Al MacNeil

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Wally Boyer

June 11, 1968 To St. Louis Blues

Ab McDonald

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Lou Angotti

Additions and subtractions

Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Bill LeCainePort Huron Flags (IHL)free agency (1967–08)
Marv EdwardsNashville Dixie Flyers (EHL)free agency (1967–09)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia

Roster

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age NHL Draft Birthplace
22 Canada Paul Andrea RW L 26 Undrafted North Sydney, Nova Scotia
1 Canada Hank Bassen G L 35 Undrafted Calgary, Alberta
9 Canada Andy Bathgate RW R 35 Undrafted Winnipeg, Manitoba
30 Canada Les Binkley G R 33 Undrafted Owen Sound, Ontario
2 Canada Leo Boivin (A) D L 35 Undrafted Prescott, Ontario
14 Canada Billy Dea LW L 35 Undrafted Edmonton, Alberta
15 Canada Bob Dillabough C L 27 Undrafted Belleville, Ontario
8 Canada Val Fonteyne LW L 34 Undrafted Wetaskiwin, Alberta
16 United States Wayne Hicks RW R 31 Undrafted Aberdeen, Washington
10 Canada Earl Ingarfield (A) C L 33 Undrafted Lethbridge, Alberta
18 Canada George Konik D L 31 Undrafted Flin Flon, Manitoba
5 Canada Ted Lanyon D R 28 Undrafted Winnipeg, Manitoba
3 Canada Al MacNeil (A) D L 32 Undrafted Sydney, Nova Scotia
5 Canada Dick Mattiussi D L 30 Undrafted Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario
6 Canada Dunc McCallum D R 28 Undrafted Flin Flon, Manitoba
21 Canada Keith McCreary RW L 27 Undrafted Sundridge, Ontario
20 Canada Ab McDonald (C) LW L 32 Undrafted Winnipeg, Manitoba
23 Canada Mel Pearson LW L 30 Undrafted Flin Flon, Manitoba
4 Canada Noel Price D L 32 Undrafted Brockville, Ontario
19 Canada Bob Rivard C L 28 Undrafted Sherbrooke, Quebec
12 Canada Ken Schinkel RW R 35 Undrafted Jansen, Saskatchewan
17 Canada Bill Speer D L 26 Undrafted Lindsay, Ontario
11 Canada Gene Ubriaco LW L 30 Undrafted Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Draft picks

Amateur Draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.[8]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team
1 2 Steve Rexe Goaltender  Canada Belleville Seniors
1 11 Bob Smith Center  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

References

  1. ↑ "The Civic Arena (Mellon Arena) Attendance Records". Pittsburgh Hockey. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ Michael L. LaBlanc; Mary K. Ruby (1994). Michael L. LaBlanc, Mary K. Ruby, ed. Professional Sports Team Histories: Hockey (illustrated ed.). University of Michigan: Gale Research. p. 324. ISBN 9780810388628.
  3. ↑ "Pittsburgh Penguins Logo History". Pittsburgh Hockey. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  4. ↑ "1967 NHL Expansion Draft Picks". hockeyDB. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  5. ↑ "1967–1968 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  6. ↑ "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  7. ↑ "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. ↑ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
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