In August 1951 the New York Giants say 13 1/2 games behind the league leading Brooklyn Dodgers. But the Giants put on a late season historic push that eventually had them over take the Dodgers to take the National League pennant.
The NHL had never had that kind of comeback, usually in the NHL the first place team finished far ahead of the second place team. But in 1958-59 the Leafs staged a late season comeback out of nowhere to overtake take a playoff berth and reach the Stanley Cup finals.
The Habs were shooting for their 4th straight Cup, and nobody was even close to them as they finished in first place 18 points up on the second place Bruins. NHL fans and reporters were so bored of the Canadians that they looked elsewhere for a interesting story and the Leafs filled that bill.
Nobody expected the Leafs to do much, since their dynasty days they had slid to the bottom of the league and had gone through numerous coaches until they settled on Punch Imlach. Maybe people thought, the Leafs would finish ahead of the Red Wings, but for them to make the playoffs a lot of miracles would have to happen.
No one expected it to be the Rangers, not last years second place team.
But the Rangers had hidden problems, they were coached by Phil Watson, a fiery temperamental coach and his style of coaching had lost the dressing room, the Rangers hated the man. But on March 11th they were 9 points ahead of the Leafs, but then they started to wobble.
On Saturday March 14th the Rangers were 7 points up on the Leafs and Phil Watson and his team had a chance to finish the Leafs off at Maple Leaf Gardens in the first of a back to back set.
A Rangers win would put the Rangers 9 points up with 4 games to go. The Leafs did the unthinkable and swept the Rangers and were 3 points back with 2 games to go. By the last game of the season the Leafs needed to win their final game and the Rangers would need to lose their last game against Montreal.
Toronto did their part beating the Wings when they rallied late from a 2 goal deficit. The Rangers blew an early lead against the Habs and lost 4-2. The Leafs were in, the Rangers out, the Hockey world had its plucky underdog.
The Leafs carried their momentum into the playoffs and beat the Bruins in 7 games. But the fun ended in the finals as the Habs stomped on the Leafs in 5 games ending a miracle run. The Habs had earned their 4th straight cup.
Trivia
The Hall of fame inducts 22 players including Frank Boucher, King Clancy, Sprague Cleghorn, Alec Connell, Red Dutton, Frank Foystone, Ching Johonson and Conn Smythe.
The Leafs signed 34 year old career minor league goalie Johnny Bower, they also acquired defenseman Allan Stanley from Boston and Bert Olmstead from Montreal.
Montreal makes the regular season a laugher as they finished with a 39-18-13 record and finish 18 points ahead of Boston.
Habs winger Dickie Moore sets a new NHL record with 96 points.
Jean Beliveau leads the league in goals with 45.
Andy Bathgate breaks the Rangers goal record with 45 and points with 88.
Montreal's Jacques Plante leads all goalies with 38 wins, 9 shutouts and a 2.16 gaa.
Johnny Bower of the Leafs finishes with the second best gaa at 2.74.
The Rangers boost 3 of the top 5 players in terms of PIM with Lou Fontinato sitting for 149 minutes, Jim Bartlett with 118 and rookie Eddie Shack with 109.
New York's Bill Gadsby leads all defensemen with 51 points.
The Hawks finish in third place making the playoffs for the first time in 6 years.
The Leafs win 5 of their last 6 games to pass the Rangers for the last playoff spot on the last night of the regular season.
The Red Wings fall to the bottom of the league only 2 years after finishing in first.
The playoffs feature Montreal taking on Chicago and Toronto taking on the Bruins.
Boston takes a 2-0 lead in their series against the Leafs but losing the next 3 games. The Bruins force a game 7 only to be stunned by the Leafs.
The Habs are given a scare by the upstart Hawks but take the series in 6 games.
The finals are never in doubt as the Habs win their 4th straight cup, beating the Leafs in 5 games.
Dickie Moore of Montreal leads all playoff scorers with 17 points.
Andy Bathgate wins the Hart Trophy.
Detroit's Alex Delvecchio earns the Lady Byng Trophy.
Tom Johnson of the Canadians wins the Norris, while team mate Ralph Backstrom takes home the Calder.
North Dakota beats Michigan State for the NCAA Championship.
The world was about the change as the 60's peaked over the horizon. Hippies, the Vietnam War, the acceleration of the Cold War. The sexual revolution, the days of rage. In the NHL though it felt like the same old same old. This was the Canadians NHL and you had permission to play in it. Winners of unprecedented 4 straight cups with no end in sight.
For opposing General Managers, they looked at the Habs lineup and threw up their hands in despair. Frank Selke himself did some minor retooling, but he didn't really need to change much. When people talked about the greatest Montreal Canadians of teams of all time, they looked at the teams of the 1930's with Morenz and Aurel Joilet, but there was no comparison with the 1959-60 Canadians.
There were some challengers. The Hawks were rising behind Bobby Hull and Glenn Hall and Pierre Pilote and Elmer Vasko. But the Canadians had depth that went way beyond their first line.
When you look at that Canadians team today, that was a team with 8 future hall of famers with Henri and Maurice Richard, Boom Boom Geoffrion, Jean Beliveau, Dickie Moore, Doug Harvey, Tom Johnson and Jacques Plante. With that kind of talent it was no surprise that they finished first with a 40-18-12 record.
If there were problems they were small, with the biggest one being a disagreement between the eccentric Jacques Plante and Toe Blake over Plante's use of a mask during the first month of the season. Blake argued that it would make his goalie less effective, but Plante insisted that the mask was essential. It all came to a head on Nov 1, 1959 when a puck struck Plante in the unprotected face. The goalie fell to the ice with blood spurting from his face. Plante was sewn up getting 7 stitches and refused to return to the game without his mask. Blake reluctantly agreed.
Plante played brilliantly as the Habs beat the Rangers 3-1, but Blake hoped he would discard the mask, but Plante reeled off 10 straight wins and Blake conceded and goalies across the league looked at Plante success and started donning masks.
Meanwhile the Leafs became a threat, they traded for Detroit's excellent defenseman Red Kelly, and converted him to centre. The Leafs finished second in the NHL and beat Detroit in 6 games to reach the finals.
Meanwhile the Habs toyed with Chicago like a cat toys with a mouse and disposed of them in 4 games.
In the finals Leaf's coach Punch Imlach tried everything including a nasty physical checking game, but it didn't matter as the Habs pummelled the Leafs in 4 straight games to carry off the cup and become one of the arguably greatest teams of all times.
Trivia
The hall of fame inducts Jack Adams, Cy Denneny, and Tiny Thompson, there are now 67 members of that Hall of Fame club.
The NHL passes a new rule prohibiting players from leaving the bench to join a fight on the ice.
On November 1st at Madison Square Gardens, Andy Bathgate fires a shot off of Jacque Plante's face. After receiving repairs he returns to the ice with a mask becoming the first NHL goalie to regularly wear one.
The Rangers players continue to feud with Phil Watson, they lose 9 of their first 15 games and Watson is fired and replaced by Alf Pike.
Third year pro Bobby Hull of the Hawks wins the scoring title with 81 points.
Bobby Hull and Bronco Horvath tie for the league lead in goals with 39.
Jacques Plante leads the NHL in wins with 40 and gaa average at 2.54.
Carl Brewer of the Leafs leads the NHL in penalty minutes with 150 minutes.
Stan Mikita debuts with the Black Hawks.
Pierre Pilote of the Hawks leads all defensemen with 45 points.
The hero of the 1960 Olympics Jack McCartan debuts with the Rangers.
The playoffs feature Montreal vs Chicago and the Leafs vs Detroit.
Montreal eliminates Detroit in 6 games.
The Canadians beat the Hawks in 4 games with Planted pitching two shutouts.
Montreal beats the Leafs in 4 games to win their 5th straight cup.
Maurice Richard hoists the Cup and then retires after 1 preseason game the next year.
Gordie Howe takes home the Hart Trophy.
Boston's Don McKenney wins the Lady Byng.
Chicago's Billy Hay skates with Bobby Hull and skates off with the Calder.
Doug Harvey wins the Norris Trophy.
The United States wins their first ever Olympic Gold Medal at Squaw Valley lead by Jack McCartan they finish ahead of Canada (Silver) and the Soviet Union (Bronze).
Denver beats Michigan Tech to win the NCAA Hockey Tournament.
What rises must fall, Montreal had battered their way to 5 straight Stanley Cups. The arguably greatest NHL team of all time though was going through changes. Maurice Richard had retired ending an era, but even with that the Habs sill looked to be immensely strong. Boom Boom Geoffrion had equalled Richard's record of 50 goals in a season and lead the league in scoring with 93 points. Doug Harvey had a Norris Trophy type of season.
However he loss of Richard created a leadership vacuum and small cracks started to appear. Boom Boom wanted the Captaincy and when the C went to Jean Beliveau he made his displeasure public. Beliveau lacked Richards fire and the leadership vacuum grew.
Meanwhile both the Hawks and Leafs were on the upswing. The Hawks were sparked by Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull. The LEafs were lead by Frank Mahovlich and Johnny Bower.
Late in the season it looked like the Leafs were headed for first place and had a 6 point lead, but the Habs went on a rampage in the last weeks of the season and the Habs beat them by 2 points for the regular season crown. But the push exhausted the Habs who were targeting a 6th straight cups.
The Habs also had the misfortune to run into the Hawks in the opening round. the Hawks were young, fast, skilled and Hawks coach Rudy Pilous knew that the Habs were tired and implemented a simple game plan called "Operation beat the sh$t out the Habs star players". The Hawks had an edge in ill tempered players lead by Reg Fleming, Jack Evans and Pierre Pilote. The Hawks hit every thing that moved, and wore out the Habs, and their vaunted speed was reduced to a crawl.
6 games later the bruised and battered Habs saw an end to their Dynasty. The Hawks then went on and mopped the Ice with the Wings.
In the Hawks dressing room there was no real celebration, no popping of champagne bottles. Jim Norris of the Hawks had refused to order any, he didn't want to curse the team.
The room was quit, when Reg Fleming was asked why he stated "That it had been so long for most of the boys that they just don't know how to celebrate" Meanwhile Glenn Hall told reporters that he was "Too tired to scream".
Trivia
The CNE and the NHL reach an agreement to build a Hall of Fame building on the CNE grounds.
The Hall of Fame inducts George Boucher, Sylvin Mantha, Frank Selke and Jack Walker.
Vic Stasiuk is traded from the Bruins to Detroit for Murray Oliver. Stasiuk joins the Production Line with Howe and Delvecchio.
On Nov 27, 1961 Gordie Howe joins the 1,000 point club.
On Jan 16, 1961 Glenn Hall plays his 500th straight game.
Montreal finishes 2 points ahead of the Leafs with a 41-19-10 record.
Montreal's Boom Boom Geoffrion finishes first with 50 goals and leads the NHL in scoring with 95 points.
Toronto's Johnny Bower leads the league with a 2.50 gaa.
Chicago's Pierre Pilot leads the league in penalties with 165 PIM, his team mate Reggie Fleming is second with 145 minutes.
Wayne Gretzky is born on Jan 26 in Brantford Ontario.
The Playoffs feature Montreal against the Hawks and Detroit vs Toronto.
Detroit mops up Toronto in 5 games behind the goaltending of Terry Sawchuk.
After the Habs blowout the Hawks 6-2 in game one, the Hawks beat the crap out of the Habs to win in 6 games.
In game 3 Montreal coach goes ballistic over a lack of calls and attacks referee Dalton McArthur and is fined $2500.00.
Chicago and Detroit meet in the finals for the first time since 1934.
The Hawks roll to the Stanley Cup in 6 games to win their first championship since 1938.
Montreal's Bernie Geoffrion wins the first Art Ross Trophy for leading the league in scoring. He also takes home the Hart Trophy.
Red Kelly of Toronto wins the Lady Byng.
Johnny Bower of the Leafs wins the Vezina Trophy.
Dave Keon of Toronto wins the Calder Trophy.
Canadian's defenseman Doug Harvey wins the Norris Trophy.
Detroit wins its second straight NCAA championship dumping St Lawrence in the finals.
You'll recall that in these days of the ‘Norris House League’, the Norris family directly owned the Chicago and Detroit franchises and had effective control of Boston and New York. For years, however, the only team they actually spent money on was Detroit – a big driver of the Red Wings' powerhouse teams of the earlier 1950s.
After a few years spent watching the Habs rack up Stanley Cups, the Norrises changed tack and started backing Chicago. The Black Hawks had the up-and-coming stars now, Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita particularly, and Chicago was, after all, a larger and (potentially) richer market than Detroit.
So in 1957, the Norris family made a deal between their left hand and their right. Detroit received journeyman Johnny Wilson, backup goalie Hank Bassen, tough guy Forbes Kennedy, and a minor-league player. Chicago got back two Hall of Famers: ‘Mr. Goalie’, Glenn Hall, and the aging but still effective ‘Terrible Ted’ Lindsay. It was a clear sign that the Red Wings' day was over and the Black Hawks' day was beginning.
In the 1959 off season, the Norris money really went to work. The Black Hawks bought several players outright for cash, most of them from Montreal. Some were only filler for the minor leagues, but one, Murray Balfour, was a key player in their 1961 Cup win, and another became a fixture on the Hawks' first line: Bill Hay.
Balfour had been stuck in the Canadiens' vast farm system, since the Habs were already stacked at right wing with Richard, Geoffrion, and Provost. In Chicago, Balfour slotted on the ‘Million Dollar Line’ with Hay and Bobby Hull. In the '61 playoffs, he scored the game winner against his former team in triple overtime of Game 3.
As for Hay, he played nine years for the Hawks, scoring 113 goals and 386 points in 506 games. After retiring, he eventually returned to Calgary, where he had first turned pro with the minor-league Stampeders, and succeeded Cliff Fletcher as the Flames' president.
Nobody could compete with the huge farm systems of the Canadiens and Maple Leafs. But when your family owned two NHL teams, you could always use one as a farm team for the other. And in those days, nobody batted an eye.
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Punch Imlach was one of the most colorful characters in NHL history, notorious off the ice for his outspoken nature, and famous behind the bench and in the office for his take no crap approach to hockey.
The Leaf's in 1960-61 were one of the favourites to knock off the Habs and end their dynasty, but on the way to their destiny they forgot about the Wings in the first round. The other issue was that the Leaf's were a very young team with players like Eddie Shack, Dave Keon, Bob Niven having trouble adopting to Punch's system.
In 1961-62 it felt like all of the pieces were in place. Punch had smart veterans in his lineup like Tim Horton and Allan Stewart on the blueline joining aggressive players like Carl Brewer and Bobby Baun. He also had Frank Maholich and Bert Olmstead up front, and though he was older then dirt Johnny Bower was still one of the best goalies in hockey.
The Leafs were deep, not flashy and didn't have a lot of weaknesses and that came in handy as they went through an injury plagued season.
In 1961-62 there were really only three teams in the race. The Cup Champion Black Hawks, the Canadians who were still stinging over the end of the dynasty and the Leafs.
At the end of the season the Habs finished first in the league, but Imlach didn't care, he asserted that they were built for the playoffs and they'd have a chance to prove it.
The Canadians went into the playoffs against the Hawks and won the first two games, but the Hawks roared back and eliminated them in 6 games. Meanwhile Toronto struggled with the Rangers before eliminating them in 6 games.
In an intensely physical series, the Leafs jumped out to a 2-0 lead, but the Hawks beat up and beat the Leafs in games 3 and 4.
The Leafs won game 5 8-4 and then eked out a win in game 6 to take home their first Cup in 11 years.
For the Leafs it was the beginning of a new dynasty, and as if it was fate a few months later Bill Barilko's body was found in Northern Ontario and he was finally laid to rest.
Trivia
The league deems that penalty shots must be taken by the player that was fouled instead of a designee.
The Hockey Hall of Fame opens in Toronto on Aug 21.
The Hall of Fame inducts 17 new people including Syl Apps, Charlie Conacher, Hap Day, George Hainsworth, Joe Hall, Maurice Richard and Milt Schmidt.
Harold Ballard, Stafford Smythe and John Basset finish purchasing controlling interest of Maple Leaf Gardens on their way to buying the Leafs.
New York fires coach Alfie Pike after 2 years and names Doug Harvey as their player coach.
the Canadians win their 5th straight regular season title with a 42-14-14 record.
Bobby Hull becomes the third player to hit 50 goals in the season and leads the league in goals.
Bobby Hull and the Rangers Andy Bathgate tie for the league lead in points with 84.
Jacques Plante leads the NHL in wins with 42 and gaa with 2.37.
Montreal's Jean Guy Talbot leads all defensemen with 47 points.
Lou Fontinato moves to the Canadians and captures his third PIM crown with 167 minutes.
Red Kelly runs and wins a seat in the House of Commons, he also scores 22 goals for the Leafs.
On March 14th Gordie Howe snipes his 500th goal becoming the second player in NHL to hit that mark joining Maurice Richard.
Detroit finishes out of the playoffs for the second time in the last 24 years.
Montreal faces Chicago and Toronto takes on New York in the first round of the playoffs.
Chicago beats Montreal in 6 games after winning 4 games in a row.
Toronto and the Rangers go to 6 games with the Leafs moving on to the finals.
Toronto wins the Cup in 6 games.
Toronto's Tim Horton sets a playoff record with 13 assists by a defenseman, Stan Mikita leads all playoff scorers with 21 points.
Bobby Hall takes the Hart Ross trophy beating Andy Bathgate on the basis of scoring 50 goals.
Montreal goalie Jacques Plante wins the Vezina and the Hart Trophy.
Bobby Rousseau of the Canadians wins the Calder Trophy.
Doug Harvey of the Rangers wins his 7th and last Norris Trophy.
Dave Keon of the Leafs wins the Lady Byng.
Michigan Tech spanks Clarkson on the way to win the NCAA title.
I want to start this by saying, I don't fricken care, Gordie Howe is the greatest player in NHL history. Nobody could score like Gordie, fight like Gordie, physically terrify players like Gordie, back check like Gordie, or drink beer and party like Gordie. But what makes him truly exceptional is that he played in what would be classed as the toughest era of hockey and played until his early 50's. When I talk about the player that defines what a hockey player should be, its not Wayne, or Mario, never Connor, not Sid the Kid, its Gordie.
Gordie by the 1962-63 season had managed to out last the production line. When Ted Lindsay was traded and Sid Abel retired, Alex Delvecchio stepped in. when Delvecchio couldn't keep up anymore, Norm Ullman stepped in, but Gordie never missed a beat or lost production.
At 34 he was still the most feared player in the NHL and he was outscoring and outskating kids half his age. Lou Fontinato the undisputed toughest player in the NHL a couple of years before, found that out when he challenged Gordie to a fight and got beaten so bad that his soul left his body.
But 1962-63 was special. Gordie scored his 500th goal in March and he had his sites set on Maurice Richards all time record of 544 goals. In 1962-63 Gordie at 34 was still averaging 45 minutes a game double of every other forwards average in the nHL.
Goalies had a lot to worry about that year as Gordie won the scoring championship with 38 goals and 86 points, he took home the Hart Trophy for the 6th time.
While many players were adapting to Bobby Hull's and Andy Bathgates slap shot, Gordie invented the wrist slap shot where he would wind up for a slap shot and then snap his wrists at the last second making a tough to stop bullet.
Unfortunately Gordie couldn't carry the Wings to the Stanley Cup that year as they upset the Hawks in the semi finals but were doused by the Leafs in the Finals.
But Gordie continued to dominate the NHL. He was named to the All Star team in 1964 and make 6 trips by 1970. By the end of his career he had been named an NHL Allstar 22 times and would play until 1980 he would retire at the age of 52 after a 34 year career.
Trivia
33 new Hall of Famers are inducted including Punch Broadbent, Harry Cameron, Reg Noble, Didier Pitte, Sweeny Schriner and Niels Stewart.
On June 6, 1962 Bill Barilko's body is found in Northern Ontario.
Doug Harvey steps down as the coach of the Rangers but continues to play.
The Bruins start off with 1 win in 14 of their first games leading to the firing of Phil Watson who is replaced by Milt Schmidt.
Glenn Hall's consecutive games play streak ends at 502 games when a back injury sidelines him.
The Maple Leafs win the regular season title for the first time since 1948. They finish with a 35-23-12 record.
The Leafs acquire Don Simons from the Bruins for Ed Chadwich.
After 5 years finishing in first place in the league, the Canadians finish in 3rd.
Gordie Howe leads the league with 38 goals and 86 points.
Terry Sawchuk leads the NHL with a 2.48 gaa.
Detroit's Howie Young sets a NHL record for goonery with 273 minutes.
Lou Fontinato's career ends when he misses a check on Vic Hadfield and crashes into the boards crushing several vertebrae and suffers temporary paralysis.
Boom Boom Geoffrion is suspended for 5 games for throwing his equipment at referee Vern Buffy.
The playoffs feature Toronto vs Montreal and Detroit vs Chicago.
The Leafs walk by the Canadians in 5 games.
The RedWings come back from a 2-0 deficit to massively upset the Hawks in 6 games.
The Stanley Cup finals feature the Wings against the Leafs. The Wings having won the last 6 of 7 playoff series against the Leafs.
The Leafs take apart the Wings in 5 games with Eddie Shack scoring the series winning goal.
Gordie Howe and Norm Ullman tie for the playoff scoring lead with 16 points each.
Gordie Howe wins his 6th Hart Trophy.
The Leafs Dave Keon wins his 2nd straight Lady Byng.
Leafs Kent Douglas takes home the Calder Trophy.
Glenn Hall wins his first Vezina Trophy.
Chicago's Pierre Pilote wins his first of three straight Norris Trophies.
North Dakota wins the NCAA Hockey Championship over Denver.
The Soviet Union begins its dominance of International Hockey with its first of nine straight World Hockey Championships.
While the other sports like Football, basketball and baseball moved into their golden age of expansion and the capture of major markets, the NHL was seen as the stale little brother as they were stuck in their 6 markets. The upside though is while the other sports saw a drop in quality play, there were really only about 120 player slots in the NHL, only the elite need apply. Even the bottom pairing defensemen, backup goalies and bottom forwards were pretty much elite players.
However that doesn't mean that the elite of the elite of the NHL were intriguing or interesting personalities. The NHL really had the reputation of the aw shucks polite boys of athletes.
The Black Hawks were different they had two of the best personalities in the NHL that were genuine stars on the ice.
Bobby Hull was nicknamed the Golden Jet, known for his good looks and flowing golden hair, easy smile a big media personality. On the ice, Bobby had a rocket of a slapshot. He was intensely strong and fast and had raw power. Bobby Hull was a menacing player but he chose to play a clean game.
Stan Mikita was a different he was incendiary and creative stick-handler, and was one of the best centres in the game. But Mikita was short tempered and tough, he fought everyone that moved all while leading the league in scoring.
At the same time the NHL started to find other players that would become media darlings.
Frank Mahovolich was a brooding introvert that hated talking with the media. But on the ice he was a smooth skating forward with a thundering shot. He wasn't glamorous but he was graceful and was considered of the Robert Redford of the NHL and the center piece of the current Toronto powerhouse.
In the meantime Yvan Cournoyer debuted with the Canadians. Nicknamed the road runner, Cournoyer thrilled the fans in Montreal and the league, and he was well on his way to replacing the long retired Rocket.
But with all the flash, the Habs who finished first and the Hawks were both upset in the first round of the playoffs. The finals featured the Leafs with Mahovolich facing off against the old guard goat Gordie Howe and the Wings. The series went a full thrilling 7th game before another NHL glory boys Andy Bathgate scored the winning goal.
The presence of these superstar players gained the NHL attention across North America. Other major league cities attracted by visions of Hull, Mahovlich and Mikita started clamouring for teams of their own. Reacting to the pressure and thoughts of big paydays the NHL owners began to look at expansion.
Trivia
The Hall of Fame inducts 7 players including Elsbie Goodfellow, Joe Primeau and Earl Seibert.
On June 5, 1963 at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Toronto a total on 21 players are selected by NHL teams in the first ever NHL Amateur Draft.
The Central Professional Hockey League is formed, with clubs operated by NHL Franchises. These farm teams are formed in Minneapolis, St Paul, Indianapolis and Omaha.
The Rangers trade Gump Worsely to Montreal for Jacques Plante, Pil Goyette and Don Marshall.
On Nov 10th Terry Sawchuk shuts out Montreal for his 94th shutout tying him with George Hainsworth.
In the same game Gordie Howe scores his 545th career goal passing Maurice Richard for the all time lead.
A late season blockbuster trade see's Andy Bathgate sent to Toronto with Don McKenny for Arnie Brown, Dick Duff, Bob Nevin, Rod Seiling and Bill Collins.
Montreal finishes first with a 36-21-13 record.
Bobby Hull leads the league with 43 goals.
Stan Mikita leads the league in scoring with 89 points.
Chicago defenseman Pierre Pilote leads all defensemen with 53 points
Toronto's Johnny Bower at 39 years of age leads all goalies with a 2.11 gaa.
On Feb 1st Montreal left winger Bobby Rousseau scores 5 goals against Detroit.
Montreal faces off against Toronto and Detroit takes on Chicago in the first round of the playoffs.
The Leafs dispatch the Canadians in 7 games.
Detroit upsets the Hawks in 7 games.
The finals between Detroit and the Leafs are tightly contested. with 5 of the first 6 games being decided by 1 goals.
Andy Bathgate scores the Cup Clinching goal in game 7.
Detroits Gordie Howe leads all playoff scorers with 19 games.
Montreal Jean Beliveau wins the Hart Trophy.
Chicago's Ken Warram wins the Lady Byng.
Montreal's Charlie Hodge captures the Vezina Trophy.
Montreal's defenseman Jacques Laperriere wins the Calder Trophy.
Chicago's Pierre Pilote takes his second straight Norris Trophy.
In the Olympics in Innsbruck the Soviets win their first of 4 consecutive gold medals.
Michigan wins its all time record 7th and last NCAA championship.
Ever since the Habs dynasty was ended with a physical pummelling by the Hawks in 1961 Frank Selke Jr realized that there had been a major shift in hockey. Just being the most skilled and fastest team in hockey was no longer enough. The league had evolved to feature toughness and checking and fighting. Players like Jean Beliveau, Yvan Cournoyer and J.C. Trembley needed protection, and the Habs just didn't have the toughness to do that.
Selke finally got permission from ownership to get tougher after watching the nasty leafs roll their way to a dynasty. So Selke got word out to his scouts to find musclemen that could play hockey.
In 1963 the Havs found their man in Cleveland where John Ferguson was terrorizing the American League where he played for the Cleveland Barons. Ferguson played like a bull in a china shop and he was placed on a line with Beliveau who had been a constant target of abuse.
Starting with the destruction of the Bruins defenseman Ted Green, Ferguson started his own campaign of terror until he'd beaten respect for the Habs superstars into the rest of the league, but its not like Selke had been satisfied, why have one enforcer when he can have two. He promptly signed Ted Harris out of Springfield and he suddenly had two of the toughest enforcers in the league. In 1964-64 had a balance of skill and nastiness that lead them to a second place finish in the NHL.
The Leaf's dynasty was starting to fall apart, they'd slid to 4th in the NHL as the players were starting to get tired of Punch Imlach and his iron fisted coaching strategy.
For the first time in a long time, the Leafs couldn't handle the Habs truculence and the Habs ended the Leaf's quest for a 4th straight cup in 6 games and headed into the finals against the rough and tumble Black Hawks. This time it was the Habs who were the aggressors, while the finals went to 7 games but the Habs beat down the Hawks, with the icing on the cake being a game 7 beat down of of the Hawks Eric Nesterenko in the first period on the way to a 4-0 Cup clinching win.
The sight of the unconscious Nesterenko demoralized the Hawks and put them on their heels leading to a game 7 beating.
NHL managers took notice and they all started looking for their own on ice cops to protect their better players.
As for Selke, he was good, after leading the Canadians to 6 Stanley cups and winning 9 cups overall, he called it a career and in 1978 he was immortalized with a trophy in his name awarded to the top defensive forward in the league.
Trivia
The NHL passes a new rule prohibiting body contact during faceoffs
The NHL mandates that in the playoffs teams had to dress their backup goalie and have him on the bench.
It was the golden age of hockey, the buildings were full, every team had a fully stocked teams with lots of stars throughout their lineups. NHL owners were lighting comically large cigars with $100.00 bills.
The NHL's more conservative leaders lead by Clarence Campbell were happy and satisfied with the NHL. Campbell constantly preached to keep the status quo and not dilute the game.
Other major markets had taken note though and some of the more aggressive young NHL owners were pushing hard for expansion. Most of the rumbling came from the West Coast as Las Angeles and San Francisco were pushing for NHL franchises. Eventually they had to settle for teams in the Western Hockey League. For now the NHL was firmly closed for business.
In 1962 Jim Murray of the Las Angeles Times wrote "The NHL makes a mockery of its title by restricting franchises to 6 teams waging a private tournament of 70 games to eliminate 2 teams". He probably wrote this while harumping through his handle bar moustache.
"Other big league sports are expanding, but hockey likes it there in the back of the cave. Any business man will tell you that in a dynamic economy you either grow or die. Baseball had to be dragged kicking and screaming out of its rut. Football groped its way on the end of a short rope. Hockey can't sit in the dark forever, braiding its buggy whips"
At the same time Harold Ballard of the Leafs said if the right people came up to us with $5 million and the right kind of plan, we'd be crazy not to listen".
By the mid 60's the rumblings were becoming earth quakes. Coffey Hall who owned the San Francisco Seals said "The time has come for the NHL to realize that Las Angeles and San Francisco can't wait. Our hockey fans are just as major league conscious as fans of baseball and football and feel they should be up there. An angry feeling is developing".
NHL power brokers anticipated the threat but were distracted by the money that the NHL was making and the stars in their lineup. The NHL had Bobby Hull, and Jacques Laperriere and Jean Ratelle and Rod Gilbert and Roger Crozier. They were filling their arenas every night to 95%. why risk it, why water down a winning formula?
But finally bowing to pressure, on March 11, 1965 the NHL owners held a meeting at New York's Plaza Hotel. By the end of the meeting the NHL had decided to form a second division of 6 teams and would begin to evaluate applications.
On Feb 1966 the NHL announced that the new division would be made up of teams from Las Angeles, San Francisco/Oakland, St Louis, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and Minneapolis St Paul.
St Louis was a surprise since the representatives never filed a formal application. Buffalo, Baltimore and Vancouver had been rejected which pissed off Canadian fans as 6 new teams had been added, but not one new team to the country that was the cradle of the sport.
Expansion talk actually distracted from the actual hockey on the ice, the Canadians beat Detroit in 6 games to win the cup and outside of the fans in Detroit and Montreal, nobody really talked about it.
Trivia
The NHL rules that teams must dress two goalies for every game.
The NHL announces a 6 team expansion in 1967-68
The Hall of Fame inducts 12 new members including Marty Barry, Clint Benedict, Syd Howe, Bill Mosienko and Red Horner.
The last preseason NHL all star game is played and a mid season format is adopted.
The NHL casts a new trophy named for Lester Patrick. the trophy is awarded to the player, coach, official, executive or referee who gives outstanding service to hockey in the United States.
Mario Lemieux is born on October 5th, 1965 in Montreal. Patrick Roy is born in Quebec city on the same day. Roy's father does a florish lift and drops his new baby.
On November 27th Gordie Howe beats Gump Worsley for his 600th career goal.
The Rangers dump goalies Jacques Plante and MArcel Paille in favor of Ed Giacomin, Cesare Maniago and Don Simmons.
The Bruins debut a pair of goalies in Eddie Cheevers and Bernie Parent.
Toronto's Carl Brewer retires at the age of 27 due to a contract dispute with Punch Imlach. He remains retired for 4 years.
The Leafs trade Andy Bathgate to Detroit for Marcel Pronovost.
Bobby Hull secures two NHL records with most goals at 54 and most points at 97.
New York's Reg Fleming takes home the penalty crown with 166 minutes.
Toronto's Johnny Bower wins his 3rd straight gaa title with a stingy 2.25 gaa.
The Playoffs feature Montreal vs Toronto and Detroit vs Chicago.
The Red Wings shock the Hawks in 6 games.
The Canadians don't break a sweat as they keel haul the Leafs in 4 straight games.
The Habs beat the Wings in 6 games taking home their 13th cup, passing Toronto's 12 cups for the all time lead.
Detroit goalie Roger Crozier wins the Conn Smythe tophy in a losing effort, his team mate Norm Ullman wins the playoff scoring race with 15 points.
Bobby Hull wins his second straight Hart Tophy.
Alex Delvecchio wins the Lady Byng Trophy.
Gum Worsely and Charlie Hodge of Montreal win the Vezina Trophy.
Toronto's Brit Selby wins the Calder Trophy.
Montreal's Jacques Laperrier wins the Norris Trophy.
Jack Adams wins the first Lester Patrick Award.
Michigan State beats the nerds of Clarkson to win the NCAA finals.
They would have probably loved it, first of all, more money and opportunity. Second of all, the post first expansion era featured just some really bad hockey compared to the Original 6 era as teams and especially the expansion teams struggled to fill their rosters.
However on the other side of it, the post expansion era lead to the rise of goon hockey as hockey for a while became a blood sport as teams filled the bottom of their lineups with absolute no skill knuckle draggers.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Lots of exciting news was happening to the NHL as they roared towards the end of the 60's with the key piece of news being the leagues expansion from 6 to 12 teams starting in 1967-68. But that news was overshadowed with the debut of the next great one, the first generational player since Gordie Howe had made his debut in 1948.
It couldn't have come in a better time, the Bruins had been breaking Boston hearts through the 60's icing some truly awful teams. from 1959 to 1967 the Bruins had finished 5th twice and 6th 6 times, but the franchises savior was on the way.
Bobby Orr had dominated on the ice since he first put on a tiny pair of skates. He had charisma, He was clocked skating at 27 miles an hour, and was extremely agile being compared to mercury on ice. Scouts for all 6 teams salivated over him, but Boston made the bold move of adding a 12 year old to their protected list meaning Orr belonged to the Bruins, all the Bruins had to do was sit back and watch Orr mature.
Orr became the talk of the hockey world by the time he was 16, meanwhile the Bruins started firing up the hype train. Be patient Bruin's fans, we know things are terrible, they said, the Savior is on the way.
But then Orr did what Orr would do throughout his career, he did what Howe nor Richard had done when they got to the big leagues. Orr bought his agent with him, Orr unleashed Alan Eagleson on the NHL world. Right off of the bat Eagleson established himself as an Alpha. He informed the Bruins that Orr wouldn't be coming unless he got a contract that matched his ability. Bruins GM Happ Emms was on the verge of a heart attack, no player had dared to do this before. However in the face of things, Emms had no choice but to wave the white flag and he signed Orr to a 2 year $150,000 contract that set off shock waves throughout the NHL.
However in hindsight, Emms chest pains and eventual capitulation paid off, Orr made an immense impact on the Bruins and hockey in general. Orr would eventually transform the Bruins into a juggernaut and by 1970 he was the biggest drawing card in the NHL.
Hockey Analysts eventually created the term the Orr Effect, which described his style. Orr changed the way that defensemen played the game. Before Orr defensemen concentrated on defense, they rarely moved into the opponents zone with the exception of a few like Dough Harvey. While there were rushing defensemen in the past like Eddie Shore and Red Kelly, nobody dominated on the rush like Orr who had two modes, fast and don't bother trying. Bobby Orr was not only a generational game, he was a evolutionary player who completely turned the role of defensemen and the game of hockey upside down.
Don't get me wrong, Bobby was exceptional in his own end, he was also incredibly tough. But Bobby took it one step further, he would poke the puck loose in his own end, then burn up the ice to either score or set up a goal. Suddenly every kid wanted to be a defenseman, and wanted to be Bobby Orr.
While Orr couldn't carry the Bruins to the playoffs in his first year and the Bruins finished in 6th place. Orr had already changed the Bruins franchise. While Chicago finished first and the Leafs won the cup, the focus of hockey fans and media was on Bobby Orr.
While Bobby won the Calder Trophy, he couldn't beat out Harry Howell of the Rangers for the Norris Trophy. At the Award luncheon, Howell accepted the award with grace and then said in his speech "I'm glad that I won the Norris Trophy this year, because in 10 years it will be the Bobby Orr Trophy.
Trivia
The NHL rules that substitutions will be allowed on coincidental major penalties.
The NHL sponsorship of Junior teams ends and all players not on NHL lists are eligible for the amateur draft.
Las Angeles, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St, Louis and Oakland are awarded franchises for the 1967-67 season.
The Hall of Fame adds 10 inductees including Max Bentley, Toe Blake, Butch Bouchard, Frank Brimsek, Ted Kennedy, Elmer Lach, Ted Lindsay, Babe Pratt, Ken Reardon and Clarence Campbell.
Boston replaces GM Milt Schmidt with Harry Sinden.
Chicago finishes first with a 41-17-12 record finishing 17 points ahead of the second place Canadians. On the way to first Chicago sets an NHL record by scoring 264 goals.
Bobby Hull leads the NHL with 52 goals becoming the first player to score more then 50 goals in two consecutive seasons.
Stan Mikita wins his third scoring title with 97 points
Chicago's Denis DeJordy takes the number 1 job from Glenn Hall and leads the NHL with a 2.46 gaa.
Ex Canadians Star Bernie "Boom Boom" Geoffrion comes out of retirement with the Rangers and scores 18 goals in 58 games. He also gets suspended for 3 games for trying to decapitate a NHL linesman with his elbow.
In the year of official abuse John Ferguson of the Canadians gets suspended for 3 games for hitting a linesmen. Bobby Rousseau and Jean Guy Talbot are fined and suspended for assaulting referees Art Skov and John Ashley.
The playoffs feature Chicago vs Toronto and Montreal vs New York.
The Rangers who have missed the playoffs for the last 7 of 8 years are no match for the Habs and are swept.
The Leafs upset the Hawks in 5 games.
The Leafs beat the Habs in 6 games to take home their 13th cup. This would be the last cup that the Leafs would win.
Toronto's Dave Keon wins the Conn Smythe trophy.
Stan Mikita wins the Art Ross, Hart and Lady Byng becoming he first player to sweep all three.
Chicago's Glenn Hall and Denise DeJordy share the Vezina trophy.
Bobby Orr scores 13 goals and 41 points and takes home the Calder.
Harry Howell of the Rangers wins the Norris Trophy.
Cornell beats Boston University to win the NCAA Championship
The Toronto Marlboros win their fourth Memorial Cup.
The gold rush was here. The NHL's decision to finally expand from 6 to 12 years mad a few of the owners nervous. They still had their doubts that cities like St. Louis and Oakland could sustain teams over the long run, while others hated the method chosen by the established clubs to keep their teams stocked.
The approved plan called for existing teams to protect 1 goalie and 11 other players for the draft. When a team lost a player, it could fill its protected list with another player. This meant that a team would lose its 13th best player and put its 14th best player, if it lost its 15th best then the 16th best would be protected. This system seemed to favour the established teams. Clarence Campbell's back up plan called for teams to be able to protect 2 players and only 14 other players in the 1968 and 69 league drafts, and he felt that this would help in the equalization and the new teams wouldn't have trouble picking which 14 players to protect.
However the older team said that they're going to have problems. Campbell felt that with his backup plan that teams would improve by 1968-69 and by 1970 the new teams would have a field day.
On June 6, 1967 the expansion draft was held in Montreal and the new teams found what they were getting for the $2 million dollar expansion team. However the new owners good will went up in cloud of cigar smoke and by the end of the expansion draft most of the new owners felt that they had been taken advantage of, after all they had paid $100,000 each for the bodies that ordinarily under the regular draft had only cost $30,000.00, however for the $2,000,000 they paid they did end up with 20 bodies, and a chance to share in radio, TV and attendance.
Even the players seemed to have differing opinions some of them looked at their team and felt their owners for all of the bodies and money had received only 7 or 8 actual NHL players. However the league had brilliantly put all of the new teams in a division of their own, so while the expansion teams got regularly pounded by the established teams, they still had a chance to contend except for California who were dreadful.
Combined the 6 new teams went a fairly respectable 40-86-18 record against the established teams.
The West Division playoffs were tightly contested in that all three of the series went 7 games, and even though St Louis got swept by the Canadians they were all 1 goal games.
At the end of the day the NHL had declared the expansion draft a success and lit their cigars up and racked in the money.
Trivia
The new expansion teams make up the West Division, while the Established teams make up the East Division, the league plays a 74 game specials.
Prior to the expansion draft LA Kings owner Jack Kent purchases the entire Springfield team from Eddie Shore giving the Kings a fully stocked farm team.
The LA Kings selected Terry Sawchuck with the first pick of the expansion draft.
The Rangers move into the newly constructed Madison Square Gardens.
The Hall of Fame inducts 4 members: Turk Broda, Neil Colville, Harry Oliver and Red Story.
Boston starts establishing the Big Bad Bruins when the steal Phil Esposito, Ken Hodge and Fred Stanfield from the Black Hawks for Pit MArtin, Giles Marotte and Jack Norris.
Toronto trades Frank Mahovlich, Garry Unger and Peter Semkowski to Detroit for Norm Ullman, Paul Henderson and Floyd Smith.
Scotty Bowman takes the bench in St Louis after they fire Lynn Patrick after a 4-10-2 start.
On Oct 11th , Montreal's Jean Beliveau scores his 400th NHL Goal.
On Dec 8th the California Seals change their name to the Oakland Seals.
On Dec 30, CBS airs its first game of the week, it features LA and Philly in the first game at the LA Forum.
On Jan 13, 1968 Minnesota North Star Bill Masterton is checked by Seal defenseman Larry Cahan and Ron Harris. Masterton falls backwards and strikes his head on the ice, he dies 30 hours later. The league starts accelerating a movement towards helmets.
The Canadians win the East with a 42-22-10 record.
Stan Mikita leads the NHL with 87 points.
Bobby Hull leads the league in goals for the 6th time with 44.
The Flyers go 31-32-11 and win the Campbell Trophy for finishing first in the West.
The Penguins fail to make the playoffs in the West, Oakland finishes dead last after winning 11 of their first 64 games, they fire coach Bert Olmstead who probably said "thank god".
St Louis' Barclay Plager one of the three insane Plager brothers in the NHL leads the league with 153 PIM.
Montreal's Gump Worsley leads the NHL with a 1.98 gaa.
On March 3, 1968 Jean Beliveau scores his 1,000th point.
In the West playoffs St Louis upsets the Flyers in 7 games.
The North Stars lose their first 2 games against the Kings but battle back to win in 7 games.
In the East Montreal sweeps the Bruins, Chicago upsets New York in 6 games.
In the semifinals the Habs use the Hawks like a chew toy winning in 5 games, The North Stars and Blues go 7 games including 4 games in OT, but the Blue's prevail.
The St Louis are courageous in the finals, but lose in 4 straight games losing 4 won goal games with two of them going to ot.
Glenn Hall wins the Conn Smythe Trophy in a losing effort.
Stan Mikita wins the triple crown taking home the Byng, Art Ross and Hart Trophy.
Montreal's Gump Worsley and Rogie Vachon share the Vezina.
The Calder Trophy goes to Derek Sanderson of the Buins.
Bobby Orr wins his first of 8 Norris Trophies.
Montreal's Claude Provost wins the inaugural Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, Sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The Soviet Union utterly dominates the Olympics blowing out Canada 5-0 in the Gold Medal game.
By the mid 60's the rumblings were becoming earth quakes. Coffey Hall who owned the San Francisco Seals said "The time has come for the NHL to realize that Las Angeles and San Francisco can't wait. Our hockey fans are just as major league conscious as fans of baseball and football and feel they should be up there. An angry feeling is developing".
Coleman E. "Coley" Hall. He founded the Vancouver Canucks—originally of the Pacific Coast Hockey League—in 1945, and owned the team until selling to the Pacific National Exhibition (who owned the Forum, their home arena) in 1956. He stayed on as Canucks president until 1961.
The PCHL originally had teams along the coast all the way down to San Diego, but by 1951 teams in San Diego, Los Angeles, Hollywood, Oakland, San Francisco, Fresno, Portland and Vancouver, Washington had folded. They were down to the Canucks and teams in New Westminster, Victoria, Seattle and Tacoma. They added three teams from the former Western Canada Senior League—the Saskatoon Quakers, Edmonton Flyers and Calgary Stampeders—and in 1952 changed the league name to Western Hockey League: taking the exact same name as the former top-flight pro league that last competed with the NHL for the Stanley Cup until 1926.
The Tacoma Rockets only lasted the inaugural '52-'53 season, and the Seattle Bombers folded in 1954, leaving the WHL a six-team Canada-only league for the '54-'55 season. They re-added a team in Seattle in '55, plus Winnipeg and Regina (the latter of which moved to Brandon after only a few games), and eventually Spokane ('58) and back to Portland ('60). By the '60s they were openly talking about taking on the NHL because of the NHL's adamant refusal to expand west. The Victoria Cougars moved south to Los Angeles in 1961, becoming the Blades, while the Winnipeg Warriors folded and Coley Hall was awarded an expansion team in San Francisco. He named the team 'Seals' after the old Pacific Coast League baseball team, who had been in the PCL from 1903 until they folded when the New York Giants announced their move to San Francisco in 1958. (Likewise the PCL's LA Angels moved to Spokane and became the Indians when the Brooklyn Dodgers announced their move to LA that year too.)
Coley Hall sold the Seals to local interests headed by Mel Swig, son of hotelier Benjamin Swig (owner of the Fairmont chain), in 1964. Swig would go on to sell the Seals to a group headed by Barry Van Gerbig in 1966, and the Seals joined the NHL in the first expansion in 1967.
PNE sold a portion of the Canucks to a group headed by former Vancouver and New Westminster mayor Fred Hume, who sold his share to BC Tel president Cyrus McLean. Coley Hall would represent the Canucks' application to join the NHL in 1967, and after the failed bid, joined forces with a rival bid from Max Bell & Frank McMahon (yes, that Max Bell, and Frank McMahon as in McMahon Stadium). McMahon, Bell, McLean and Hall stayed on as minority shareholders but sold about 60% of the team to Minneapolis-based insurance company Medicor, owned by Tom Scallen, in 1969. Scallen financed the Canucks' successful expansion bid to the NHL, and Coley Hall stayed on as the club's president—again—through 1974, working to keep the team afloat as Scallen faced fraud charges for using the Canucks ownership stake to raise funds to pay of Medicor's debts. Scallen was convicted and sentenced to two years in prison (eventually pardoned in the 1980s), and Hall facilitated the sale of Scallen/Medicor's share of the Canucks to Frank Griffiths in 1974.
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On this day in 1951, Bill Barilko scored in overtime. His goal won the Maple Leafs the Stanley Cup.
A few months later, he disappeared on a fishing trip with his dentist. His body was found 11 years later.
St. Louis was one of the expansion franchises that was doomed to fail when you talked to the other owners of NHL teams. It was not a major hockey market and never had been. But thanks to GM Lynn Patrick and the innovative coaching of Scotty Bowman, the Blues had made the playoffs and had a finals run under their belts.
In 1968-69 the Blue's were now considered to be the best of the expansion franchises, though they still trailed behind the original 6 teams.
Owner Sid Solomon Jr. was determined to run a first class franchise and thanks to solid trades by Patrick the Blue's now had their cornerstone players when he obtained centre Red Berenson and jerk defenseman Barclay Plager from the Rangers for next to nothing.
In Glenn Hall who the Blue's had picked up in the expansion draft they had a premiere NHL goalie, but there were concerned about his age at 37, so the Blue's drafted Jacques Plante as his backup.
Plante had retired in 1965 due to the illness of his wife. but he had indicated that he wanted to comeback, so the Blue's drafted Plante from the Rangers, Bowman knew that the mecurial goaltender could still play.
Bowman didn't stop there, the Blue's needed scoring so he picked up tiny Camile "The Eel" Henry from the Rangers and Ab McDonald. He then added another complete jerk in Billy Plager who joined his brothers Barclay and Bob. Those moves made the Blue's the best team in the post expansion West Division.
The Blue's declared themselves stating that they could skate any of the Eastern teams into the ice, and they lived up to that. During one week in November the Blue's tied the Bruins in Boston, beat New York in New York and tied Detroit in Detroit.
Because of their success St, Louis fell in love with the Blues and filled the ancient St. Louis arena to capacity. The Blue's rewarded their fans by finishing first in the West. Plante and Hall won the Vezina trophy and Berenson scored 82 points. The Blue's went into the playoffs and destroyed the Flyers in round 1 and wrecked the Kings in round 2. Unfortunately they went into the finals against the Habs for the second time in 2 years in round 2, but the Habs were the premiere team in the league with a deeper lineup, better scoring and a more mobile defence, the Habs routed the Blue's in 4 games.
But it didn't matter that the Blues had lost in 2 straight finals, the NHL had conquered the city of St. Louis.
Trivia
One year after limiting draft eligibility to 20 years and older, the NHL adopts rules opening the draft to players all over the world.
The Hockey Hall of fame inducts three new members, Bill Cowley, James Dunn and Jim Hendy.
The Canadians replace Toe Blake behind the bench with 30 year old Claude Ruel.
The Ranger's hire Bernie Geoffrion as their new coach, he does well with a 22-18-3 record but resigns due to ulcers.
On Oct 16th Toronto rookie defenseman Jim Dorey sets an NHL record with 9 penalties in a game. 4 minors, 2 majors 2 10 minute misconducts and a game misconduct totaling 48 minutes.
On November 7, Red Berenson scores 6 goals against Philadelphia in Philadelphia.
On Feb 16, Alex Delvecchio scores his 1000th point.
The Canadians win the East with a 46-19-11 record.
The Bruins Phil Esposito shatters the NHL record of 97 points when he puts up 127 points.
The Big Bad Bruins establish themselves when they score the most goals in the NHL with 303 and the most penalty minutes with 1,297.
Bobby Hull scores an NHL record 58 goals. But the Hawks and Wings miss the playoffs. Gordie Howe scores 103 points as a 40 year old in a futile effort.
The Blues take first place in the West with a 37-25-14 record.
The Penguins and Stars miss the playoffs.
The Stars start with Wren Blair as the coach and fire him 11 games into the season and replace him with John Muckler who struggles for 35 games and then bring back Blair to finish the season, the Stars didn't make Blair return behind the bench with a bag over his head.
Jacques Plante leas the league with a 1.96 gaa.
Flyer/Leaf Forbes Kennedy leas the NHL with 219 PIM.
Boston's Bobby Orr leads the league with a +65 rating.
In the East the Canadians sweep the Rangers and the Bruins sweep the Leafs.
In the West the Blues sweep the Flyers whicle the Kinds beat Oakland in 7 games.
Montreal beats the Bruins in 6 games in the Eastern Finals.
The Blues broom the Kings in 4 games.
In the finals the Canadians dust the Blues in 4 games outscoring the Western upstarts 12-3.
Montreal defenceman Serge Savard wins the Conn Smythe trophy.
Phil Esposito leads all playoff scorers with 18 points.
Esposito takes home the Hart Trophy.
Alex Delvecchio wins his third Lady Byng Trophy.
Jacques Plante and Glenn Hall of the Blues share the Vezina Trophy.
Danny Grant of the North Stars scores 34 goals and wins the Calder Trophy.
Bobby Orr wins his second straight Norris Tophy.
Oakland's Ted Hampson wins the Bill Masterton Trophy.
Bobby Hull and college coach Edward Jeremiah win the Lester Pearson Award.
Denver repeats as the NCAA champions.
The Montreal Jr Canadians win the Memorial Trophy.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
There's this famous story about Scotty Bowman when he was coaching the Blues. Team was on the road and back then they had a curfew where players had to be in their rooms by a certain time. Anyhow these 2 Blues players decided screw that, time for a few late night beers. So they sneak out the back door of the hotel, down the stairs and into the pub next door. They're laughing and drinking their beers when in walks Scotty Bowman who glances over at the 2 players but says nothing. Walks over to the bar keep and orders a draft. He proceeds to the jukebox inserts a quarter, picks a song and sits down to drink his beer and read the newspaper. The song that came up was a Wilber Harrison song - "Kansas City Here I Come." The Blues by coincidence also had a farm team in Kansas City. The next morning at practice the 2 said players were sent down to the farm
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There's this famous story about Scotty Bowman when he was coaching the Blues. Team was on the road and back then they had a curfew where players had to be in their rooms by a certain time. Anyhow these 2 Blues players decided screw that, time for a few late night beers. So they sneak out the back door of the hotel, down the stairs and into the pub next door. They're laughing and drinking their beers when in walks Scotty Bowman who glances over at the 2 players but says nothing. Walks over to the bar keep and orders a draft. He proceeds to the jukebox inserts a quarter, picks a song and sits down to drink his beer and read the newspaper. The song that came up was a Wilber Harrison song - "Kansas City Here I Come." The Blues by coincidence also had a farm team in Kansas City. The next morning at practice the 2 said players were sent down to the farm
Barclay Plager was not only the roughest players in hockey, but also one of the genuine funniest ones. When he was with the Blue's he was late for practice, and I think Bowman was the coach at the time. Bowman confronted Plager and demanded to know why he was late and Plager basically responded with
I really wanted to make practice on time so I set my alarm and everything. But the alarm didn't go off, and a I jumped out of bed and realized that I was late and fell to my knees and called out "What god, why have you foresaken me" Suddenly the roof cracked open and a huge hand came through the ceiling and a huge finger pointed at me and a voice boomed "Because sometimes Barclay, you really piss me off". He was not punished for being late.
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My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
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Welcome to the 70's as the world shifted from flower power to bad haircuts, polyester fashions, bad acid rock music, ugly huge cars, instability in the middle east and the height of cold war tensions. But onto hockey.
Hockey and violence had always been married at the hip. Hockey was the only major league sport that endorsed fighting and toughness and the more nasty elements of the game and the 70's would be classed as the era of on ice brutality that would never be matched again.
But if there was ever a player that lived and died by the sword, and in this case almost died, it was Ted Green, a fearsome intimidating Boston Bruin's defenseman. Green was on the blueline on Sept 12,1969 during an exhibition game in Ottawa. Normally for veteran's exhibition games are pretty tame affairs as most of the veterans just want to get through the preseason without injuries. But late in the first period St Louis forward Wayne Maki charged Green behind the next. Maki fell to the ice and speared Green. Green countered with a slash that caught Maki in the arm. Green at that point figured he made his point and turned to skate away.
But Maki was enraged and clobbered Green in the head with his stick. Green fell to ice,, he had suffered a compound skull fracture, and had to have a 2 1/2 hour surgery, there were even rumours that Green had died.
When his team mates visited Green, Green didn't remember their names only their numbers. Green suffered from temporary paralysis, but eventually recovered.
But the hockey world was in shock, the public was disgusted and the Crown jumped in and charged both players with assault with intent to injure. It went to trail and made front page headlines, both players were eventually acquitted, but the NHL was embarrassed.
Clarence Campbell suspended both players without pay, Green for 13 games and Maki for 30 days. In Green's place it was technical, as he was injured and wouldn't play until next year.
Even without Green their undisputed leader on the blueline, the Bruins dominated the league, they finished with a 40-17-19 record, they were lead by Bobby Orr who took home the Hart, Art Ross and Norris Trophy. The Bruins destroyed Chicago in the Eastern Finals then did the same in the finals to the Blues.
It was appropriate that Orr scored the cup winning goal giving the Bruins their first cup since 1941. As much as they missed Green, the Bruins core of Orr, Esposito and Gerry Cheevers had become a league power house.
Trivia
Montreal uses the first two picks of the draft to pick up Rejean Houle and Marc Tardif.
The Hull of Fame inducts 6 including Sid Abel, Bryan Hextall, Red Kelly and Roy Worters.
Carl Brewer ends his four year retirement/holdout to join the Detroit Red Wings.
Terry Sawchuk joins the Ranger and plays his last season. He will retire with all time goalie records for games with 971, wins with 435 and shutouts with 103
Toronto replaces long time coach Punch Imlach with John McLellan, the Leafs finish last in the East.
Chicago finishes first in the league with a 45-22-9 record.
Bobby Hull misses 15 games, but scores his 500th goal on Feb 21 becoming the third player to join the 500 goal club.
Chicago debuts Phil's little brother Tony Eposito in net. He leads the NHL in wins with 38, shutouts with 15 and a 2.11 gaa.
Boston's Phil Esposito leads the league with 43 goals.
Bobby Orr finishes first in the league with an awesome 120 points.
The Ranger's lead the league with line names as they debut the GAG line of Ratelle, Gilbert and Hadfield, as well as the Bulldog line of Tkaczuk, Balon and Fairbairn.
The Canadians failed to make the playoffs, they match the Rangers in points but score 2 fewer goals then the Rangers.
Pittsburgh's rookie sensation Michel Biere leads the Pens to a 2nd place finish in the list while scoring 32 assists.
Philadelphia finishes in 5th place in the West, but debut former choir boy Bobby Clarke.
Gary Dornhoefer the kind of the front of the goal scores 26 goals.
Bobby Orr's 87 assists sets a new NHL record.
Chicago record Keith Magnuson brawls his way to 213 penalty minutes.
In the opening round of the playoffs Chicago sweeps Detroit, Boston beats New York 4-3. In the west Pittsburgh knocks off Oakland in 4, while St Louis squeeks by Minnesota in 6.
The Bruins sweep Chicago in 4 games. The Blues and Pens battle back and fourth but the Blue's win in 6 games.
Bobby Orr scores at 40 seconds of overtime in game 4 to give the Bruins their first cup in 29 years.
Phil Esposito leads all playoff scorers with a record 27 points, but Bobby Orr wins the Conn Smythe.
Bobby Orr wins his first of three Hart Trophies, and his third Norris Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy.
Blues center Phil Goyette wins the Lady Byng trophy.
Tony Esposito wins the Calder and Vezina Trophy.
Chicago's Pit Martin wins the Masterton Trophy.
Eddie Shore and James Hendy win the Lester Patrick Award.
Cornell defeats Clarkson to win the NCAA title.
The Montreal Junior Canadians win their second straight Memorial Cup.
During the spring of 1970, Pittsburgh rookie sensation Michel Briere is injured in a car accident. He hangs on until April 13, 1971 and passes away from his injuries.
Terry Sawchuk broken down and bitter after a 21 year career that ends with just 8 games with the Rangers. He gets into a drunken brawl with his room mate and team mate Ron Stewart and dies from his injuries on May 31, 1970 at the age of 40.
