1970–71 California Golden Seals
Division7th West
1970–71 record20–53–5
Goals for199
Goals against320
Team information
General managerFrank Selke Jr.
Bill Torrey
Fred Glover
CoachFred Glover
CaptainTed Hampson
Carol Vadnais
ArenaOakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena
Average attendance5,358
Team leaders
GoalsErnie Hicke (22)
AssistsDennis Hextall (31)
PointsDennis Hextall (52)
Penalty minutesDennis Hextall (217)
WinsGary Smith (19)
Goals against averageGary Smith (3.86)

The 1970–71 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' fourth in the NHL, but their first as the Golden Seals. Oakland Athletics owner Charlie O. Finley bought the team[1] in the offseason for approximately $4,500,000. He announced a name change in which his team would be called the Bay Area Seals. On October 16, after the first two games of the season, Finley changed the name once again. The team became known as the California Golden Seals in an attempt to draw fans from across the state of California, in particular from nearby San Francisco. Along with the name change came new green and gold colours, and a new logo and uniforms.

Several other changes occurred in the Seals' front office after Finley bought the team. Unhappy, General Manager Frank Selke Jr. quit in October 1970. His replacement, Bill Torrey, lasted only a month before resigning himself. Coach Fred Glover took over the responsibilities of General Manager after Torrey's departure in November.

Amidst the shake-up of the Seals from a business point of view the on-ice performance of the team suffered greatly. The team finished the season with an NHL-worst record of 20-53-5 (45 points). It was the worst season in their history up to that point in time, and the 53 losses set an NHL record (since surpassed).[2] The Seals record was worse than both of the two expansion teams that season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks.

On May 22, 1970, The Seals made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens that would come back to haunt the franchise for the rest of their existence. In the trade, the Seals sent defenseman Francois Lacombe along with their first round draft pick in 1971 to the Montreal Canadiens for Ernie Hicke and Montreal's first round pick. Since the Seals finished with the NHL's worst record that season, that gave the Canadiens the first overall pick in the 1971 draft which they used to select future hall of famer Guy Lafleur.

Captain Ted Hampson was traded to the Minnesota North Stars late in the season, and was replaced by Carol Vadnais.

Offseason

Amateur draft

Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
1 10. Chris Oddleifson  Canada Winnipeg Jets (WCHL)
2 19. Pete Laframboise  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA)
3 33. Randy Rota  Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
4 47. Ted McAneeley  Canada Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
5 61. Ray Gibbs  Canada Charlottetown (Senior)
6 75. Doug Moyes  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
7 88. Terry Murray  Canada Ottawa 67's (OHA)
8 100. Alan Henry  Canada University of North Dakota (NCAA)

Regular season

Standings

West Division[3]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks7849209277184+93107
2St. Louis Blues78342519223208+1587
3Philadelphia Flyers78283317207225−1873
4Minnesota North Stars78283416191223−3272
5Los Angeles Kings78254013239303−6463
6Pittsburgh Penguins78213720221240−1962
7California Golden Seals7820535199320−12145

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 10, 19703–5@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)0–1–0
2LOctober 11, 19701–5@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)0–2–0
3LOctober 16, 19701–5Boston Bruins (1970–71)0–3–0
4LOctober 17, 19701–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)0–4–0
5LOctober 20, 19701–2@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)0–5–0
6TOctober 21, 19702–2St. Louis Blues (1970–71)0–5–1
7LOctober 23, 19701–3Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)0–6–1
8TOctober 25, 19702–2@ New York Rangers (1970–71)0–6–2
9LOctober 28, 19702–3@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)0–7–2
10WOctober 30, 19706–1Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)1–7–2
11WNovember 4, 19703–1New York Rangers (1970–71)2–7–2
12WNovember 6, 19708–4Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)3–7–2
13WNovember 11, 19702–0Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)4–7–2
14LNovember 13, 19702–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)4–8–2
15LNovember 14, 19701–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)4–9–2
16WNovember 15, 19702–1@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)5–9–2
17LNovember 17, 19701–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)5–10–2
18LNovember 19, 19702–6@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)5–11–2
19LNovember 21, 19703–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)5–12–2
20LNovember 22, 19700–9@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)5–13–2
21LNovember 25, 19701–3Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)5–14–2
22LNovember 27, 19702–3Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)5–15–2
23WNovember 29, 19702–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)6–15–2
24LDecember 2, 19702–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)6–16–2
25LDecember 4, 19700–4Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)6–17–2
26WDecember 9, 19706–1Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)7–17–2
27LDecember 11, 19701–2New York Rangers (1970–71)7–18–2
28LDecember 12, 19702–5@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)7–19–2
29WDecember 16, 19704–2Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)8–19–2
30WDecember 18, 19701–0Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)9–19–2
31WDecember 20, 19707–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)10–19–2
32WDecember 22, 19705–2Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)11–19–2
33LDecember 26, 19703–9@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)11–20–2
34LDecember 29, 19702–3@ New York Rangers (1970–71)11–21–2
35LDecember 30, 19701–3@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)11–22–2
36LJanuary 2, 19713–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)11–23–2
37LJanuary 3, 19712–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)11–24–2
38WJanuary 6, 19716–3St. Louis Blues (1970–71)12–24–2
39LJanuary 9, 19713–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)12–25–2
40LJanuary 10, 19714–7@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)12–26–2
41LJanuary 12, 19712–8@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)12–27–2
42TJanuary 13, 19711–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)12–27–3
43WJanuary 15, 19713–1New York Rangers (1970–71)13–27–3
44LJanuary 17, 19711–3Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)13–28–3
45LJanuary 20, 19712–4Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)13–29–3
46WJanuary 22, 19715–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)14–29–3
47LJanuary 24, 19713–5@ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)14–30–3
48WJanuary 27, 19716–2Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)15–30–3
49LJanuary 29, 19712–4Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)15–31–3
50LJanuary 31, 19711–7@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)15–32–3
51LFebruary 3, 19711–6@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)15–33–3
52LFebruary 5, 19712–3Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)15–34–3
53LFebruary 7, 19712–5Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)15–35–3
54WFebruary 10, 19715–1Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)16–35–3
55LFebruary 12, 19710–3@ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71)16–36–3
56LFebruary 13, 19712–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)16–37–3
57LFebruary 16, 19711–5@ St. Louis Blues (1970–71)16–38–3
58LFebruary 17, 19712–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)16–39–3
59LFebruary 19, 19710–5Boston Bruins (1970–71)16–40–3
60WFebruary 20, 19715–3Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)17–40–3
61LFebruary 24, 19712–5Montreal Canadiens (1970–71)17–41–3
62LFebruary 26, 19711–3Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)17–42–3
63LFebruary 28, 19713–8Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)17–43–3
64LMarch 3, 19711–8@ New York Rangers (1970–71)17–44–3
65LMarch 4, 19710–7@ Boston Bruins (1970–71)17–45–3
66TMarch 6, 19714–4@ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71)17–45–4
67TMarch 7, 19713–3@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)17–45–5
68LMarch 10, 19711–8Boston Bruins (1970–71)17–46–5
69LMarch 14, 19715–8Detroit Red Wings (1970–71)17–47–5
70WMarch 17, 19715–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71)18–47–5
71LMarch 19, 19712–5Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71)18–48–5
72WMarch 21, 19715–2Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)19–48–5
73LMarch 24, 19710–6Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71)19–49–5
74LMarch 26, 19715–8St. Louis Blues (1970–71)19–50–5
75LMarch 28, 19715–11@ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)19–51–5
76WMarch 31, 19714–1Minnesota North Stars (1970–71)20–51–5
77LApril 2, 19712–7Vancouver Canucks (1970–71)20–52–5
78LApril 3, 19714–6@ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71)20–53–5

Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Dennis Hextall2278213152217–––––
Ernie Hicke207822254762–––––
Gary Croteau187415284312–––––
Gerry Ehman87818183616–––––
Bill Hicke97418173541–––––
Gary Jarrett127515193440–––––
Ron Stackhouse21788243273–––––
Norm Ferguson17541417319–––––
Ted Hampson‡106010203014–––––
Carol Vadnais54210162691–––––
Don O'Donoghue11431192010–––––
Tom Williams†2618710178–––––
Doug Roberts2784131794–––––
Tony Featherstone1667881644–––––
Joe Hardy14404101431–––––
Wayne Muloin‡4660141432–––––
Earl Ingarfield74958134–––––
Dick Mattiussi667381138–––––
Harry Howell‡32809914–––––
Bert Marshall193226848–––––
Dick Redmond†41124612–––––
Paul Andrea‡2391012–––––
Mike Laughton15251012–––––
Gary Smith1710116–––––
Bob Sneddon3050000–––––
Chris Worthy30110002–––––
Hilliard Graves23140000–––––
Barry Boughner24160009–––––

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. ‡Traded mid-season

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI= Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Gary Smith17139751948425623.86––––––-.--
Chris Worthy30114801313904.87––––––-.--
Bob Sneddon3052250202105.60––––––-.--

Transactions

The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season:

Trades

May 22, 1970 To Oakland Seals
Dennis Hextall		 To Montreal Canadiens
cash
May 22, 1970 To Oakland Seals
Ernie Hicke
1st round pick in 1970 (Chris Oddleifson)		 To Montreal Canadiens
Francois Lacombe
1st round pick in 1971 (Guy Lafleur)
October, 1970 To California Golden Seals
cash		 To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHL)
Gerry Odrowski
February 5, 1971 To California Golden Seals
cash		 To Los Angeles Kings
Harry Howell
March 7, 1971 To California Golden Seals
Dick Redmond
Tom Williams		 To Minnesota North Stars
Ted Hampson
Wayne Muloin

Additions and subtractions

Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Bob SneddonLos Angeles KingsReverse Draft (1970–06)
Gary CroteauDetroit Red WingsIntra-league Draft (1970–06–09)
Paul AndreaVancouver CanucksIntra-league Draft (1970–06–09)
Hilliard GravesCharlottetown Islanders (PEI Jr.)free agency (1970–10)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
Bob DillaboughVancouver CanucksExpansion Draft (1970–06–10)
Charlie HodgeVancouver CanucksExpansion Draft (1970–06–10)
Howie MenardBuffalo SabresExpansion Draft (1970–06–10)
Brian PerryBuffalo SabresExpansion Draft (1970–06–10)
Paul AndreaBuffalo Sabreswaivers (1970–11–04)

Awards and records

References

  1. ↑ Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.201, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, ISBN 978-0-8027-1745-0
  2. ↑ Currier 2017, p. 146
  3. ↑ "1970–1971 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
  4. ↑ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. ↑ National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 188, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5.

Bibliography

  • Currier, Steve (2017), The California Golden Seals: A Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL's Most Outlandish Teams, Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 978-0-8032-8848-5
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