1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season

1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division5th West
1967–68 record27–34–13
Home record15–12–10
Road record12–22–3
Goals for195
Goals against216
Team information
General managerJack Riley
CoachRed Sullivan
CaptainAb McDonald
Alternate captainsLeo Boivin
Earl Ingarfield
Al MacNeil
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance7,405 (59.2%)
(36 games)[1]
Team leaders
GoalsAb McDonald (22)
AssistsAndy Bathgate (39)
PointsAndy Bathgate (59)
Penalty minutesLeo Boivin (74)
WinsLes Binkley (20)
Goals against averageHank 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

See also: 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Pittsburgh Penguins selections

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
1 Joe Daley Goaltender Detroit Red Wings
2 Roy Edwards Goaltender Chicago Black Hawks
3 Earl Ingarfield Center New York Rangers
4 Al MacNeil Defense New York Rangers
5 Larry Jeffrey Left Wing Toronto Maple Leafs
6 Ab McDonald Left Wing Detroit Red Wings
7 Leo Boivin Defense Detroit Red Wings
8 Noel Price Defense Montreal Canadiens
9 Keith McCreary Right Wing Montreal Canadiens
10 Ken Schinkel Right Wing New York Rangers
11 Bob Dillabough Center Boston Bruins
12 Art Stratton Center Chicago Black Hawks
13 Val Fonteyne Left Wing Detroit Red Wings
14 Jeannot Gilbert Center Boston Bruins
15 Tom McCarthy Left Wing Montreal Canadiens
16 Billy Dea Left Wing Chicago Black Hawks
17 Bob Rivard Center Montreal Canadiens
18 Mel Pearson Left Wing Chicago Black Hawks
19 Andy Bathgate Right Wing Detroit Red Wings
20 Les Hunt Defense New 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
1 Philadelphia Flyers 74 31 32 11 173 179 −6 73
2 Los Angeles Kings 74 31 33 10 200 224 −24 72
3 St. Louis Blues 74 27 31 16 177 191 −14 70
4 Minnesota North Stars 74 27 32 15 191 226 −35 69
5 Pittsburgh Penguins 74 27 34 13 195 216 −21 67
6 Oakland Seals 74 15 42 17 153 219 −66 47


Record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

1967–1968 Schedule
October: 3–6–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 1–3–0) 7 points
# Oct Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
1 11 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,307) 0–1–0 0
2 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (5,126) 1–1–0 2
3 14 St. Louis Blues 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,166) 1–2–0 2
4 18 Minnesota North Stars 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,885) 1–2–1 3
5 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,812) 1–3–1 3
6 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,274) 2–3–1 5
7 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (III) (13,706) 2–4–1 5
8 25 Oakland Seals 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,819) 3–4–1 7
9 28 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,536) 3–5–1 7
10 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (13,909) 3–6–1 7
November: 6–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–2–1) 14 pints
# Nov Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
11 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (7,535) 4–6–1 9
12 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,549) 5–6–1 11
13 8 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,719) 5–6–2 12
14 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (10,683) 5–7–2 12
15 11 St. Louis Blues 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,183) 5–8–2 12
16 15 Philadelphia Flyers 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,876) 6–8–2 14
17 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (7,715) 7–8–2 16
18 22 Boston Bruins 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,701) 8–8–2 18
19 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (6,409) 8–9–2 18
20 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,977) 8–9–3 19
21 29 Oakland Seals 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,499) 9–9–3 21
December: 4–8–2 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–5–0) 10 points
# Dec Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
22 2 New York Rangers 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,725) 9–10–3 21
23 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (12,215) 9–11–3 21
24 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (17,000) 9–12–3 21
25 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,927) 10–12–3 23
26 10 Minnesota North Stars 7–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,662) 10–13–3 23
27 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (15,718) 11–13–3 25
28 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,174) 11–13–4 26
29 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,522) 11–14–4 26
30 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (4,013) 11–15–4 26
31 23 Minnesota North Stars 0–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,631) 12–15–4 28
32 25 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,002) 13–15–4 30
33 27 Oakland Seals 0–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,039) 13–15–5 31
34 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (8,286) 13–16–5 31
35 30 Detroit Red Wings 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,041) 13–17–5 31
January: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–5–1) 10 points
# Jan Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
36 4 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,202) 14–17–5 33
37 6 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,351) 14–17–6 34
38 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,935) 14–18–6 34
39 10 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,580) 14–19–6 34
40 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,292) 15–19–6 36
41 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–7 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (15,732) 15–20–6 36
42 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,638) 15–20–7 37
43 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (5,755) 15–21–7 37
44 20 Detroit Red Wings 5–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (10,547) 16–21–7 39
45 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (9,298) 16–22–7 39
46 27 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (11,156) 16–23–7 39
47 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (13,909) 17–23–7 41
48 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–9 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (7,748) 17–24–7 41
February: 4–5–3 (Home: 2–3–3; Road: 2–2–0) 11 points
# Feb Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
49 1 St. Louis Blues 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,980) 18–24–7 43
50 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (12,563) 18–24–8 44
51 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,283) 19–24–8 46
52 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (6,195) 19–25–8 46
53 10 New York Rangers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (10,237) 19–25–9 47
54 14 Minnesota North Stars 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,133) 20–25–9 49
55 16 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,209) 20–26–9 49
56 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (14,687) 20–27–9 49
57 21 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,198) 20–27–10 50
58 24 Oakland Seals 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (11,057) 20–28–10 50
59 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (14,418) 21–28–10 52
60 27 Boston Bruins 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,546) 21–29–10 52
March: 6–5–3 (Home: 3–0–2; Road: 3–5–1) 15 points
# Mar Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points
61 2 Oakland Seals 6–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,390) 21–29–11 53
62 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (9,092) 21–30–11 53
63 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,705) 21–30–12 54
64 9 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,176) 22–30–12 56
65 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 22–31–12 56
66 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (15,041) 22–32–12 56
67 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (III) (17,250) 22–33–12 56
68 20 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,126) 23–33–12 58
69 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (11,910) 23–34–12 58
70 24 Minnesota North Stars 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,229) 23–34–13 59
71 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (7,057) 24–34–13 61
72 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,365) 25–34–13 63
73 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Philadelphia Flyers at Quebec City (5,569) 26–34–13 65
74 31 Philadelphia Flyers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,756) 27–34–13 67
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[8]
Player GP GS TOI W L OT T GA GAA SA SV% SO G A PIM
Les Binkley 54 54 3139:01 20 24 -- 10 150 2.87 1585 0.905 6 0 0 0
Hank Bassen 25 20 1295:19 7 10 -- 3 62 2.87 685 0.909 1 0 0 8
Total 74 4434:20 27 34 0 13 212 2.87 2270 0.907 7 0 0 8

†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 4.
  • 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 2.
  • 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 16.
  • 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 30.
  • 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.
  • Leo Boivin set the team record for goals by a defenseman at 9.

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
Player Former team Via
Bill LeCaine Port Huron Flags (IHL) free agency (1967–08)
Marv Edwards Nashville Dixie Flyers (EHL) free agency (1967–09)
Subtractions
Player New team Via

Draft picks

Amateur Draft

Main article: 1967 NHL Amateur Draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.[9]

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 May 5, 2012. 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. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  8. ^ "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  9. ^ "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 3, 2013.