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1970–71 California Golden Seals season

NHL season


NHL season

FieldValue
LeagueNHL
Season1970–71
year1970
TeamCalifornia Golden SealsBay Area Seals / California Golden Seals
DivisionWest
DivisionRank7th
Record20–53–5
HomeRecord17–21–1
RoadRecord3–32–4
GoalsFor199
GoalsAgainst320
GeneralManagerFrank Selke Jr.
Bill Torrey
Fred Glover
CoachFred Glover
CaptainTed Hampson
Carol Vadnais
AltCaptainBill Hicke
Bert Marshall
Earl Ingarfield
ArenaOakland Coliseum Arena
Attendance5,358
GoalsLeaderErnie Hicke (22)
AssistsLeaderDennis Hextall (31)
PointsLeaderDennis Hextall (52)
PIMLeaderDennis Hextall (217)
WinsLeaderGary Smith (19)
GAALeaderGary Smith (3.86)
prev_season[1969–70](1969-70-oakland-seals-season)
next_season[1971–72](1971-72-california-golden-seals-season)

Bill Torrey Fred Glover Carol Vadnais Bert Marshall Earl Ingarfield 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 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). 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

Main article: 1970 NHL amateur draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalityCollege/junior/club team
110.Chris OddleifsonCanadaWinnipeg Jets (WCHL)
219.Pete LaframboiseCanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
333.Randy RotaCanadaCalgary Centennials (WCHL)
447.Ted McAneeleyCanadaEdmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)
561.Ray GibbsCanadaCharlottetown (Senior)
675.Doug MoyesCanadaSorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)
788.Terry MurrayCanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
8100.Alan HenryCanadaUniversity of North Dakota (NCAA)

Regular season

Standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

|- |1||L||October 10, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||0–1–0 |- |2||L||October 11, 1970||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||0–2–0 |- |3||L||October 16, 1970||1–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||0–3–0 |- |4||L||October 17, 1970||1–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||0–4–0 |- |5||L||October 20, 1970||1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||0–5–0 |- |6||T||October 21, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||0–5–1 |- |7||L||October 23, 1970||1–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||0–6–1 |- |8||T||October 25, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||0–6–2 |- |9||L||October 28, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||0–7–2 |- |10||W||October 30, 1970||6–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||1–7–2

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| Legend:

Player statistics

Skaters

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

Regular seasonPlayoffsPlayer#GPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
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 seasonPlayoffsPlayer#GPTOIWLTGASOGAAGPTOIWLGASOGAA
Gary Smith17139751948425623.86-.--
Chris Worthy30114801313904.87-.--
Bob Sneddon3052250202105.60-.--

Awards and records

  • Gary Smith, most losses by a goaltender in one season (48)

Transactions

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

Trades

March 7, 1971To California Golden Seals Dick Redmond
Tom WilliamsTo Minnesota North Stars Ted Hampson
Wayne Muloin

Additions and subtractions

Hilliard GravesCharlottetown Islanders (PEI Jr.)free agency (1970–10)
Paul AndreaBuffalo Sabreswaivers (1970–11–04)

|}

References

Bibliography

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. {{harvnb. Currier. 2017
  3. "1970-71 California Golden Seals Schedule".
  4. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 188, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, {{ISBN. 0-920445-98-5.
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