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1973–74 Los Angeles Sharks season

World Hockey Association team season


World Hockey Association team season

FieldValue
LeagueWHA
Season1973–74
year1973
TeamLos Angeles Sharks
Record25–53–0
HomeRecord17–22–0
RoadRecord8–31–0
DivisionWestern
DivisionRank6th
GoalsFor239
GoalsAgainst339
GeneralManagerDennis Murphy
CoachTerry Slater (5–14–0)
Ted McCaskill (20–39–0)
CaptainTed McCaskill (until mid-November)
AltCaptainGerry Odrowski
Jim Watson
ArenaL.A. Sports Arena
Attendance5,338 (36.7%)
GoalsLeaderMarc Tardif (40)
AssistsLeaderJ.P. LeBlanc (46)
PointsLeaderMarc Tardif (70)
PIMLeaderSteve Sutherland (182)
WinsLeaderIan Wilkie (11)
GAALeaderIan Wilkie (3.92)
next_season[1974–75](1974-75-michigan-stags-baltimore-blades-season)

Ted McCaskill (20–39–0) Jim Watson The 1973–74 Los Angeles Sharks season was the Los Angeles Sharks' second and final season in Los Angeles in the World Hockey Association. The club finished last in the WHA Western Division and missed the playoffs. They moved to Detroit, MI after the season and became the Michigan Stags.

Offseason

The Sharks lured promising left wing Marc Tardif from the Montreal Canadiens to jump to the Sharks.

Regular season

The Sharks attempted to build on their first season by signing their first bonafide NHL star in the Montreal Canadiens' Marc Tardif. And while the offense featured five 20 goal scorers (Tardif with 40, Gary Veneruzzo with 39, Brian McDonald with 22, and J.P. LeBlanc and Steve Sutherland with 20 apiece), they still ranked last in the league in scoring. The defense was equally porous, falling from 3rd in the league to 11th (next to last). Last year's #1 goalie George Gardner played only 2 games due to injuries, and Russ Gillow suffered from injuries and the "sophomore jinx" as his GAA went from 2.91 in 1972–73 to 3.98 in 1973–74. The other goalies that were brought in didn't fare much better, with Ian Wilkie sporting an unimpressive 3.91 GAA, Jim McLeod at 4.27, and Paul Hoganson even worse with a 4.68 GAA. The special teams, which were solid the season before, also fell on hard times as the power play ranked 9th and the penalty killing went from 3rd in the league to last. The Sharks ended up with the worst record in the league, and endured losing streaks of 9 and 6 games. The only noteworthy item was that they became the first team ever to have no ties (the WHA 10-minute overtime rule helped, but WHA teams still averaged 4 ties per season).

Final standings

Schedule and results

|- |1||L||October 13, 1973||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||0–1–0 |- |2||L||October 16, 1973||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||0–2–0 |- |3||L||October 18, 1973||2–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Cougars (1973–74) ||0–3–0 |- |4||W||October 21, 1973||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||1–3–0 |- |5||W||October 23, 1973||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||2–3–0 |- |6||L||October 24, 1973||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||2–4–0 |- |7||L||October 26, 1973||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||2–5–0 |- |8||L||October 27, 1973||1–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||2–6–0 |- |9||W||October 28, 1973||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Golden Blades (1973–74) ||3–6–0 |- |10||L||October 30, 1973||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||3–7–0

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78
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| Legend:

Player statistics

PlayerPosGPGAPtsPIM+/-PPGSHGGWG
LW754030704701003
W78392968680504
C78204666580700
C56223052540403
D7743236480200
LW72142135220103
C40141933160302
LW722012321820404
D7842630160201
C71141428280103
RW4881321130000
C7461521370021
D7621921950000
LW51613191000010
RW298614240100
C144101440100
RW233912220200
D27281080001
D60099460000
LW24268450000
C1825740000
D48066280000
C18224630010
LW1613440000
D18123240000
D1303360000
RW1911220000
LW1002200000
RW801100000
D100020000
G200000000
G1800020000
G2700000000
G1700000000
G2300020000
-

|

PlayerMINGPWLTGAGAASO
1257231190823.911
13082761601024.680
1041184130693.981
969174130694.271
1202020136.500
**Team:**469578255303354.283

|}

Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals

  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; 

Transactions

The Sharks' decline in the standings and quality of play was poorly timed in that the NHL's Los Angeles Kings across town were beginning a resurgence that would see them make the playoffs for the next decade. The novelty of the WHA wore off, and attendance dropped measurably. After the 1973–74 season, the Sharks moved to Detroit, MI and became the Michigan Stags. After 43 games in Detroit MI, the Stags moved to Baltimore and finished out the season as the Baltimore Blades.

Tom Gilmore traded to Edmonton Oilers for Ron Walters, October, 1973.

George Gardner & Ralph MacSweyn traded to Vancouver Blazers for Ron Ward, October, 1973.

Ian Wilkie purchased from Edmonton Oilers, November, 1973.

Mike Hyndman sold to Phoenix Roadrunners(WHL), December, 1973.

Peter Slater sold to Denver Spurs (WHL), December, 1973.

Russ Gillow & Earl Heiskala traded to Jersey Knights for Jim McLeod, January, 1974.

Don Gordon & Jim Watson traded to Chicago Cougars for Bobby Whitlock, February, 1974.

Ron Ward traded to Cleveland Crusaders for Ted Hodgson & Bill Young, February, 1974.

Ian Wilkie traded to Edmonton Oilers for Wayne Zuk, March, 1974.

Draft picks

Los Angeles's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.

Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/Junior/Club team (League)
18Reg Thomas (C)CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
222Paul Sheard (LW)CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
334Doug Gibson (C)CanadaPeterborough Petes (OHA)
447Jim Cowell (F)CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
450Peter Crosbie (G)CanadaLondon Knights (OHA)
560Dennis Abgrall (RW)CanadaSaskatoon Blades (WCHL)
673Stu Davison (C)CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
786David Lee (LW)CanadaOttawa 67's (OHA)
898Sam Clegg (G)CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
9109Randy Aimoe (D)CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)

References

--

References

  1. World Hockey Association. (1973). "WHA 1973–74 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
  2. World Hockey Association. (1974). "WHA 1974–75 Media Guide". World Hockey Association.
  3. "1973-74 Los Angeles Sharks Schedule".
  4. "1973-74 Los Angeles Sharks Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com.
  5. "1973 WHA Amateur Draft".
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