1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's fifth season in the National Hockey League. The team made the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, losing to the Chicago Blackhawks in the first-round.

1971–72 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division4th West
1971–72 record26–38–14
Goals for220
Goals against250
Team information
General managerRed Kelly (Oct–Jan)
Jack Riley (Jan–Apr)
CoachRed Kelly
CaptainVacant
Alternate captainsKeith McCreary
Ken Schinkel
Bryan Watson
Bob Woytowich (Oct-Jan)
Team leaders
GoalsGreg Polis, Jean Pronovost (30)
AssistsSyl Apps (44)
PointsSyl Apps (59)
Penalty minutesBryan Watson (212)
WinsJim Rutherford (17)
Goals against averageRoy Edwards (2.55)

Regular season

Final standings

West Division[1]
GP W L T GF GA DIFF Pts
1Chicago Black Hawks78461715256166+90107
2Minnesota North Stars78372912212191+2186
3St. Louis Blues78283911208247−3967
4Pittsburgh Penguins78263814220258−3866
5Philadelphia Flyers78263814200236−3666
6California Golden Seals78213918216288−7260
7Los Angeles Kings7820499206305−9949

Schedule and results

1971–72 Game log[2]
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

1972 Playoffs
Legend:        = Win        = Loss

Player statistics

Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[5]
Player GP W L T GA SO
James Rutherford40171551161
Les Binkley317155980
Roy Edwards15284360
Total2638142501
Playoffs[6]
Player GP W L T GA SO
James Rutherford4040140
Total040140

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

  • Val Fonteyne became the first player to play 300 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 1–5 loss to Minnesota on November 16.
  • Ken Schinkel became the first player to score 200 points for the Penguins. He did so by recording an assist in a 2–4 loss to Chicago on January 29.
  • Bryan Watson became the first player to earn 500 penalty minutes for the Penguins. He did so by receiving 4 PIMs in a 4–2 win over Toronto on February 16.
  • Bryan Watson became the first player to earn 200 penalty minutes in one season for the Penguins. He did so by receiving 2 PIMs in a 7–4 win over Vancouver on March 14.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 30 goals in a season for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–4 win over California on March 29.
  • Syl Apps Jr. established a new franchise record for highest plus-minus in a season (+18). He broke the previous high of +10 set by Wally Boyer in 1971.
  • Val Fonteyne established a career franchise record for games (349). He had led the category since 1969.
  • Bob Woytowich set the Penguins career defenseman scoring mark at 93 points. He held the record since 1970.

Transactions

The Penguins have been involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season:[7]

Trades

September 4, 1971 To California Golden Seals

cash

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Bill Hicke

October 3, 1971 To Vancouver Canucks

Bob Blackburn

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

October 6, 1971 To Minnesota North Stars

Dean Prentice

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

November 22, 1971 To Detroit Red Wings

Bill Hicke

To Pittsburgh Penguins

cash

January 11, 1972 To Los Angeles Kings

Bob Woytowich

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Al McDonough

March 4, 1972 To Buffalo Sabres

Rene Robert

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Eddie Shack

Player signings

Player Date Contract terms
Bob WoytowichSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Tim HortonSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Wally BoyerSeptember 2, 1971Re-signed
Jean PronovostSeptember 3, 1971Signed
Dave BurrowsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Rene RobertSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Roy EdwardsSeptember 8, 1971Re-signed
Cam NewtonMay 25, 19721-year contract
Jim RutherfordJune 1, 1972Re-signed
Bryan Hextall Jr.June 7, 1972Re-signed

Other

Player Date Details
Andy BathgateJuly 1, 1971Retired
Roy EdwardsDecember 30, 1971Retired
Red KellyJanuary 29, 1972Resigned as GM (remained as head coach)
Jack RileyJanuary 29, 1972Hired as GM (in addition to president)
Tim HortonJune 5, 1972Lost to Buffalo Sabres in intra-league draft
Bobby LeiterJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
John StewartJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft
Keith McCrearyJune 6, 1972Lost to Atlanta Flames in expansion draft

Roster

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age NHL Draft Birthplace
26 Syl Apps Jr. C R 24 1964 Toronto, Ontario
30 Les Binkley G R 37 Undrafted Owen Sound, Ontario
18 Wally Boyer C L 34 Undrafted Cowan, Manitoba
25 Robin Burns LW L 25 Undrafted Montreal, Quebec
4 David Burrows D L 23 Undrafted Toronto, Ontario
20 Steve Cardwell LW L 21 1970 Toronto, Ontario
25 Darryl Edestrand D L 26 Undrafted Strathroy, Ontario
1 Roy Edwards G R 35 Undrafted Seneca Township, Ontario
8 Val Fonteyne LW L 38 Undrafted Wetaskiwin, Alberta
11 Nick Harbaruk RW R 28 Undrafted Drohiczyn, Poland
7 Bryan Hextall Jr. C L 30 Undrafted Winnipeg, Manitoba
9 Bill Hicke RW L 34 Undrafted Regina, Saskatchewan
3 Tim Horton D R 42 Undrafted Cochrane, Ontario
Error in Template:Nts: Fractions are not supported Sheldon Kannegiesser D L 24 Undrafted North Bay, Ontario
15 Rick Kessell C L 22 1969 Toronto, Ontario
23 Bobby Leiter C L 31 Undrafted Winnipeg, Manitoba
10 Keith McCreary (A) RW L 31 Undrafted Sundridge, Ontario
9 Al McDonough RW R 21 1970 Hamilton, Ontario
15 Brian McKenzie LW L 21 1971 St. Catharines, Ontario
27 Joe Noris C R 20 1971 Denver, Colorado
22 Greg Polis RW L 21 1970 Westlock, Alberta
19 Jean Pronovost RW R 26 Undrafted Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
2 Duane Rupp D L 34 Undrafted MacNutt, Saskatchewan
29 James Rutherford G L 23 1969 Beeton, Ontario
12 Ken Schinkel (A) RW R 39 Undrafted Jansen, Saskatchewan
17 Ron Schock C L 28 Undrafted Chapleau, Ontario
24 Eddie Shack LW L 35 Undrafted Sudbury, Ontario
20 John Stewart LW L 21 1970 Eriksdale, Manitoba
5 Bryan Watson (A) D R 29 Undrafted Bancroft, Ontario

Draft picks

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1971 NHL Entry Draft.[8]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
2 18 Brian McKenzie Left Wing  Canada St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
3 32 Joe Noris Center  United States Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
4 46 Gerry Methe Defense  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
5 60 Dave Murphy Goaltender  Canada University of North Dakota (NCAA)
6 74 Ian Williams Right Wing  Canada Notre Dame (NCAA)
7 88 Doug Elliott Defense  Canada Harvard University (NCAA)
Draft notes[9]

References

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