1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Hockey League. It was also the Penguins first season in the Norris division of the Prince of Wales Conference. The team qualified for the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, losing to the New York Islanders after gaining a 3–0 lead (in a best-of-seven series) in the quarter-final round.
1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins | |
---|---|
Division | 3rd Norris |
Conference | 5th Wales |
1974–75 record | 37–28–15 |
Goals for | 326 |
Goals against | 289 |
Team information | |
General manager | Jack Button |
Coach | Marc Boileau |
Captain | Ron Schock |
Alternate captains | Syl Apps Dave Burrows Bob Paradise |
Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Jean Pronovost (43) |
Assists | Ron Schock (63) |
Points | Ron Schock (86) |
Penalty minutes | Colin Campbell (172) |
Wins | Gary Inness (24) |
Goals against average | Gary Inness (3.09) |
Offseason
In early 1975, newspapers reported that the California Golden Seals and Penguins were to be relocated to Denver and Seattle respectively, in an arrangement that would have seen the two teams sold to groups in those cities that had already been awarded "conditional" franchises for the 1976–77 season. After staunchly rejecting previous franchise relocation attempts, league president Clarence Campbell saw this as a method by which the NHL might extricate itself from two problem markets, while honoring the expansion commitments it had made. However Seattle Totems owner Vince Abbey missed an opportunity to acquire the Penguins when they were sold in a bankruptcy auction for $4.4 million in June 1975.[1] The Penguins ended up staying in Pittsburgh and ultimately, over time, made Pittsburgh one of the NHL's stronger markets.[2][3]
Regular season
Final standings
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 47 | 14 | 19 | 374 | 225 | +149 | 113 |
2 | Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 42 | 17 | 21 | 269 | 185 | +84 | 105 |
3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 37 | 28 | 15 | 326 | 289 | +37 | 89 |
4 | Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 23 | 45 | 12 | 259 | 335 | −76 | 58 |
5 | Washington Capitals | 80 | 8 | 67 | 5 | 181 | 446 | −265 | 21 |
Schedule and results
1974–75 Schedule | ||||||||
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October: 2–4–1 (Home: 1–2–1 ; Road: 1–2–0), 5 Points
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November: 6–6–3 (Home: 3–2–2 ; Road: 3–4–1), 15 Points
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December: 4–6–4 (Home: 3–0–4 ; Road: 1–6–0), 12 Points
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January: 8–3–2 (Home: 7–0–1 ; Road: 1–3–1), 18 Points
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February: 7–3–3 (Home: 3–1–2 ; Road: 4–2–1), 17 Points
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March: 9–4–2 (Home: 7–0–0 ; Road: 2–4–2), 20 Points
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April: 1–2–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 0–2–0), 2 Points
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Legend: = Win = Loss = Tie |
Playoffs
Preliminary Round vs. St. Louis Blues
April 8 | St. Louis Blues | 3–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
April 10 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5–3 | St. Louis Blues | St. Louis Arena |
Pittsburgh won series 2–0 | |
Quarterfinals vs. New York Islanders
April 13 | New York Islanders | 4–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
April 15 | New York Islanders | 1–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
April 17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 6–4 | New York Islanders | Nassau Coliseum |
April 20 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1–3 | New York Islanders | Nassau Coliseum |
April 22 | New York Islanders | 4–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
April 24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1–4 | New York Islanders | Nassau Coliseum |
April 26 | New York Islanders | 1–0 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Civic Arena |
New York won series 4–3 | |
Player statistics
- Skaters
- Goaltenders
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gary Inness | 57 | 24 | 18 | 10 | 161 | 2 |
Michel Plasse† | 20 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 73 | 0 |
Bob Johnson | 12 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 40 | 0 |
Denis Herron‡ | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
Total | 37 | 28 | 15 | 285 | 2 |
Player | GP | W | L | T | GA | SO |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Gary Inness | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
Total | 5 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
†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
- Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 300 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on October 23.
- Syl Apps Jr. became the first player to record 200 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–5 win over Toronto on December 30.
- Jean Pronovost became the first person to play 500 games for the Penguins. He did so in an 8–6 win over New York on March 2.
- Pierre Larouche established a rookie record for the Penguins in terms of goals (31) assists (37) and points (68).
- Ron Schock established a new franchise record for assists in a season with 63, besting the previous high of 61 held by Syl Apps Jr..
- Ron Schock established a new franchise record for points in a season with 86, besting the previous high of 85 held by Syl Apps Jr..
- Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise defenseman record for assists (45) and points (60) in a season. He topped the previous highs held by Duane Rupp (28 assists) and Darryl Edstrand (39 points).
Transactions
The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season:
Trades
June 4, 1974 | To Vancouver Canucks
Ab DeMarco Jr. |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Barry Wilkins |
September 13, 1974 | To Toronto Maple Leafs
Blaine Stoughton |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Rick Kehoe |
November 2, 1974 | To Vancouver Canucks
Ab DeMarco Jr. |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Barry Wilkins |
December 14, 1974 | To Washington Capitals
Ron Lalonde |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Lew Morrison |
January 10, 1975 | To Kansas City Scouts
Denis Herron |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Michel Plasse |
January 20, 1975 | To St. Louis Blues
Bernie Lukowich |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Bob Stumpf |
January 21, 1975 | To Washington Capitals
Ron Jones |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Pete Laframboise |
Additions and subtractions
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|
Roster
# | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | NHL Draft | Birthplace |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Syl Apps Jr. (A) | C | R | 27 | 1964 | Toronto, Ontario | |
9 | Ernest Arnason | RW | R | 23 | 1971 | Dauphin, Manitoba | |
28 | Harvey Bennett | C | L | 22 | Undrafted | Cranston, Rhode Island | |
27 | Yves Bergeron | RW | R | 23 | 1972 | Malartic, Quebec | |
14 | Wayne Bianchin | RW | L | 21 | 1973 | Nanaimo, British Columbia | |
4 | David Burrows (A) | D | L | 26 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario | |
6 | Colin Campbell | D | L | 22 | 1973 | Toronto, Ontario | |
23 | Nelson Debenedet | LW | L | 27 | Undrafted | Cordenons, Italy | |
7 | Steve Durbano | D | L | 23 | 1971 | Toronto, Ontario | |
24 | Mario Faubert | D | R | 20 | 1974 | Valleyfield, Quebec | |
11 | Vic Hadfield | LW | L | 34 | Undrafted | Oakville, Ontario | |
30 | Gary Inness | G | L | 25 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario | |
1 | Bob Johnson | G | L | 26 | Undrafted | Farmington, Michigan | |
8 | Rick Kehoe | RW | R | 23 | 1971 | Windsor, Ontario | |
22 | John Kelly | RW | L | 28 | 1967 | Fort William, Ontario | |
27 | Pete Laframboise | LW | L | 25 | 1970 | Ottawa, Ontario | |
10 | Pierre Larouche | C | R | 19 | 1974 | Taschereau, Quebec | |
18 | Lowell MacDonald | LW | R | 33 | Undrafted | New Glasgow, Nova Scotia | |
15 | Bob McManama | C | L | 23 | Undrafted | Belmont, Massachusetts | |
16 | Lew Morrison | RW | R | 27 | 1968 | Gainsborough, Saskatchewan | |
25 | Dennis Owchar | D | R | 22 | 1973 | Dryden, Ontario | |
2 | Robert Paradise (A) | D | L | 31 | Undrafted | St. Paul, Minnesota | |
31 | Michel Plasse | G | L | 26 | 1968 | Montreal, Quebec | |
12 | Kelly Pratt | RW | R | 22 | Undrafted | High Prairie, Alberta | |
19 | Jean Pronovost | RW | R | 29 | Undrafted | Shawinigan Falls, Quebec | |
17 | Ron Schock (C) | C | L | 31 | Undrafted | Chapleau, Ontario | |
3 | Ronald Stackhouse | D | R | 25 | 1969 | Haliburton, Ontario | |
29 | Bob Stumpf | RW | R | 22 | 1973 | Milo, Alberta | |
5 | Barry Wilkins | D | L | 28 | Undrafted | Toronto, Ontario |
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft.[9]
Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team (League) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 8 | Pierre Larouche | C | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
2 | 27[a] | Jacques Cossette | RW | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
4 | 62 | Mario Faubert | D | Canada | St. Louis University (NCAA) |
5 | 80 | Bruce Aberhart | G | Canada | London Knights (OHA) |
6 | 98 | William Schneider | LW | United States | University of Minnesota (NCAA) |
7 | 116 | Rob Laird | LW | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
8 | 133 | Larry Finck | D | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
9 | 150 | Jim Chicoyne | D | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
10 | 166 | Rick Uhrich | RW | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
11 | 181 | Serge Gamelin | RW | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
12 | 195 | Rich Perron | D | Canada | Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL) |
13 | 206 | Rick Hindmarch | RW | Canada | University of Calgary (CIAU) |
14 | 216 | Bill Davis | D | Canada | Colgate University (NCAA) |
15 | 223 | James Mathers | D | United States | Northeastern University (NCAA) |
- Draft notes[10]
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' second-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a January 17, 1974, trade that sent Steve Durbano, Ab DeMarco, and Bob Kelly to the Penguins in exchange for Bryan Watson, Greg Polis and this pick.
- a The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of an October 6, 1972, trade that sent Roy Edwards to the Red Wings in exchange for a 1973 second-round pick and this pick.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a June 27, 1974, trade that sent Nelson Debenedet to the Penguins in exchange for Hank Nowak and this pick.
References
- "1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved 2009-05-06.
- Player stats at Hockey Database
- Game log on NHL Database
- "Seattle group bids today for Penguins". The Seattle Times. June 30, 1975. p. F1.
- Anderson, Shelly (2007-11-07). "Penguins Notebook: In this case, No. 20 ranking is huge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- Collier, Gene (2008-05-25). "This is Hockeytown?". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2008-06-07.
- "1974-1975 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
- "1974–1975 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1974–1975 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1974–1975 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "1974–1975 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
- "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL. Retrieved April 29, 2013.
- "1974 NHL Entry Draft Pending Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 29, 2013.