1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season

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.

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)

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
1Joe DaleyGoaltenderDetroit Red Wings
2Roy EdwardsGoaltenderChicago Black Hawks
3Earl IngarfieldCenterNew York Rangers
4Al MacNeilDefenseNew York Rangers
5Larry JeffreyLeft WingToronto Maple Leafs
6Ab McDonaldLeft WingDetroit Red Wings
7Leo BoivinDefenseDetroit Red Wings
8Noel PriceDefenseMontreal Canadiens
9Keith McCrearyRight WingMontreal Canadiens
10Ken SchinkelRight WingNew York Rangers
11Bob DillaboughCenterBoston Bruins
12Art StrattonCenterChicago Black Hawks
13Val FonteyneLeft WingDetroit Red Wings
14Jeannot GilbertCenterBoston Bruins
15Tom McCarthyLeft WingMontreal Canadiens
16Billy DeaLeft WingChicago Black Hawks
17Bob RivardCenterMontreal Canadiens
18Mel PearsonLeft WingChicago Black Hawks
19Andy BathgateRight WingDetroit Red Wings
20Les HuntDefenseNew 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
1Philadelphia Flyers74313211173179−673
2Los Angeles Kings74313310200224−2472
3St. Louis Blues74273116177191−1470
4Minnesota North Stars74273215191226−3569
5Pittsburgh Penguins74273413195216−2167
6Oakland Seals74154217153219−6647

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results
1967–1968 Schedule
October: 3–6–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 1–3–0) 7 points
#OctVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
111Montreal Canadiens2–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,307)0–1–00
213Pittsburgh Penguins3–1St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (5,126)1–1–02
314St. Louis Blues4–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,166)1–2–02
418Minnesota North Stars3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (3,885)1–2–13
519Pittsburgh Penguins0–1Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (7,812)1–3–13
621Chicago Black Hawks2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,274)2–3–15
722Pittsburgh Penguins4–6New York RangersMadison Square Garden (III) (13,706)2–4–15
825Oakland Seals1–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (3,819)3–4–17
928Los Angeles Kings5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,536)3–5–17
1029Pittsburgh Penguins2–4Boston BruinsBoston Garden (13,909)3–6–17
November: 6–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–2–1) 14 pints
#NovVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
111Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Minnesota North StarsMet Center (7,535)4–6–19
124Pittsburgh Penguins1–0Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (4,549)5–6–111
138Philadelphia Flyers1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (4,719)5–6–212
149Pittsburgh Penguins1–5Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (10,683)5–7–212
1511St. Louis Blues5–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,183)5–8–212
1615Philadelphia Flyers0–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,876)6–8–214
1718Pittsburgh Penguins5–3St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (7,715)7–8–216
1822Boston Bruins1–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,701)8–8–218
1924Pittsburgh Penguins3–5Los Angeles KingsGreat Western Forum (6,409)8–9–218
2025Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (5,977)8–9–319
2129Oakland Seals1–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (4,499)9–9–321
December: 4–8–2 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–5–0) 10 points
#DecVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
222New York Rangers4–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,725)9–10–321
233Pittsburgh Penguins1–6Detroit Red WingsOlympia Stadium (12,215)9–11–321
246Pittsburgh Penguins2–7Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (17,000)9–12–321
259Pittsburgh Penguins3–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center (10,927)10–12–323
2610Minnesota North Stars7–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (4,662)10–13–323
2713Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (15,718)11–13–325
2816Chicago Black Hawks1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,174)11–13–426
2917Pittsburgh Penguins1–2Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (7,522)11–14–426
3021Pittsburgh Penguins1–4Los Angeles KingsGreat Western Forum (4,013)11–15–426
3123Minnesota North Stars0–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,631)12–15–428
3225Los Angeles Kings3–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (4,002)13–15–430
3327Oakland Seals0–0Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,039)13–15–531
3429Pittsburgh Penguins1–2St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (8,286)13–16–531
3530Detroit Red Wings5–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,041)13–17–531
January: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–5–1) 10 points
#JanVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
364Los Angeles Kings3–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (4,202)14–17–533
376Philadelphia Flyers2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,351)14–17–634
387Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (7,935)14–18–634
3910Montreal Canadiens4–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (5,580)14–19–634
4012Toronto Maple Leafs3–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,292)15–19–636
4113Pittsburgh Penguins0–7Toronto Maple LeafsMaple Leaf Gardens (15,732)15–20–636
4217Pittsburgh Penguins1–1Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (2,638)15–20–737
4318Pittsburgh Penguins2–3Los Angeles KingsGreat Western Forum (5,755)15–21–737
4420Detroit Red Wings5–8Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,547)16–21–739
4521Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Minnesota North StarsMet Center (9,298)16–22–739
4627Los Angeles Kings5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,156)16–23–739
4728Pittsburgh Penguins1–0Boston BruinsBoston Garden (13,909)17–23–741
4831Pittsburgh Penguins4–9St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (7,748)17–24–741
February: 4–5–3 (Home: 2–3–3; Road: 2–2–0) 11 points
#FebVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
491St. Louis Blues0–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (5,980)18–24–743
503Toronto Maple Leafs3–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (12,563)18–24–844
517Pittsburgh Penguins4–1Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (5,283)19–24–846
528Pittsburgh Penguins1–3Los Angeles KingsGreat Western Forum (6,195)19–25–846
5310New York Rangers2–2Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (10,237)19–25–947
5414Minnesota North Stars3–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,133)20–25–949
5516St. Louis Blues3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,209)20–26–949
5617Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (14,687)20–27–949
5721Philadelphia Flyers1–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (9,198)20–27–1050
5824Oakland Seals3–1Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (11,057)20–28–1050
5925Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Philadelphia FlyersThe Spectrum (14,418)21–28–1052
6027Boston Bruins5–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,546)21–29–1052
March: 6–5–3 (Home: 3–0–2; Road: 3–5–1) 15 points
#MarVisitorScoreHomeLocation/AttendanceRecordPoints
612Oakland Seals6–6Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,390)21–29–1153
626Pittsburgh Penguins2–4St. Louis BluesSt. Louis Arena (9,092)21–30–1153
637Pittsburgh Penguins2–2Minnesota North StarsMet Center (10,705)21–30–1254
649Los Angeles Kings1–3Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (8,176)22–30–1256
6513Pittsburgh Penguins3–4Chicago Black HawksChicago Stadium (16,666)22–31–1256
6616Pittsburgh Penguins4–6Montreal CanadiensMontreal Forum (15,041)22–32–1256
6717Pittsburgh Penguins0–3New York RangersMadison Square Garden (III) (17,250)22–33–1256
6820St. Louis Blues2–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,126)23–33–1258
6923Pittsburgh Penguins0–3Minnesota North StarsMet Center (11,910)23–34–1258
7024Minnesota North Stars4–4Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (7,229)23–34–1359
7126Pittsburgh Penguins2–1Los Angeles KingsGreat Western Forum (7,057)24–34–1361
7227Pittsburgh Penguins7–4Oakland SealsOakland Coliseum Arena (4,365)25–34–1363
7330Pittsburgh Penguins2–0Philadelphia Flyersat Quebec City (5,569)26–34–1365
7431Philadelphia Flyers1–5Pittsburgh PenguinsCivic Arena (6,756)27–34–1367
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 Binkley54543139:012024--101502.8715850.9056000
Hank Bassen25201295:19710--3622.876850.9091008
Total744434:2027340132122.8722700.9077008

†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
PlayerFormer teamVia
Bill LeCainePort Huron Flags (IHL)free agency (1967–08)
Marv EdwardsNashville Dixie Flyers (EHL)free agency (1967–09)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia

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.
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