1967 NHL Expansion Draft

The 1967 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 6, 1967, in the ballroom of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the league's six expansion teams for the 1967–68 season: the California Seals, Los Angeles Kings, Minnesota North Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the St. Louis Blues.

1967 NHL Expansion Draft
General information
Date(s)June 6, 1967
LocationQueen Elizabeth Hotel, Montreal, Quebec
Overview
LeagueNational Hockey League
Expansion teamsCalifornia Seals
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota North Stars
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
St. Louis Blues
Expansion season1967–68

Rules

As this ambitious expansion doubled the league's size from six to twelve teams, a large number of players were needed to fill the rosters of the new franchises. Almost all of the leading professional hockey players in North America were already under contract with the six existing franchises; therefore, the draft was established to equitably distribute players from the Original Six clubs (the Boston Bruins, Chicago Black Hawks, Detroit Red Wings, Montreal Canadiens, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs) to the new teams. Each expansion team was to select twenty players from the established clubs: two goaltenders and eighteen forwards and defencemen. Thus, a total of 120 players were selected.

The existing clubs were allowed to exclude a goaltender and eleven other players from eligibility in the draft by naming them to "protected" lists.[1] Also excluded from the draft were Junior players, players who were young enough to play Junior (born on or after June 1, 1946) but who were already playing professionally, and players sold to the minor league Western Hockey League and Central Professional Hockey League before June 1, 1966.

The draft began with the drawing of the draft order. Each of the new teams' names was placed on a paper ballot enclosed in a capsule, which was drawn from the bowl of the Stanley Cup by NHL President Clarence Campbell. Montreal Canadiens general manager Sam Pollock helped Campbell draw up the rules for the draft.[2] This draft order was used in the first round to draft goaltenders. The order was then reversed in the second round, which was again specifically for goaltenders. The third round retained the second round's order, and in every subsequent round the draft order would rotate, such that the team that had picked first in the previous round would pick last in the following round while the other teams moved up to fill its place. Each expansion team had three minutes from the time of the previous selection to make its pick.[3]

After each of the first, third, fourth, seventh and subsequent players lost by any of the established teams, the team in question chose one undrafted player that it had left unprotected and moved him onto their protected lists.[1] Players who had played professionally for the first time in the 1966–67 season were ineligible from being picked until their respective team had filled their protected list with at least two goaltenders and eighteen other players.

Protected lists

Draft results

The draft began with the picking of the draft order. The Kings picked first, with the North Stars, Flyers, Penguins, Seals and Blues following in that order.

With the first pick in the draft the Kings chose future Hall of Fame goaltender Terry Sawchuk, backbone of the great Detroit Red Wings teams of the 1950s and fresh off a Stanley Cup championship with the Maple Leafs. The first skater chosen was center Gord Labossiere of the Canadiens, also by the Kings, as the 13th selection.

Commentators compared the draft to a rummage sale, with the Original Six losing only unnecessary if not unwanted players. Some of the expansion teams bolstered their rosters before the Draft by purchasing minor league teams outright, thus gaining the rights to the players on their rosters, such as the Springfield Indians of the American Hockey League by the Kings and the Quebec Aces of the AHL by the Flyers,[3] while the North Stars purchased the rights to seven amateur members of the Canadian National Team from Toronto.[5] A poll of minor league sportswriters and executives, following the draft, felt that Philadelphia had gotten the best of the selections and Los Angeles the worst, while the Boston Bruins were the hardest hit of existing clubs.[3] Among the Bruins' players drafted were future Hall of Famer Bernie Parent and future All-Stars J. P. Parise, Poul Popiel, Wayne Connelly, Bill Goldsworthy, Gary Dornhoefer, Ron Schock and Wayne Rivers. It was considered that the Canadiens – reported to have made a number of backroom deals to avoid losing valued unprotected players – fared the best of the established clubs, keeping unprotected talent such as Claude Larose, Carol Vadnais, Serge Savard and Danny Grant.[5]

One controversy arose from the retirement of Toronto star Red Kelly, who was expected to become the Kings' coach. As he was still under contract with the Maple Leafs, they had the rights to his services, but Leafs' general manager Punch Imlach insisted that the Kings use one of their picks to select him, and when this did not materialize, Imlach added Kelly to the Leafs' protected list, forcing the Kings to trade their 15th pick, Ken Block, for Kelly.[3]

Bill Flett and Poul Popiel were the last players selected in the Draft to be active in the NHL, both playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the 1979–80 season, while Parent, playing in 551 NHL games (not counting his season in the World Hockey Association) had the longest career of any goaltender selected. Popiel was the last player chosen to be active in professional hockey, playing for the Muskegon Mohawks of the International Hockey League in 1982.

By contrast, Don Caley, the 2nd pick of St. Louis, played only a single game for the Blues, the only game of his NHL career. Career Black Hawk Bill Hay, the 11th pick of the Blues, retired before the Draft; nineteen other skaters played 20 or fewer NHL games after the Draft.

NHL All-Star
NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team
Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Round # Player Position Drafted by Selected from
11Terry SawchukGoaltenderLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
12Bernie ParentGoaltenderPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
13Glenn HallGoaltenderSt. Louis BluesChicago Black Hawks
14Cesare ManiagoGoaltenderMinnesota North StarsNew York Rangers
15Joe DaleyGoaltenderPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red Wings
16Charlie HodgeGoaltenderCalifornia SealsMontreal Canadiens
27Wayne RutledgeGoaltenderLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
28Garry BaumanGoaltenderMinnesota North StarsMontreal Canadiens
29Doug FavellGoaltenderPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
210Roy EdwardsGoaltenderPittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black Hawks
211Gary SmithGoaltenderCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
212Don CaleyGoaltenderSt. Louis BluesDetroit Red Wings
313Gord LabossiereCentreLos Angeles KingsMontreal Canadiens
314Dave BalonLeft wingMinnesota North StarsMontreal Canadiens
315Jim RobertsDefenceSt. Louis BluesMontreal Canadiens
316Ed Van ImpeDefencePhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black Hawks
317Earl IngarfieldCentrePittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers
318Bob BaunDefenceCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
419Bob WallDefenceLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
420Ray CullenCentreMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
421Joe WatsonDefencePhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
422Al MacNeilDefencePittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers
423Kent DouglasDefenceCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
424Noel PicardDefenceSt. Louis BluesMontreal Canadiens
525Eddie JoyalCentreLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
526Bob WoytowichDefenceMinnesota North StarsBoston Bruins
527Brit SelbyLeft wingPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple Leafs
528Larry JeffreyLeft wingPittsburgh PenguinsToronto Maple Leafs
529Bill HickeRight wingCalifornia SealsNew York Rangers
530Al ArbourDefenceSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
631Real LemieuxRight wingLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
632Jean-Guy TalbotDefenceMinnesota North StarsMontreal Canadiens
633Lou AngottiRight wingPhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black Hawks
634Ab McDonaldLeft wingPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red Wings
635Billy HarrisCentreCalifornia SealsDetroit Red Wings
636Rod SeilingDefenceSt. Louis BluesNew York Rangers
737Poul PopielDefenceLos Angeles KingsBoston Bruins
738Wayne ConnellyRight wingMinnesota North StarsBoston Bruins
739Leon RochefortForwardPhiladelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens
740Leo BoivinDefencePittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red Wings
741Larry CahanDefenceCalifornia SealsNew York Rangers
742Ron SchockCentreSt. Louis BluesBoston Bruins
843Terry GrayRight wingLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
844Ted TaylorLeft wingMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
845Don BlackburnLeft wingPhiladelphia FlyersToronto Maple Leafs
846Noel PriceDefencePittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens
847Wally BoyerCentreCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
848Terry CrispCentreSt. Louis BluesBoston Bruins
949Bryan CampbellCentreLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
950Pete GoeganDefenceMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
951John MiszukDefencePhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black Hawks
952Keith McCrearyLeft wingPittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens
953Joe SzuraCentreCalifornia SealsMontreal Canadiens
954Don McKenneyCentreSt. Louis BluesDetroit Red Wings
1055Ted IrvineLeft wingLos Angeles KingsBoston Bruins
1056Len LundeLeft wingMinnesota North StarsChicago Black Hawks
1057Garry PetersCentrePhiladelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens
1058Ken SchinkelRight wingPittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers
1059Bob LemieuxDefenceCalifornia SealsMontreal Canadiens
1060Wayne RiversRight wingSt. Louis BluesBoston Bruins
1161Howie HughesRight wingLos Angeles KingsMontreal Canadiens
1162Bill GoldsworthyRight wingMinnesota North StarsBoston Bruins
1163Dick CherryDefencePhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
1164Bob DillaboughCentrePittsburgh PenguinsBoston Bruins
1165J. P. PariseLeft wingCalifornia SealsBoston Bruins
1166Bill HayCentreSt. Louis BluesChicago Black Hawks
1267Bill InglisCentreLos Angeles KingsMontreal Canadiens
1268Andre PronovostLeft wingMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
1269Jean GauthierDefencePhiladelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens
1270Art StrattonCentrePittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black Hawks
1271Ron HarrisDefenceCalifornia SealsBoston Bruins
1272Darryl EdestrandDefenceSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
1373Doug RobinsonLeft wingLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
1374Elmer VaskoDefenceMinnesota North StarsChicago Black Hawks
1375Jim JohnsonCentrePhiladelphia FlyersNew York Rangers
1376Val FonteyneLeft wingPittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red Wings
1377Terry ClancyRight wingCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
1378Norm BeaudinRight wingSt. Louis BluesDetroit Red Wings
1479Mike CorriganLeft wingLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
1480Murray HallRight wingMinnesota North StarsChicago Black Hawks
1481Gary DornhoeferRight wingPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
1482Jeannot GilbertCentrePittsburgh PenguinsBoston Bruins
1483Tracy PrattDefenceCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
1484Larry KeenanLeft wingSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
1585Jacques LemieuxDefenceLos Angeles KingsMontreal Canadiens
1586Bryan WatsonDefenceMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
1587Forbes KennedyCentrePhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
1588Tom McCarthyLeft wingPittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens
1589Aut EricksonDefenceCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
1590Ron StewartCentreSt. Louis BluesBoston Bruins
1691Lowell MacDonaldRight wingLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
1692Bill CollinsCentreMinnesota North StarsNew York Rangers
1693Pat HanniganLeft wingPhiladelphia FlyersChicago Black Hawks
1694Billy DeaCentrePittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black Hawks
1695Ron BoehmLeft wingCalifornia SealsNew York Rangers
1696Fred HuculDefenceSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
1797Ken BlockDefenceLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
1798Sandy FitzpatrickCentreMinnesota North StarsNew York Rangers
1799Dwight CarruthersDefencePhiladelphia FlyersDetroit Red Wings
17100Bobby RivardCentrePittsburgh PenguinsMontreal Canadiens
17101Alain CaronRight wingCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
17102John BrennemanLeft wingSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
18103Bill FlettRight wingLos Angeles KingsToronto Maple Leafs
18104Parker MacDonaldLeft wingMinnesota North StarsDetroit Red Wings
18105Bob CourcyCentrePhiladelphia FlyersMontreal Canadiens
18106Mel PearsonCentrePittsburgh PenguinsChicago Black Hawks
18107Mike LaughtonCentreCalifornia SealsToronto Maple Leafs
18108Gerry MelnykCentreSt. Louis BluesChicago Black Hawks
19109Brent HughesDefenceLos Angeles KingsDetroit Red Wings
19110Billy TaylorCentreMinnesota North StarsChicago Black Hawks
19111Keith WrightRight wingPhiladelphia FlyersBoston Bruins
19112Andy BathgateCentrePittsburgh PenguinsDetroit Red Wings
19113Bryan HextallForwardCalifornia SealsNew York Rangers
19114Gary VeneruzzoLeft wingSt. Louis BluesToronto Maple Leafs
20115Marc DufourRight wingLos Angeles KingsNew York Rangers
20116Dave RichardsonLeft wingMinnesota North StarsChicago Black Hawks
20117Terry BallDefencePhiladelphia FlyersNew York Rangers
20118Les HuntDefencePittsburgh PenguinsNew York Rangers
20119Gary KilpatrickDefenceCalifornia SealsChicago Black Hawks
20120Max MestinsekRight wingSt. Louis BluesNew York Rangers

See also

Notes

  1. McFarlane (1969), p. 139
  2. The Montreal Canadiens: 100 Years of Glory, D'Arcy Jenish, p. 189, Published in Canada by Doubleday, 2009, ISBN 978-0-385-66325-0
  3. McFarlane (1969), p. 140
  4. Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, June 7, 1967, p. 27.
  5. McFarlane (1969), p. 141.

References

  • Cauz, Louis (June 3, 1967). "Few treasure's for newcomers at hockey's rummage sale". Globe and Mail. Toronto. p. 27.
  • McFarlane, Brian (1969). 50 Years Of Hockey. Winnipeg, Manitoba: Greywood Publishing Limited.
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