1975–76 California Golden Seals season

The 1975–76 California Golden Seals season would be the Seals' ninth and final season in the Bay Area of California. The Seals were led by rookie Dennis Maruk.

1975–76 California Golden Seals
Division4th Adams
Conference7th Wales
1975–76 record27–42–11
Goals for250
Goals against278
Team information
General managerBill McCreary
CoachJack Evans
CaptainJim Neilson and Bob Stewart
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaOracle Arena
Team leaders
GoalsAl MacAdam (32)
AssistsDennis Maruk (32)
PointsAl McAdam (63)
Penalty minutesMike Christie (152)
Plus/minusFrank Spring (+1)
WinsGary Simmons (15)
Goals against averageGary Simmons (3.33)

Maruk centered the 3M line with Bob Murdoch and Al MacAdam. Both Maruk and MacAdam scored over 30 goals while Murdoch led the team in power play goals. Although they recorded a solid improvement over the previous season, the Seals fell 7 points shy of a playoff spot.

Owner Mel Swig was counting on the construction of a new arena in San Francisco, but after the proposal was defeated, he was convinced by minority owner George Gund III to relocate the franchise to Cleveland, where it was renamed Cleveland Barons.[1] The NHL returned to the Bay Area fifteen years later, when the San Jose Sharks entered via expansion.

Offseason

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Amateur Draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team
1 3. Ralph Klassen   Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
2 21. Dennis Maruk   Canada London Knights (OMJHL)
3 39. John Tweedle   Canada Lake Superior State Lakers (CCHA)
4 57. Greg Smith   Canada Colorado College Tigers (WCHA)
5 75. Doug Young   Canada Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)
6 93. Larry Hendrick   Canada Calgary Centennials (WCHL)
7 111. Rick Shinske   Canada New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)
8 129. Doug Schoenfeld   Canada Cambridge Hornets (OHA Sr. A)
9 146. Jim Weaver   Canada Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
10 162. Greg Agar   Canada Merritt Centennials (BCJHL)

Regular season

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Final standings

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Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Boston Bruins 80 48 15 17 313 237 113
Buffalo Sabres 80 46 21 13 339 240 105
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 34 31 15 294 276 83
California Golden Seals 80 27 42 11 250 278 65

[2]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.
[3]

Record vs. opponents

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Adams Division record vs. opponents


Schedule and results

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No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1 W October 8, 1975 4–3 @ Atlanta Flames (1975–76) 1–0–0
2 W October 11, 1975 5–2 @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 2–0–0
3 L October 12, 1975 1–4 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 2–1–0
4 L October 15, 1975 1–4 @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 2–2–0
5 T October 17, 1975 3–3 Washington Capitals (1975–76) 2–2–1
6 L October 18, 1975 3–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 2–3–1
7 W October 22, 1975 4–2 Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 3–3–1
8 T October 25, 1975 2–2 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 3–3–2
9 L October 26, 1975 2–3 @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 3–4–2
10 L October 29, 1975 4–6 @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 3–5–2
11 L October 31, 1975 0–2 Atlanta Flames (1975–76) 3–6–2
12 L November 2, 1975 0–5 @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) 3–7–2
13 L November 4, 1975 3–5 @ New York Islanders (1975–76) 3–8–2
14 L November 5, 1975 2–3 @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 3–9–2
15 W November 7, 1975 7–5 New York Rangers (1975–76) 4–9–2
16 L November 9, 1975 3–6 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 4–10–2
17 W November 11, 1975 3–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 5–10–2
18 W November 12, 1975 5–1 New York Islanders (1975–76) 6–10–2
19 L November 14, 1975 2–4 Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 6–11–2
20 L November 16, 1975 1–4 @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 6–12–2
21 W November 18, 1975 5–3 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 7–12–2
22 L November 20, 1975 2–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 7–13–2
23 W November 21, 1975 2–0 @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) 8–13–2
24 L November 23, 1975 2–3 @ New York Rangers (1975–76) 8–14–2
25 W November 26, 1975 2–1 Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 9–14–2
26 L November 28, 1975 2–4 Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 9–15–2
27 L November 30, 1975 1–4 Atlanta Flames (1975–76) 9–16–2
28 L December 3, 1975 2–3 Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 9–17–2
29 W December 5, 1975 3–2 Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 10–17–2
30 T December 10, 1975 1–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 10–17–3
31 W December 12, 1975 5–2 St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 11–17–3
32 L December 17, 1975 2–9 Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 11–18–3
33 W December 19, 1975 5–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 12–18–3
34 L December 21, 1975 1–2 Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 12–19–3
35 L December 26, 1975 2–4 Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 12–20–3
36 L December 28, 1975 1–3 Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 12–21–3
37 L December 30, 1975 3–5 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 12–22–3
38 L January 1, 1976 1–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 12–23–3
39 W January 2, 1976 8–5 @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) 13–23–3
40 W January 7, 1976 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 14–23–3
41 W January 9, 1976 5–0 @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) 15–23–3
42 L January 10, 1976 2–3 @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) 15–24–3
43 T January 14, 1976 2–2 Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 15–24–4
44 W January 16, 1976 7–0 New York Rangers (1975–76) 16–24–4
45 W January 17, 1976 5–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 17–24–4
46 W January 23, 1976 4–1 Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 18–24–4
47 W January 25, 1976 5–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 19–24–4
48 L January 28, 1976 2–4 Washington Capitals (1975–76) 19–25–4
49 L January 30, 1976 4–5 Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 19–26–4
50 L February 1, 1976 5–9 Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 19–27–4
51 T February 3, 1976 4–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 19–27–5
52 L February 4, 1976 1–4 @ Atlanta Flames (1975–76) 19–28–5
53 L February 6, 1976 1–7 @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 19–29–5
54 T February 8, 1976 5–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 19–29–6
55 T February 11, 1976 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 19–29–7
56 L February 13, 1976 5–6 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 19–30–7
57 W February 15, 1976 7–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 20–30–7
58 L February 16, 1976 2–4 @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 20–31–7
59 W February 18, 1976 6–3 Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) 21–31–7
60 L February 20, 1976 4–5 Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 21–32–7
61 W February 22, 1976 5–2 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) 22–32–7
62 W February 25, 1976 6–4 @ New York Rangers (1975–76) 23–32–7
63 T February 26, 1976 1–1 @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 23–32–8
64 L February 28, 1976 2–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 23–33–8
65 L February 29, 1976 1–6 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) 23–34–8
66 L March 2, 1976 1–2 @ New York Islanders (1975–76) 23–35–8
67 L March 3, 1976 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 23–36–8
68 W March 5, 1976 4–3 Boston Bruins (1975–76) 24–36–8
69 T March 7, 1976 7–7 Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) 24–36–9
70 W March 10, 1976 4–3 Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) 25–36–9
71 L March 13, 1976 2–4 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) 25–37–9
72 L March 14, 1976 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) 25–38–9
73 L March 17, 1976 3–5 Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) 25–39–9
74 L March 19, 1976 1–4 Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) 25–40–9
75 T March 20, 1976 2–2 @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) 25–40–10
76 W March 22, 1976 7–1 St. Louis Blues (1975–76) 26–40–10
77 L March 26, 1976 2–3 New York Islanders (1975–76) 26–41–10
78 T March 30, 1976 4–4 @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 26–41–11
79 L April 2, 1976 0–5 Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) 26–42–11
80 W April 4, 1976 5–2 Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) 27–42–11

Player statistics

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Skaters

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Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
Al MacAdam 25 80 32 31 63 49
Dennis Maruk 21 80 30 32 62 44
Wayne Merrick 9 56 25 27 52 36
Rick Hampton 2 73 14 37 51 54
Bob Murdoch 20 78 22 27 49 53
Gary Sabourin 11 76 21 28 49 33
Dave Gardner 7 74 16 31 47 8
Bob Girard 26 80 16 26 42 54
Jim Moxey 19 44 10 16 26 33
Fred Ahern 16 44 17 8 25 43
Ralph Klassen 10 71 6 15 21 26
Bob Stewart 4 76 4 17 21 112
Mike Christie 3 78 3 18 21 152
Jim Pappin 14 32 6 13 19 12
Len Frig 6 62 3 12 15 55
Dave Hrechkosy 18 38 9 5 14 14
George Pesut 5 45 3 9 12 57
Wayne King 24 46 1 11 12 26
Gary Holt 8 48 6 5 11 50
Tim Jacobs 23 46 0 10 10 35
Larry Patey 9 18 4 4 8 23
Jim Neilson 15 26 1 6 7 20
Butch Williams 12 14 0 4 4 7
Charlie Simmer 17 21 1 1 2 22
Frank Spring 14 1 0 2 2 0
Greg Smith 5 1 0 1 1 2
Gilles Meloche 27 41 0 1 1 0
Brent Meeke 25 1 0 0 0 0
Tom Price 17 5 0 0 0 0
Gary Simmons 31 40 0 0 0 18

[5]

Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. Traded mid-season

Goaltenders

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Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

    Regular season   Playoffs
Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA
Gary Simmons 31 40 2360 15 19 5 131 2 3.33 -.--
Gilles Meloche 27 41 2440 12 23 6 140 1 3.44 -.--

Transactions

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The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season:

Trades

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June, 1975 To California Golden Seals
Gary Holt
To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA)
rights to Del Hall
rights to Ron Huston
June 1, 1975 To California Golden Seals
Jim Pappin
3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (Guy Lash)
To Chicago Black Hawks
Joey Johnston
June 20, 1975 To California Golden Seals
Gary Sabourin
To Toronto Maple Leafs
Stan Weir
October 22, 1975 To California Golden Seals
cash
To St. Louis Blues
rights to Rick Smith
November 14, 1975 To California Golden Seals
Wayne Merrick
To St. Louis Blues
Larry Patey
3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (reacquired later—Reg Kerr)
March 9, 1976 To California Golden Seals
5th round pick in 1976 Draft (Cal Sandbeck)
Seals' 3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (Reg Kerr)
To St. Louis Blues
Dave Hrechkosy

Additions and subtractions

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Additions
Player Former team Via
Subtractions
Player New team Via
Brian Lavender Denver Spurs (WHA) free agency
Ted McAneeley Edmonton Oilers (WHA) free agency
Morris Mott Frölunda HC (Elitserien) free agency
John Stewart Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) free agency
Larry Wright Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1975-09-10)
Terry Murray Philadelphia Flyers free agency (1975-09-17)

Playoffs

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The Seals did not qualify for the playoffs

References

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  1. ^ "California Golden Seals (1967-1976)". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  2. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  3. ^ National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.163, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
  4. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  5. ^ "1975-76 California Golden Seals Roster and Statistics".