1974–75 California Golden Seals season

1974–75 California Golden Seals
Division	4th Adams
Conference	8th Wales
1974–75 record	19–48–13
Home record	15–15–10
Road record	4–33–3
Goals for	212
Goals against	316
Team information
General manager	Bill McCreary
Coach	Marshall Johnston Bill McCreary
Captain	Joey Johnston
Alternate captains	Len Frig Jim Neilson Bob Stewart
Arena	Oakland Coliseum Arena
Team leaders
Goals	Dave Hrechkosy (29)
Assists	Stan Weir (27)
Points	Larry Patey, Stan Weir (45)
Penalty minutes	Len Frig (127)
Plus/minus	Frank Spring (+1)
Wins	Gary Simmons (10)
Goals against average	Gary Simmons (3.67)

The 1974–75 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' 8th season in the NHL. The team continued to be operated by the league until early 1975, when new local ownership led by Mel Swig, owner of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, was found. The Seals adopted new uniforms this season with new turquoise and gold colors. They recorded a 15-point improvement over the previous season. In early 1975, rumors began to circulate that the Seals would be relocated to Denver, Colorado, although this did not come to pass.

On March 28, 1975, the Seals suffered the indignity of losing at home to the expansion Washington Capitals, 5–3, providing the Caps with the only road win of their inaugural season.

Offseason

Amateur Draft

Main article: 1974 NHL amateur draft

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	3.	Rick Hampton	Canada	St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)
1	17.	Ron Chipperfield	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)
2	21.	Bruce Affleck	Canada	University of Denver Pioneers (WCHA)
3	39.	Charlie Simmer	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
4	57.	Tom Price	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHA)
5	75.	Jim Warden	United States	Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)
6	93.	Tom Sundberg	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL)
7	111.	Tom Anderson	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL)
8	128.	Jim McCabe	Canada	Welland Sabres (SOJHL)

Regular season

On March 28, 1975, the Seals lost at home 5–3 to Washington, giving the expansion Capitals their only road win of the season.

Final standings

Adams Division^[1]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Buffalo Sabres	80	49	16	15	354	240	+114	113
2	Boston Bruins	80	40	26	14	345	245	+100	94
3	Toronto Maple Leafs	80	31	33	16	280	309	−29	78
4	California Golden Seals	80	19	48	13	212	316	−104	51

^[2]

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Adams Division 1974–75 NHL records[3] Team BOS BUF CAL TOR Total Boston — 1–4–1 4–2 1–2–3 6–8–4 Buffalo 4–1–1 — 4–0–2 4–1–1 12–2–4 California 2–4 0–4–2 — 1–3–2 3–11–4 Toronto 2–1–3 1–4–1 3–1–2 — 6–6–6 Vs. Norris Division 1974–75 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Boston 4–1 2–3 0–3–2 2–1–2 4–0–1 12–8–5 Buffalo 3–1–1 1–3–1 4–0–1 3–0–2 5–0 16–4–5 California 2–2–1 1–2–2 0–5 0–4–1 3–2 6–15–4 Toronto 3–1–1 0–4–1 2–1–2 1–4 4–1 10–11–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1974–75 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Boston 4–0–1 2–2 3–1 2–1–1 11–4–2 Buffalo 1–2–1 2–0–2 4–1 0–3–1 7–6–4 California 2–2 1–2–1 0–2–2 2–3 5–9–3 Toronto 1–3 2–2–1 2–1–1 0–3–1 5–9–3 Vs. Smythe Division 1974–75 NHL records Team CHI KCS MIN STL VAN Total Boston 2–2 2–1–1 3–0–1 1–2–1 3–1 11–6–3 Buffalo 3–1 4–0 3–1 2–0–2 2–2 14–4–2 California 1–3 1–2–1 1–3 2–1–1 0–4 5–13–2 Toronto 2–2 2–1–1 3–1 2–0–2 1–3 10–7–3

Schedule and results

1974–75 regular season[4]
October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 1 T October 9, 1974 4–4 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 0–0–1 2 W October 11, 1974 3–0 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 1–0–1 3 L October 13, 1974 3–7 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 1–1–1 4 T October 16, 1974 5–5 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 1–1–2 5 L October 17, 1974 1–6 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 1–2–2 6 L October 19, 1974 1–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 1–3–2 7 L October 20, 1974 0–5 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 1–4–2 8 T October 23, 1974 4–4 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 1–4–3 9 W October 25, 1974 4–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 2–4–3 10 L October 26, 1974 1–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 2–5–3 11 L October 28, 1974 1–10 @ New York Islanders (1974–75) 2–6–3 12 L October 30, 1974 1–4 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 2–7–3
November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 13 T November 1, 1974 4–4 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 2–7–4 14 L November 6, 1974 3–7 New York Rangers (1974–75) 2–8–4 15 L November 9, 1974 2–5 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 2–9–4 16 L November 10, 1974 0–3 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 2–10–4 17 W November 13, 1974 2–0 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 3–10–4 18 L November 15, 1974 3–5 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 3–11–4 19 L November 17, 1974 0–10 @ New York Rangers (1974–75) 3–12–4 20 L November 19, 1974 4–6 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 3–13–4 21 L November 21, 1974 2–4 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 3–14–4 22 L November 23, 1974 1–3 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 3–15–4 23 L November 27, 1974 1–3 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 3–16–4 24 T November 29, 1974 3–3 New York Islanders (1974–75) 3–16–5
December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 25 W December 1, 1974 5–2 @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) 4–16–5 26 L December 3, 1974 1–5 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 4–17–5 27 W December 4, 1974 3–1 Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 5–17–5 28 W December 6, 1974 5–3 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 6–17–5 29 L December 10, 1974 0–3 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 6–18–5 30 L December 12, 1974 3–5 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 6–19–5 31 L December 14, 1974 3–5 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 6–20–5 32 T December 15, 1974 5–5 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 6–20–6 33 L December 18, 1974 3–4 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 6–21–6 34 W December 20, 1974 5–2 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 7–21–6 35 L December 22, 1974 4–6 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 7–22–6 36 W December 27, 1974 5–2 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 8–22–6 37 W December 28, 1974 3–2 @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 9–22–6 38 L December 31, 1974 3–4 @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 9–23–6
January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 39 T January 1, 1975 3–3 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 9–23–7 40 T January 3, 1975 2–2 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 9–23–8 41 W January 5, 1975 5–1 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 10–23–8 42 W January 7, 1975 3–2 @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 11–23–8 43 L January 8, 1975 2–3 @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) 11–24–8 44 L January 11, 1975 3–6 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 11–25–8 45 L January 12, 1975 1–2 @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 11–26–8 46 L January 15, 1975 0–4 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 11–27–8 47 T January 17, 1975 4–4 New York Rangers (1974–75) 11–27–9 48 L January 19, 1975 1–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 11–28–9 49 L January 22, 1975 5–7 @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 11–29–9 50 W January 24, 1975 6–1 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 12–29–9 51 L January 26, 1975 2–3 @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 12–30–9 52 L January 29, 1975 2–4 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 12–31–9 53 L January 30, 1975 0–6 @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) 12–32–9
February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 54 L February 2, 1975 1–5 Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 12–33–9 55 W February 5, 1975 5–1 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 13–33–9 56 L February 7, 1975 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 13–34–9 57 L February 9, 1975 1–2 Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 13–35–9 58 W February 12, 1975 4–2 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 14–35–9 59 W February 15, 1975 3–0 @ Kansas City Scouts (1974–75) 15–35–9 60 L February 16, 1975 4–8 @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 15–36–9 61 T February 19, 1975 3–3 Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 15–36–10 62 W February 21, 1975 6–4 Boston Bruins (1974–75) 16–36–10 63 T February 23, 1975 2–2 Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 16–36–11 64 L February 26, 1975 1–3 Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) 16–37–11
March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 65 L March 1, 1975 1–6 @ New York Islanders (1974–75) 16–38–11 66 L March 3, 1975 2–4 @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) 16–39–11 67 L March 5, 1975 2–4 Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) 16–40–11 68 W March 9, 1975 4–2 New York Islanders (1974–75) 17–40–11 69 L March 12, 1975 2–7 Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 17–41–11 70 W March 14, 1975 4–2 Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) 18–41–11 71 T March 19, 1975 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) 18–41–12 72 W March 21, 1975 7–4 St. Louis Blues (1974–75) 19–41–12 73 L March 23, 1975 4–9 @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) 19–42–12 74 L March 24, 1975 3–5 @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) 19–43–12 75 L March 26, 1975 2–6 Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) 19–44–12 76 L March 28, 1975 3–5 Washington Capitals (1974–75) 19–45–12
April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record 77 L April 1, 1975 0–7 @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 19–46–12 78 L April 2, 1975 0–3 Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) 19–47–12 79 L April 5, 1975 3–5 @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 19–48–12 80 T April 6, 1975 1–1 Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) 19–48–13
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Player statistics

Skaters

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
Larry Patey	9		79	25	20	45	68		–	–	–	–	–
Stan Weir	21		80	18	27	45	12		–	–	–	–	–
Dave Hrechkosy	18		73	29	14	43	25		–	–	–	–	–
Al MacAdam	25		80	18	25	43	55		–	–	–	–	–
John Stewart	17		75	19	19	38	55		–	–	–	–	–
Joey Johnston	22		62	14	23	37	72		–	–	–	–	–
Dave Gardner^†	7		64	16	20	36	6		–	–	–	–	–
Ron Huston	11		56	12	21	33	8		–	–	–	–	–
Butch Williams	12		63	11	21	32	118		–	–	–	–	–
Rick Hampton	2		78	8	17	25	39		–	–	–	–	–
Charlie Simmer	10		35	8	13	21	26		–	–	–	–	–
Jim Neilson	15		72	3	17	20	56		–	–	–	–	–
Len Frig	6		80	3	17	20	127		–	–	–	–	–
Bob Stewart	4		68	5	12	17	93		–	–	–	–	–
Mike Christie	3		34	0	14	14	76		–	–	–	–	–
George Pesut	5		47	0	13	13	73		–	–	–	–	–
Wayne King	24		25	4	7	11	8		–	–	–	–	–
Frank Spring^†	14		28	3	8	11	6		–	–	–	–	–
Morris Mott	20		52	3	8	11	8		–	–	–	–	–
Brian Lavender	8		65	3	7	10	48		–	–	–	–	–
Jim Moxey	19		47	5	4	9	4		–	–	–	–	–
Gilles Meloche	27		47	0	6	6	14		–	–	–	–	–
Stan Gilbertson^‡	10		15	1	4	5	2		–	–	–	–	–
Fred Ahern	16		3	2	1	3	0		–	–	–	–	–
Craig Patrick^‡	14		14	2	1	3	0		–	–	–	–	–
Terry Murray	5		9	0	2	2	8		–	–	–	–	–
Ted McAneeley	23		9	0	2	2	4		–	–	–	–	–
Gary Holt	8		1	0	1	1	0		–	–	–	–	–
Bruce Greig	28		8	0	1	1	42		–	–	–	–	–
Gary Simmons	31		34	0	1	1	26		–	–	–	–	–
Glenn Patrick	5		2	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Larry Wright	16		2	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–
Tom Price	5		3	0	0	0	4		–	–	–	–	–
Brent Meeke	24		4	0	0	0	0		–	–	–	–	–

^[5]

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

Goaltenders

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		34	2029	10	21	3	124	2	3.67		–	–	–	–	–	–	–
Gilles Meloche	27		47	2771	9	27	10	186	1	4.03		–	–	–	–	–	–	–

Transactions

The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season:

Trades

May 24, 1974	To California Golden Seals Al MacAdam Larry Wright 1st round pick in 1974 Draft (Ron Chipperfield) Future considerations (George Pesut, December 11, 1974)	To Philadelphia Flyers Reggie Leach
May 24, 1974	To California Golden Seals Mike Christie Len Frig	To Chicago Black Hawks Ivan Boldirev
June 18, 1974	To California Golden Seals John Stewart	To Atlanta Flames Hilliard Graves
June 18, 1974	To California Golden Seals Glenn Patrick	To St. Louis Blues Ron Serafini
September 23, 1974	To California Golden Seals Brian Lavender	To New York Rangers Hartland Monahan
October 1, 1974	To California Golden Seals Gary Simmons	To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA) cash
November 11, 1974	To California Golden Seals Dave Gardner Butch Williams	To St. Louis Blues Stan Gilbertson Craig Patrick
January 9, 1975	To California Golden Seals Frank Spring	To St. Louis Blues Bruce Affleck

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Jim Neilson New York Rangers Intra-League Draft (1974-06-10) Bob Murdoch Cranbrook Royals (WIHL) free agency (1974–10)

Subtractions Player New team Via Walt McKechnie New York Rangers Intra-League Draft (1974-06-10) Gary Coalter Kansas City Scouts Expansion Draft (1974-06-12) Gary Croteau Kansas City Scouts Expansion Draft (1974-06-12) Pete Laframboise Washington Capitals Expansion Draft (1974-06-12)

References

• Seals on Hockey Database
• Seals on Database Hockey

1. "1974-1975 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
2. National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p.163, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, ISBN 0-920445-98-5
3. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
4. "1974-75 California Golden Seals Schedule". Hockey-Reference.com. Retrieved March 23, 2025.
5. "1974-75 California Golden Seals Roster and Statistics".