The 1970–71 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' fourth in the NHL, but their first as the Golden Seals. Oakland Athletics owner Charlie O. Finley bought the teamCharlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.201, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, in the offseason for approximately $4,500,000. He announced a name change in which his team would be called the Bay Area Seals. On October 16, after the first two games of the season, Finley changed the name once again. The team became known as the California Golden Seals in an attempt to draw fans from across the state of California, in particular from nearby San Francisco. Along with the name change came new green and gold colours, and a new logo and uniforms.
Several other changes occurred in the Seals' front office after Finley bought the team. Unhappy, General Manager Frank Selke Jr. quit in October 1970. His replacement, Bill Torrey, lasted only a month before resigning himself. Coach Fred Glover took over the responsibilities of General Manager after Torrey's departure in November.
Amidst the shake-up of the Seals from a business point of view the on-ice performance of the team suffered greatly. The team finished the season with an NHL-worst record of 20-53-5 (45 points). It was the worst season in their history up to that point in time, and the 53 losses set an NHL record (since surpassed). The Seals record was worse than both of the two expansion teams that season, the Buffalo Sabres and the Vancouver Canucks.
On May 22, 1970, The Seals made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens that would come back to haunt the franchise for the rest of their existence. In the trade, the Seals sent defenseman Francois Lacombe along with their first round draft pick in 1971 to the Montreal Canadiens for Ernie Hicke and Montreal's first round pick. Since the Seals finished with the NHL's worst record that season, that gave the Canadiens the first overall pick in the 1971 draft which they used to select future hall of famer Guy Lafleur.
Captain Ted Hampson was traded to the Minnesota North Stars late in the season, and was replaced by Carol Vadnais.
Offseason
Amateur draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team110.Chris OddleifsonWinnipeg Jets (WCHL)219.Pete Laframboise Ottawa 67's (OHA)333.Randy Rota Calgary Centennials (WCHL)447.Ted McAneeley Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)561.Ray Gibbs Charlottetown (Senior)675.Doug Moyes Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL)788.Terry Murray Ottawa 67's (OHA)8100.Alan Henry University of North Dakota (NCAA)
Regular season
Standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
|1||L||October 10, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||0–1–0
|2||L||October 11, 1970||1–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||0–2–0
|3||L||October 16, 1970||1–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||0–3–0
|4||L||October 17, 1970||1–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||0–4–0
|5||L||October 20, 1970||1–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||0–5–0
|6||T||October 21, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||0–5–1
|7||L||October 23, 1970||1–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||0–6–1
|8||T||October 25, 1970||2–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||0–6–2
|9||L||October 28, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||0–7–2
|10||W||October 30, 1970||6–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||1–7–2
|11||W||November 4, 1970||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||2–7–2
|12||W||November 6, 1970||8–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||3–7–2
|13||W||November 11, 1970||2–0 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||4–7–2
|14||L||November 13, 1970||2–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||4–8–2
|15||L||November 14, 1970||1–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||4–9–2
|16||W||November 15, 1970||2–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||5–9–2
|17||L||November 17, 1970||1–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||5–10–2
|18||L||November 19, 1970||2–6 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||5–11–2
|19||L||November 21, 1970||3–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||5–12–2
|20||L||November 22, 1970||0–9 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||5–13–2
|21||L||November 25, 1970||1–3 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||5–14–2
|22||L||November 27, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||5–15–2
|23||W||November 29, 1970||2–1 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||6–15–2
|24||L||December 2, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||6–16–2
|25||L||December 4, 1970||0–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||6–17–2
|26||W||December 9, 1970||6–1 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||7–17–2
|27||L||December 11, 1970||1–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||7–18–2
|28||L||December 12, 1970||2–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||7–19–2
|29||W||December 16, 1970||4–2 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||8–19–2
|30||W||December 18, 1970||1–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||9–19–2
|31||W||December 20, 1970||7–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||10–19–2
|32||W||December 22, 1970||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||11–19–2
|33||L||December 26, 1970||3–9 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||11–20–2
|34||L||December 29, 1970||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||11–21–2
|35||L||December 30, 1970||1–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||11–22–2
|36||L||January 2, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||11–23–2
|37||L||January 3, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||11–24–2
|38||W||January 6, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||12–24–2
|39||L||January 9, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||12–25–2
|40||L||January 10, 1971||4–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||12–26–2
|41||L||January 12, 1971||2–8 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||12–27–2
|42||T||January 13, 1971||1–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||12–27–3
|43||W||January 15, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1970–71) ||13–27–3
|44||L||January 17, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||13–28–3
|45||L||January 20, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||13–29–3
|46||W||January 22, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||14–29–3
|47||L||January 24, 1971||3–5 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||14–30–3
|48||W||January 27, 1971||6–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||15–30–3
|49||L||January 29, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||15–31–3
|50||L||January 31, 1971||1–7 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||15–32–3
|51||L||February 3, 1971||1–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||15–33–3
|52||L||February 5, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||15–34–3
|53||L||February 7, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||15–35–3
|54||W||February 10, 1971||5–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||16–35–3
|55||L||February 12, 1971||0–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1970–71) ||16–36–3
|56||L||February 13, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||16–37–3
|57||L||February 16, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||16–38–3
|58||L||February 17, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||16–39–3
|59||L||February 19, 1971||0–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||16–40–3
|60||W||February 20, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||17–40–3
|61||L||February 24, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1970–71) ||17–41–3
|62||L||February 26, 1971||1–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||17–42–3
|63||L||February 28, 1971||3–8 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||17–43–3
|64||L||March 3, 1971||1–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1970–71) ||17–44–3
|65||L||March 4, 1971||0–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||17–45–3
|66||T||March 6, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1970–71) ||17–45–4
|67||T||March 7, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||17–45–5
|68||L||March 10, 1971||1–8 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1970–71) ||17–46–5
|69||L||March 14, 1971||5–8 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1970–71) ||17–47–5
|70||W||March 17, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1970–71) ||18–47–5
|71||L||March 19, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1970–71) ||18–48–5
|72||W||March 21, 1971||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||19–48–5
|73||L||March 24, 1971||0–6 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1970–71) ||19–49–5
|74||L||March 26, 1971||5–8 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1970–71) ||19–50–5
|75||L||March 28, 1971||5–11 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||19–51–5
|76||W||March 31, 1971||4–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1970–71) ||20–51–5
|77||L||April 2, 1971||2–7 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1970–71) ||20–52–5
|78||L||April 3, 1971||4–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1970–71) ||20–53–5
Legend:
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 PIMDennis Hextall 22 78 21 31 52 217 – – – – –Ernie Hicke 20 78 22 25 47 62 – – – – –Gary Croteau 18 74 15 28 43 12 – – – – –Gerry Ehman 8 78 18 18 36 16 – – – – –Bill Hicke 9 74 18 17 35 41 – – – – –Gary Jarrett 12 75 15 19 34 40 – – – – –Ron Stackhouse 21 78 8 24 32 73 – – – – –Norm Ferguson 17 54 14 17 31 9 – – – – –Ted Hampson‡ 10 60 10 20 30 14 – – – – –Carol Vadnais 5 42 10 16 26 91 – – – – –Don O'Donoghue 11 43 11 9 20 10 – – – – –Tom Williams† 26 18 7 10 17 8 – – – – –Doug Roberts 2 78 4 13 17 94 – – – – –Tony Featherstone 16 67 8 8 16 44 – – – – –Joe Hardy 14 40 4 10 14 31 – – – – –Wayne Muloin‡ 4 66 0 14 14 32 – – – – –Earl Ingarfield 7 49 5 8 13 4 – – – – –Dick Mattiussi 6 67 3 8 11 38 – – – – –Harry Howell‡ 3 28 0 9 9 14 – – – – –Bert Marshall 19 32 2 6 8 48 – – – – –Dick Redmond† 4 11 2 4 6 12 – – – – –Paul Andrea‡ 23 9 1 0 1 2 – – – – –Mike Laughton 15 25 1 0 1 2 – – – – –Gary Smith 1 71 0 1 1 6 – – – – –Bob Sneddon 30 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Chris Worthy 30 11 0 0 0 2 – – – – –Hilliard Graves 23 14 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Barry Boughner 24 16 0 0 0 9 – – – – – †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 GAAGary Smith 1 71 3975 19 48 4 256 2 3.86 – – – – – – -.--Chris Worthy 30 11 480 1 3 1 39 0 4.87 – – – – – – -.--Bob Sneddon 30 5 225 0 2 0 21 0 5.60 – – – – – – -.--
Awards and records Gary Smith, most losses by a goaltender in one season (48)National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book 2006, p. 188, Dan Diamond & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, .
Transactions The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1970–71 season:
Trades