The 1973–74 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' seventh season in the NHL. With the continuing depletion of talent due to the World Hockey Association and a lack of interest from owner Charles O. Finley who put the team up for sale, the Seals had a miserable season and sank to a franchise low 36 points. In January 1974, the NHL bought the Seals from owner Charlie Finley for $6.585 million.Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.201-2, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010, With the league takeover, the players immediately returned to wearing black skates. The Seals would conclude the season with the worst record in the league.Charlie Finley: The Outrageous Story of Baseball's Super Showman, p.169, G. Michael Green and Roger D. Launius. Walker Publishing Company, New York, 2010,
Offseason
Amateur draft
Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team334.Jeff JacquesSt. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)450.Ron SerafiniSt. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)566.Jim MoxeyHamilton Red Wings (OHA)682.Willie TrognitzThunder Bay (Junior)798.Paul TantardiniDownsview Beavers (OPJHL)8114.Bruce GreigVancouver Nats (WCHL)9130.Larry Patey Braintree Hawks (NEJHL)10145.Doug Mahood Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)11160.Angie MorettoUniversity of Michigan (NCAA)
Regular season
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
|1||W||October 10, 1973||2–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||1–0–0
|2||W||October 12, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||2–0–0
|3||L||October 17, 1973||1–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||2–1–0
|4||L||October 20, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||2–2–0
|5||L||October 21, 1973||2–11 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||2–3–0
|6||W||October 24, 1973||7–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||3–3–0
|7||L||October 26, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1973–74) ||3–4–0
|8||L||October 28, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||3–5–0
|9||L||October 31, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||3–6–0
|10||L||November 1, 1973||2–7 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) ||3–7–0
|11||L||November 3, 1973||2–6 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||3–8–0
|12||L||November 4, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||3–9–0
|13||T||November 7, 1973||1–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||3–9–1
|14||W||November 9, 1973||6–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||4–9–1
|15||L||November 14, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||4–10–1
|16||L||November 16, 1973||1–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||4–11–1
|17||W||November 18, 1973||2–0 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||5–11–1
|18||L||November 21, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1973–74) ||5–12–1
|19||L||November 24, 1973||3–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||5–13–1
|20||L||November 25, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||5–14–1
|21||W||November 28, 1973||5–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||6–14–1
|22||L||December 1, 1973||2–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||6–15–1
|23||L||December 2, 1973||1–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||6–16–1
|24||T||December 5, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1973–74) ||6–16–2
|25||W||December 7, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||7–16–2
|26||L||December 9, 1973||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1973–74) ||7–17–2
|27||L||December 11, 1973||3–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1973–74) ||7–18–2
|28||L||December 12, 1973||1–9 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||7–19–2
|29||T||December 14, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||7–19–3
|30||L||December 16, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||7–20–3
|31||L||December 18, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||7–21–3
|32||L||December 19, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||7–22–3
|33||T||December 23, 1973||2–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||7–22–4
|34||L||December 26, 1973||4–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||7–23–4
|35||T||December 28, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1973–74) ||7–23–5
|36||L||December 30, 1973||1–8 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||7–24–5
|37||W||January 2, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||8–24–5
|38||L||January 5, 1974||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||8–25–5
|39||L||January 6, 1974||4–9 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||8–26–5
|40||W||January 9, 1974||8–6 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||9–26–5
|41||L||January 11, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||9–27–5
|42||L||January 13, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1973–74) ||9–28–5
|43||T||January 16, 1974||5–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||9–28–6
|44||L||January 18, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) ||9–29–6
|45||L||January 20, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||9–30–6
|46||L||January 22, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1973–74) ||9–31–6
|47||L||January 23, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||9–32–6
|48||L||January 25, 1974||0–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) ||9–33–6
|49||T||January 27, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||9–33–7
|50||L||January 30, 1974||4–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||9–34–7
|51||L||January 31, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||9–35–7
|52||L||February 2, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||9–36–7
|53||W||February 3, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1973–74) ||10–36–7
|54||W||February 6, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||11–36–7
|55||L||February 8, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) ||11–37–7
|56||L||February 13, 1974||6–9 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||11–38–7
|57||L||February 16, 1974||3–7 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||11–39–7
|58||L||February 17, 1974||1–7 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||11–40–7
|59||L||February 20, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||11–41–7
|60||L||February 22, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1973–74) ||11–42–7
|61||T||February 27, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||11–42–8
|62||W||March 2, 1974||4–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||12–42–8
|63||L||March 3, 1974||2–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1973–74) ||12–43–8
|64||L||March 5, 1974||1–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||12–44–8
|65||T||March 6, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) ||12–44–9
|66||W||March 10, 1974||6–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1973–74) ||13–44–9
|67||L||March 13, 1974||2–5 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) ||13–45–9
|68||L||March 15, 1974||1–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) ||13–46–9
|69||L||March 19, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) ||13–47–9
|70||L||March 21, 1974||3–6 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||13–48–9
|71||L||March 22, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) ||13–49–9
|72||L||March 24, 1974||1–7 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) ||13–50–9
|73||T||March 27, 1974||2–2 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1973–74) ||13–50–10
|74||L||March 29, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) ||13–51–10
|75||L||March 31, 1974||0–7 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||13–52–10
|76||L||April 2, 1974||3–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) ||13–53–10
|77||L||April 3, 1974||1–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) ||13–54–10
|78||L||April 5, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| Atlanta Flames (1973–74) ||13–55–10
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 PIMJoey Johnston 22 78 27 40 67 67 – – – – –Ivan Boldirev 9 78 25 31 56 22 – – – – –Walt McKechnie 8 63 23 29 52 14 – – – – –Reggie Leach 7 78 22 24 46 34 – – – – –Gary Croteau 18 76 14 21 35 16 – – – – –Stan Gilbertson 15 76 18 12 30 39 – – – – –Craig Patrick 14 59 10 20 30 17 – – – – –Hilliard Graves 17 64 11 18 29 48 – – – – –Morris Mott 20 77 9 17 26 33 – – – – –Ted McAneeley 23 72 4 20 24 62 – – – – –Marshall Johnston 2 50 2 16 18 24 – – – – –Stan Weir 21 58 9 7 16 10 – – – – –Pete Laframboise 24 65 7 7 14 14 – – – – –Ray McKay 3 72 2 12 14 49 – – – – –Ron Huston 11 23 3 10 13 0 – – – – –Terry Murray 5 58 0 12 12 48 – – – – –Brent Meeke 25 18 1 9 10 4 – – – – –Rick Kessell 12 51 2 6 8 4 – – – – –Bob Stewart 6 47 2 5 7 69 – – – – –Paul Shakes 4 21 0 4 4 12 – – – – –Barry Cummins 4 36 1 2 3 39 – – – – –Del Hall 12 2 2 0 2 2 – – – – –Lyle Bradley 15 4 1 0 1 2 – – – – –Marv Edwards 1 14 0 1 1 4 – – – – –Gilles Meloche 27 47 0 1 1 2 – – – – –Hartland Monahan 17 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Larry Patey 17 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Bruce Greig 28 1 0 0 0 4 – – – – –Gary Holt 17 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Dave Hrechkosy 19 2 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Wayne King 24 2 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Ron Serafini 2 2 0 0 0 2 – – – – –Gary Coalter 15 4 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Ted Tucker 30 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Bob Champoux 28 17 0 0 0 0 – – – – –
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 GAATed Tucker 30 5 177 1 1 1 10 0 3.39 – – – – – – -.--Marv Edwards 1 14 780 1 10 1 51 0 3.92 – – – – – – -.--Gilles Meloche 27 47 2800 9 33 5 198 1 4.24 – – – – – – -.--Bob Champoux 28 17 923 2 11 3 80 0 5.20 – – – – – – -.--
Transactions The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1973–74 season:
Trades May 11, 1973 To California Golden Seals Gary Coalter To New York Rangers cash June 10, 1973 To California Golden Seals Ted Tucker To Atlanta Flames cash
Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Ray McKay Buffalo Sabres Intra-league Draft (1973–06–12) Rick Kessell Pittsburgh Penguins Intra-league Draft (1973–06–13) Gary Holt Port Huron Wings (IHL) free agency (1973–09) Dave Hrechkosy Rochester Americans (AHL) free agency (1973–09) Bob Girard Amqui Aces (QSHL) free agency (1973–09) Bob Champoux San Diego Gulls (WHL) free agency (1973–11) Subtractions Player New team Via Lyle Carter Minnesota North Stars Reverse Draft (1973–06–13) Al Simmons San Diego Gulls (WHL) Reverse Draft (1973–06–13) Jim Jones Chicago Cougars (WHA) free agency (1973–09)
References Golden Seals on Hockey Database Golden Seals on Database Hockey