The 1973–74 Chicago Cougars season was the Chicago Cougars' second season of operation in the World Hockey Association. The team qualified for the playoff and won two playoff series to make it to the Avco Cup Final before losing to the Houston Aeros.
Offseason The Chicago Cougars revamped their lineup during the off-season in hopes of escaping the cellar. The Cougars strengthened their defense by signing National Hockey League all-star defenceman Pat Stapleton from the Chicago Blackhawks as a player-coach, Darryl Maggs from the California Golden Seals and goaltender Cam Newton from the Pittsburgh Penguins. To the forward line, the Cougars signed Ralph Backstrom, also from the Blackhawks, Eric Nesterenko, who had spent a season in Switzerland after a long career with the Blackhawks and Maple Leafs, and junior all-star Frank Rochon from the Sherbrooke Beavers, and acquired Joe Hardy from the Cleveland Crusaders and Duke Harris from the Houston Aeros.
Regular season The Cougars scored 26 more goals than the previous season and reduced the goals against by 22 to post a 50% improvement in points and secure the final playoff spot in the East Division by a single point over the Quebec Nordiques.
Final standings
Schedule and results
|1||T||October 7, 1973||4–4 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||0–0–1
|2||W||October 11, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||1–0–1
|3||L||October 13, 1973||4–6 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||1–1–1
|4||L||October 14, 1973||2–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||1–2–1
|5||W||October 18, 1973||7–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||2–2–1
|6||L||October 20, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||2–3–1
|7||L||October 21, 1973||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||2–4–1
|8||W||October 25, 1973||4–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||3–4–1
|9||W||October 28, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||4–4–1
|10||W||October 30, 1973||4–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||5–4–1
|11||W||November 3, 1973||7–4 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||6–4–1
|12||W||November 6, 1973||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||7–4–1
|13||W||November 10, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||8–4–1
|14||L||November 13, 1973||2–5 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||8–5–1
|15||W||November 15, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||9–5–1
|16||W||November 17, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||10–5–1
|17||L||November 18, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||10–6–1
|18||W||November 22, 1973||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||11–6–1
|19||L||November 24, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||11–7–1
|20||L||December 1, 1973||4–5 OT|| align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||11–8–1
|21||L||December 2, 1973||3–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||11–9–1
|22||L||December 4, 1973||0–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||11–10–1
|23||L||December 8, 1973||1–3 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||11–11–1
|24||L||December 9, 1973||1–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||11–12–1
|25||L||December 11, 1973||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||11–13–1
|26||W||December 15, 1973||5–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||12–13–1
|27||W||December 16, 1973||3–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||13–13–1
|28||T||December 18, 1973||3–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||13–13–2
|29||L||December 21, 1973||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||13–14–2
|30||W||December 23, 1973||6–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||14–14–2
|31||L||December 26, 1973||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||14–15–2
|32||W||December 28, 1973||6–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||15–15–2
|33||L||December 29, 1973||0–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||15–16–2
|34||W||December 30, 1973||5–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||16–16–2
|35||W||January 1, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||17–16–2
|36||L||January 5, 1974||5–6 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||17–17–2
|37||L||January 6, 1974||0–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||17–18–2
|38||T||January 8, 1974||0–0 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||17–18–3
|39||L||January 13, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||17–19–3
|40||W||January 17, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1973–74) ||18–19–3
|41||W||January 19, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||19–19–3
|42||W||January 22, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||20–19–3
|43||L||January 25, 1974||2–6 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||20–20–3
|44||W||January 30, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||21–20–3
|45||L||February 1, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||21–21–3
|46||L||February 3, 1974||2–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||21–22–3
|47||W||February 5, 1974||3–1 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||22–22–3
|48||L||February 6, 1974||2–7 || align="left"| @ Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||22–23–3
|49||W||February 9, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||23–23–3
|50||W||February 10, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||24–23–3
|51||W||February 12, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||25–23–3
|52||L||February 14, 1974||3–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||25–24–3
|53||L||February 16, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||25–25–3
|54||L||February 17, 1974||5–6 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||25–26–3
|55||L||February 18, 1974||3–4 || align="left"| @ New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||25–27–3
|56||W||February 21, 1974||5–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||26–27–3
|57||L||February 23, 1974||0–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||26–28–3
|58||L||February 24, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||26–29–3
|59||W||February 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Sharks (1973–74) ||27–29–3
|60||L||February 28, 1974||4–9 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||27–30–3
|61||W||March 1, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||28–30–3
|62||L||March 3, 1974||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||28–31–3
|63||L||March 5, 1974||2–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||28–32–3
|64||W||March 7, 1974||3–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||29–32–3
|65||W||March 9, 1974||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1973–74) ||30–32–3
|66||W||March 12, 1974||5–3 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1973–74) ||31–32–3
|67||W||March 14, 1974||7–4 || align="left"| Minnesota Fighting Saints (1973–74) ||32–32–3
|68||W||March 16, 1974||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1973–74) ||33–32–3
|69||W||March 17, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Toros (1973–74) ||34–32–3
|70||L||March 19, 1974||4–7 || align="left"| Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||34–33–3
|71||T||March 21, 1974||5–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||34–33–4
|72||W||March 23, 1974||4–1 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||35–33–4
|73||T||March 24, 1974||3–3 || align="left"| @ Cleveland Crusaders (1973–74) ||35–33–5
|74||W||March 26, 1974||4–2 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||36–33–5
|75||W||March 29, 1974||5–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Blazers (1973–74) ||37–33–5
|76||L||March 31, 1974||1–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1973–74) ||37–34–5
|77||W||April 2, 1974||7–3 || align="left"| New York Golden Blades/New Jersey Knights (1973–74) ||38–34–5
|78||L||April 3, 1974||1–3 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1973–74) ||38–35–5
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 6 || Chicago Cougars || 4–6 || New England Whalers || 0–1
| 2 || April 7 || Chicago Cougars || 3–4 OT || New England Whalers || 0–2
| 3 || April 9 || New England Whalers || 6–8 || Chicago Cougars || 1–2
| 4 || April 10 || New England Whalers || 1–2 OT || Chicago Cougars || 2–2
| 5 || April 12 || Chicago Cougars || 4–2 || New England Whalers || 2–3
| 6 || April 14 || New England Whalers || 2–0 || Chicago Cougars || 3–3
| 7 || April 16 || Chicago Cougars || 3–2 || New England Whalers|| 4–3
| 1 || April 19 || Chicago Cougars || 4–6 || Toronto Toros || 0–1
| 2 || April 22 || Chicago Cougars || 4–3 || Toronto Toros || 1–1
| 3 || April 28 || Toronto Toros || 2–3 || Chicago Cougars || 2–1
| 4 || April 30 || Toronto Toros || 7–6 || Chicago Cougars || 2–2
| 5 || May 1 || Chicago Cougars || 3–5 || Toronto Toros || 2–3
| 6 || May 4 || Toronto Toros || 2–9 || Chicago Cougars || 3–3
| 7 || May 6 || Chicago Cougars || 5–2 || Toronto Toros || 4–3
| 1 || May 12 || Houston Aeros || 3–2 || Chicago Cougars || 0–1
| 2 || May 15 || Houston Aeros || 6–1 || Chicago Cougars || 0–2
| 3 || May 17 || Chicago Cougars || 4–7 || Houston Aeros || 0–3
| 4 || May 19 || Chicago Cougars || 2–6 || Houston Aeros || 0–4
Legend:
Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG C 78 33 50 83 260628 C 78 30 43 73 870703 C 77 24 35 59 550402 D 78 6 52 58 440210 D 77 15 36 51 1570404 LW 73 26 21 47 200412 C 69 11 29 40 80101 LW 63 22 17 39 360604 C 52 16 19 35 260612 LW 76 17 16 33 1400102 RW 64 14 16 30 200301 D 78 8 22 30 1480001 LW 69 12 11 23 270101 D 77 2 20 22 550001 C 77 5 13 18 170010 D/LW 45 2 12 14 490102 LW 50 10 3 13 140011 RW 53 6 7 13 190000 RW 23 5 4 9 90300 RW 29 2 5 7 80100 LW 15 3 2 5 00001 D 23 0 5 5 220000 D 43 1 3 4 130001 LW 3 1 2 3 00101 RW 4 0 1 1 110000 RW 4 0 1 1 20000 G 45 0 1 1 00000 C 4 0 1 1 00000 D 2 0 0 0 00000 D 3 0 0 0 20000 G 20 0 0 0 00000 LW 1 0 0 0 00000 G 13 0 0 0 00000 D 1 0 0 0 00000 D 2 0 0 0 00000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 2732 45 25 18 2 143 3.14 1 1207 20 9 10 1 75 3.73 0 803 13 4 7 2 46 3.44 0 Team: 4742 78 38 35 5 264 3.34 1 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG C 18 5 14 19 4001 C 18 9 6 15 16002 C 18 6 8 14 0002 LW 18 8 5 13 12001 D 12 0 13 13 36000 RW 18 6 6 12 2000 RW 18 4 8 12 4000 C 17 4 8 12 13000 D 18 4 8 12 46001 LW 18 6 5 11 11000 D 18 3 5 8 71000 LW 18 4 3 7 42000 D 18 2 3 5 18000 RW 18 2 2 4 36000 D/LW 12 0 4 4 12000 D 13 0 4 4 10000 LW 9 2 1 3 0001 C 18 2 1 3 2000 LW 17 0 3 3 35000 G 11 0 0 0 4000 G 10 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO 614 11 6 5 38 3.71 0 486 10 2 5 34 4.20 0 Team: 1100 18 8 10 72 3.93 0
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;
Transactions Trades Date Details Ref To New York Golden BladesButch Barber To Chicago CougarsWally Olds To New York Golden BladesJim McLeod To Chicago Cougarscash To Cleveland Crusadersrights to Larry Hillman To Chicago CougarsJoe Hardy To Houston Aeroscash To Chicago CougarsDuke Harris To Vancouver BlazersEd Hatoum To Chicago Cougarscash To Los Angeles SharksBob Whitlock To Chicago CougarsJim WatsonDon Gordon
Draft picks Chicago's draft picks at the 1973 WHA Amateur Draft.