# 1976 NHL amateur draft

The 1976 NHL amateur draft was the 14th NHL entry draft. It was held at the NHL office in Montreal, Quebec, on June 1, 1976. It's notable as featuring one of the weakest first rounds in draft history, as only two players (Rick Green and Bernie Federko) played more than 450 career NHL games. In 2002, Federko was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame after playing fourteen seasons (1976–1990), with 13 of those with the St. Louis Blues. The Cleveland Barons drafted as the California Golden Seals and the Colorado Rockies took part as the Kansas City Scouts. The two franchises would relocate to their new cities on July 15 of that year.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Kent Nilsson, who played his last NHL game in the 1994–95 season.

## Selections by round

Below are listed the selections in the 1976 NHL amateur draft.
| = NHL All-Star · | = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |
Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.

### Round one

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | Rick Green (D) | Canada | Washington Capitals | London Knights (OHA) |
| 2 | Blair Chapman (RW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins (from Kansas City)$^1$ | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 3 | Glen Sharpley (C) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 4 | Fred Williams (C) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 5 | Bjorn Johansson (D) | Sweden | California Golden Seals | Örebro IK (Sweden) |
| 6 | Don Murdoch (RW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 7 | Bernie Federko (F) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 8 | David Shand (D) | Canada | Atlanta Flames (from Vancouver)$^2$ | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 9 | Real Cloutier (F) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | Quebec Nordiques (WHA) |
| 10 | Harold Phillipoff (LW) | Canada | Atlanta Flames | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 11 | Paul Gardner (C) | Canada | Kansas City Scouts (from Pittsburgh)$^3$ | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 12 | Peter Lee (RW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Toronto)$^4$ | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 13 | Rod Schutt (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Los Angeles)$^5$ | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 14 | Alex McKendry (F) | Canada | New York Islanders | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 15 | Greg Carroll (C) | Canada | Washington Capitals (from Buffalo via Atlanta)$^6$ | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 16 | Clayton Pachal (C) | Canada | Boston Bruins | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 17 | Mark Suzor (D) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 18 | Bruce Baker (RW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
* The Kansas City Scouts' first-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the result of a trade on January 9, 1976 that sent Chuck Arnason, Steve Durbano and Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 1976 to Kansas City in exchange for Ed Gilbert, Simon Nolet and this pick.
* The Vancouver Canucks' first-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on January 20, 1976 that sent Curt Ridley to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
* The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Kansas City Scouts as the result of a trade on January 9, 1976 that sent Ed Gilbert, Simon Nolet and Kansas City's first-round pick in 1976 to Pittsburgh in exchange for Chuck Arnason, Steve Durbano and this pick.
* The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 17, 1975 that sent Wayne Thomas to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
* The Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on August 22, 1972 that sent Terry Harper to Los Angeles in exchange for Los Angeles' second-round pick in 1974, third-round pick in 1975 and this pick.
* The Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on January 22, 1976 that sent Bill Clement to Atlanta in exchange for Jean Lemieux, Gerry Meehan and this pick.
    Atlanta previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on October 1, 1975 that sent Jacques Richard to Buffalo in exchange for Larry Carriere and this pick.

### Round two

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 19 | Greg Malone (C) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins (from Washington)$^1$ | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 20 | Brian Sutter (LW) | Canada | St. Louis Blues (from Kansas City)$^2$ | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 21 | Steve Clippingdale (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from Minnesota)$^3$ | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 22 | Reed Larson (D) | United States | Detroit Red Wings | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 23 | Vern Stenlund (C) | Canada | California Golden Seals | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 24 | Dave Farrish (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 25 | John Smrke (LW) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 26 | Bob Manno (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL) |
| 27 | Jeff McDill (RW) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 28 | Bobby Simpson (LW) | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 29 | Peter Marsh (RW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 30 | Randy Carlyle (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 31 | Jim Roberts (LW) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars (from Los Angeles via Detroit)$^4$ | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 32 | Mike Kaszycki (C) | Canada | New York Islanders | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 33 | Joe Kowal (LW) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL) |
| 34 | Lorry Gloeckner (D) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 35 | Drew Callander (C) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 36 | Barry Melrose (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
* The Washington Capitals' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the result of a trade on November 26, 1975 that sent Bob Paradise to Washington in exchange for this pick.
* The Kansas City Scouts' second-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 18, 1975 that sent Denis Dupere, Craig Patrick and cash to Kansas City in exchange for Lynn Powis and this pick.
* The Minnesota North Stars' second-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on August 15, 1975 that sent Tim Young to Minnesota in exchange for this pick.
* The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on February 27, 1976 that sent Dennis Hextall to Detroit in exchange for Bill Hogaboam and this pick.
    Detroit previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 23, 1975 that sent Bart Crashley and Marcel Dionne to Los Angeles in exchange for Terry Harper, Dan Maloney and this pick.

### Round three

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 37 | Tom Rowe (RW) | United States | Washington Capitals | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 38 | Mike Kitchen (D) | Canada | Kansas City Scouts | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 39 | Don Jackson (D) | United States | Minnesota North Stars | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
| 40 | Fred Berry (C) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 41 | Mike Fidler (LW) | United States | California Golden Seals | Boston University (ECAC) |
| 42 | Mike McEwen (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 43 | Jim Kirkpatrick (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 44 | Rob Flockhart (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
| 45 | Thomas Gradin (C) | Sweden | Chicago Black Hawks | Ornskoldsvik (Sweden) |
| 46 | Rick Hodgson (D) | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 47 | Morris Lukowich (LW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 48 | Alain Belanger (RW) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 49 | Don Moores (C) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
| 50 | Garth MacGuigan (C) | Canada | New York Islanders | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
| 51 | Ron Zanussi (RW) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars (from Buffalo)$^1$ | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 52 | Gary McFayden (RW) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston)$^2$ | Hull Festivals (QMJHL) |
| 53 | Craig Hanmer (D) | United States | Philadelphia Flyers | Mohawk Valley Comets (NAJHL) |
| 54 | Bill Baker (D) | United States | Montreal Canadiens | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
* The Buffalo Sabres' third-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on January 27, 1975 that sent Fred Stanfield to Buffalo in exchange for Norm Gratton and this pick.
* The Boston Bruins' third-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 3, 1975 that sent Toronto's fourth-round pick in 1975 to Boston in exchange for this pick.

### Round four

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 55 | Al Glendinning (D) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 56 | Mike Liut (G) | Canada | St. Louis Blues (from Kansas City)$^1$ | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 57 | Mike Fedorko (D) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL) |
| 58 | Kevin Schamehorn (RW) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 59 | Warren Young (C) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 60 | Claude Periard (LW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 61 | Paul Skidmore (G) | United States | St. Louis Blues | Boston College (ECAC) |
| 62 | Elmer Ray (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 63 | Dave Debol (C) | United States | Chicago Black Hawks | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 64 | Kent Nilsson (RW) | Sweden | Atlanta Flames | Djurgårdens IF (Sweden) |
| 65 | Greg Redquest (G) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 66 | Tim Williams (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 67 | Bob Mears (G) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 68 | Ken Morrow (D) | United States | New York Islanders | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 69 | Rocky Maze (LW) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 70 | Bob Miller (C) | United States | Boston Bruins | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 71 | Dave Hynek (LW) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 72 | Ed Clarey (RW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
* The Kansas City Scouts' fourth-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on October 29, 1974 that sent Larry Giroux to Kansas City in exchange for Chris Evans and this pick.

### Round five

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 73 | Doug Patey (RW) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 74 | Rick McIntyre (LW) | Canada | Kansas City Scouts | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 75 | Phil Verchota (LW) | United States | Minnesota North Stars | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 76 | Dwight Schofield (D) | United States | Detroit Red Wings | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 77 | Darcy Regier (D) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL) |
| 78 | Doug Caines (C) | Canada | New York Rangers | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL) |
| 79 | Cal Sandbeck (D) | United States | California Golden Seals (from St. Louis)$^1$ | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 80 | Rick Durston (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 81 | Terry McDonald (C) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 82 | Mark Earp (G) | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) |
| 83 | Brendan Lowe (D) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 84 | Greg Hotham (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 85 | Rob Palmer (D) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 86 | Mike Hordy (D) | Canada | New York Islanders | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 87 | Ron Roscoe (D) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL) |
| 88 | Peter Vandemark (LW) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 89 | Robin Lang (G) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Cornell University (ECAC) |
| 90 | Maurice Barrette (G) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
* The St. Louis Blues' fifth-round pick went to the California Golden Seals as the result of a trade on March 9, 1976 that sent Dave Hrechkosy to St. Louis in exchange for a third-round pick in 1977 and this pick.

### Round six

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 91 | Jim Bedard (G) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
| 92 | Larry Skinner (C) | Canada | Kansas City Scouts | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 93 | Dave Delich (C) | United States | Minnesota North Stars | Colorado College (WCHA) |
| 94 | Tony Horvath (D) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 95 | Jouni Rinne (RW) | Finland | California Golden Seals | Rauma (Finland) |
| 96 | Barry Scully (RW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 97 | Nels Goddard (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 98 | Rob Tudor (RW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 99 | John Peterson (G) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
| 100 | Don Wilson (D) | Canada | Washington Capitals | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL) |
| 101 | Vic Sirko (D) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 102 | Dan Djakalovic (C) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
| 103 | Larry McRae (G) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
| 104 | Yvon Vautour (RW) | Canada | New York Islanders | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 105 | Don Lemieux (D) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 106 | Ted Olson (LW) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 107 | Paul Klasinski (LW) | United States | Philadelphia Flyers | St. Paul Vulcans (MWJHL) |
| 108 | Pierre Brassard (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |

### Round seven

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 109 | Dale Rideout (G) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 110 | Jeff Barr (D) | United States | Minnesota North Stars | Michigan State University (WCHA) |
| 111 | Fern LeBlanc (C) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 112 | Remi Levesque (C) | Canada | New York Rangers | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 113 | Mike Eaves (C) | Canada/ United States | St. Louis Blues | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 114 | Brad Rhiness (C) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 115 | John Rothstein (RW) | United States | Chicago Black Hawks | University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) |
| 116 | Charlie Skjodt (C) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
| 117 | Sammy Bains (LW) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Austin Mavericks (MWJHL) |
| 118 | Rich Gosselin (C) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |

### Round eight

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 119 | Al Dumba (RW) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 120 | Claude Legris (G) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 121 | Jacques Soguel (C) | Switzerland | St. Louis Blues | Davos (Switzerland) |
| 122 | Stuart Ostlund (C) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 123 | John Gregory (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |

### Round nine

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 124 | Dave Dornseif (D) | United States | St. Louis Blues | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 125 | Bruce Horsch (G) | United States | Montreal Canadiens | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |

### Round ten

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 126 | Brad Wilson (C) | United States | St. Louis Blues | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 127 | John Tavella (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |

### Round eleven

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 128 | Dan Hoene (RW) | United States | St. Louis Blues | University of Michigan (WCHA) |
| 129 | Mark Davidson (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |

### Round twelve

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 130 | Goran Lindblom (D) | Sweden | St. Louis Blues | Skelleftea (Sweden) |
| 131 | Bill Wells (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |

### Round thirteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 132 | Jim Bales (G) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 133 | Ron Wilson (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL) |

### Round fourteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 134 | Anders Hakansson (LW) | Sweden | St. Louis Blues | Solna (Sweden) |

### Round fifteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 135 | Juhani Wallenius (C) | Finland | St. Louis Blues | Rauma (Finland) |
| = NHL All-Star · | = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |

## Draftees based on nationality

| Rank | Country | Amount |
| | North America | 127 |
| 1 | Canada | 104 |
| 2 | United States | 23 |
| | Europe | 8 |
| 3 | Sweden | 5 |
| 4 | Finland | 2 |
| 5 | Switzerland | 1 |