# 1973–74 California Golden Seals season

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. 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.

## Offseason
### Amateur draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 3 | 34. | Jeff Jacques | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 4 | 50. | Ron Serafini | United States | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 5 | 66. | Jim Moxey | Canada | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 6 | 82. | Willie Trognitz | Canada | Thunder Bay (Junior) |
| 7 | 98. | Paul Tantardini | Canada | Downsview Beavers (OPJHL) |
| 8 | 114. | Bruce Greig | Canada | Vancouver Nats (WCHL) |
| 9 | 130. | Larry Patey | Canada | Braintree Hawks (NEJHL) |
| 10 | 145. | Doug Mahood | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 11 | 160. | Angie Moretto | Canada | University of Michigan (NCAA) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

West Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 50 | 16 | 12 | 273 | 164 | +109 | 112 |
| 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 41 | 14 | 23 | 272 | 164 | +108 | 105 |
| 3 | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 33 | 33 | 12 | 233 | 231 | +2 | 78 |
| 4 | Atlanta Flames | 78 | 30 | 34 | 14 | 214 | 238 | −24 | 74 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 28 | 41 | 9 | 242 | 273 | −31 | 65 |
| 6 | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 26 | 40 | 12 | 206 | 248 | −42 | 64 |
| 7 | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 23 | 38 | 17 | 235 | 275 | −40 | 63 |
| 8 | California Golden Seals | 78 | 13 | 55 | 10 | 195 | 342 | −147 | 36 |

### Record vs. opponents
## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 10, 1973 | 2–1 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 12, 1973 | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 17, 1973 | 1–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 20, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | L | October 21, 1973 | 2–11 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 2–3–0 |
| 6 | W | October 24, 1973 | 7–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 3–3–0 |
| 7 | L | October 26, 1973 | 1–3 | Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 3–4–0 |
| 8 | L | October 28, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 3–5–0 |
| 9 | L | October 31, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 3–6–0 |
| 10 | L | November 1, 1973 | 2–7 | @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 3–7–0 |
| 11 | L | November 3, 1973 | 2–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) | 3–8–0 |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 3–9–0 |
| 13 | T | November 7, 1973 | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 3–9–1 |
| 14 | W | November 9, 1973 | 6–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 4–9–1 |
| 15 | L | November 14, 1973 | 1–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 4–10–1 |
| 16 | L | November 16, 1973 | 1–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 4–11–1 |
| 17 | W | November 18, 1973 | 2–0 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 5–11–1 |
| 18 | L | November 21, 1973 | 0–3 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 5–12–1 |
| 19 | L | November 24, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 5–13–1 |
| 20 | L | November 25, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 5–14–1 |
| 21 | W | November 28, 1973 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 6–14–1 |
| 22 | L | December 1, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 6–15–1 |
| 23 | L | December 2, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 6–16–1 |
| 24 | T | December 5, 1973 | 3–3 | Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 6–16–2 |
| 25 | W | December 7, 1973 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 7–16–2 |
| 26 | L | December 9, 1973 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 7–17–2 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1973 | 3–6 | @ New York Islanders (1973–74) | 7–18–2 |
| 28 | L | December 12, 1973 | 1–9 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 7–19–2 |
| 29 | T | December 14, 1973 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) | 7–19–3 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 7–20–3 |
| 31 | L | December 18, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) | 7–21–3 |
| 32 | L | December 19, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 7–22–3 |
| 33 | T | December 23, 1973 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 7–22–4 |
| 34 | L | December 26, 1973 | 4–6 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 7–23–4 |
| 35 | T | December 28, 1973 | 4–4 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 7–23–5 |
| 36 | L | December 30, 1973 | 1–8 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 7–24–5 |
| 37 | W | January 2, 1974 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 8–24–5 |
| 38 | L | January 5, 1974 | 1–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 8–25–5 |
| 39 | L | January 6, 1974 | 4–9 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 8–26–5 |
| 40 | W | January 9, 1974 | 8–6 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 9–26–5 |
| 41 | L | January 11, 1974 | 2–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 9–27–5 |
| 42 | L | January 13, 1974 | 2–7 | New York Rangers (1973–74) | 9–28–5 |
| 43 | T | January 16, 1974 | 5–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 9–28–6 |
| 44 | L | January 18, 1974 | 2–6 | @ Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 9–29–6 |
| 45 | L | January 20, 1974 | 4–6 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 9–30–6 |
| 46 | L | January 22, 1974 | 3–4 | @ New York Islanders (1973–74) | 9–31–6 |
| 47 | L | January 23, 1974 | 2–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 9–32–6 |
| 48 | L | January 25, 1974 | 0–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1973–74) | 9–33–6 |
| 49 | T | January 27, 1974 | 2–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 9–33–7 |
| 50 | L | January 30, 1974 | 4–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 9–34–7 |
| 51 | L | January 31, 1974 | 1–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 9–35–7 |
| 52 | L | February 2, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 9–36–7 |
| 53 | W | February 3, 1974 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 10–36–7 |
| 54 | W | February 6, 1974 | 4–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 11–36–7 |
| 55 | L | February 8, 1974 | 2–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1973–74) | 11–37–7 |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1974 | 6–9 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 11–38–7 |
| 57 | L | February 16, 1974 | 3–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 11–39–7 |
| 58 | L | February 17, 1974 | 1–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 11–40–7 |
| 59 | L | February 20, 1974 | 0–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 11–41–7 |
| 60 | L | February 22, 1974 | 3–4 | New York Rangers (1973–74) | 11–42–7 |
| 61 | T | February 27, 1974 | 2–2 | St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 11–42–8 |
| 62 | W | March 2, 1974 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) | 12–42–8 |
| 63 | L | March 3, 1974 | 2–8 | @ New York Rangers (1973–74) | 12–43–8 |
| 64 | L | March 5, 1974 | 1–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 12–44–8 |
| 65 | T | March 6, 1974 | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1973–74) | 12–44–9 |
| 66 | W | March 10, 1974 | 6–2 | Boston Bruins (1973–74) | 13–44–9 |
| 67 | L | March 13, 1974 | 2–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1973–74) | 13–45–9 |
| 68 | L | March 15, 1974 | 1–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1973–74) | 13–46–9 |
| 69 | L | March 19, 1974 | 3–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1973–74) | 13–47–9 |
| 70 | L | March 21, 1974 | 3–6 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 13–48–9 |
| 71 | L | March 22, 1974 | 2–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1973–74) | 13–49–9 |
| 72 | L | March 24, 1974 | 1–7 | Los Angeles Kings (1973–74) | 13–50–9 |
| 73 | T | March 27, 1974 | 2–2 | New York Islanders (1973–74) | 13–50–10 |
| 74 | L | March 29, 1974 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1973–74) | 13–51–10 |
| 75 | L | March 31, 1974 | 0–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 13–52–10 |
| 76 | L | April 2, 1974 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1973–74) | 13–53–10 |
| 77 | L | April 3, 1974 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1973–74) | 13–54–10 |
| 78 | L | April 5, 1974 | 2–4 | Atlanta Flames (1973–74) | 13–55–10 |

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes
| | | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Joey 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 | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs | Playoffs |
| Player | # | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Ted 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) |