# 1972–73 Atlanta Flames season

The 1972–73 Atlanta Flames season was the inaugural season for the Flames' franchise.

## Offseason
### NHL Amateur Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 2. | Jacques Richard | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 2 | 18. | Dwight Bialowas | Canada | Regina Pats (WCJHL) |
| 3 | 34. | Jean Lemieux | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 50. | Don Martineau | Canada | New Westminster Royals (WCJHL) |
| 5 | 78. | Jean-Paul Martin | Canada | Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 82. | Frank Blum | Canada | Sarnia Sting (SOJHL) |
| 7 | 98. | Scott Smith | Canada | Regina Pats (WCJHL) |
| 8 | 114. | Dave Murphy | Canada | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 9 | 130. | Pierre Roy | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 132. | Jean Lamarre | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |

### NHL Expansion Draft

| Pick | Player | Position | Drafted From |
| 1. | Phil Myre | G | Montreal Canadiens |
| 3. | Dan Bouchard | G | Boston Bruins |
| 6. | Kerry Ketter | D | Montreal Canadiens |
| 8. | Norm Gratton | LW | New York Rangers |
| 10. | Ron Harris | D | Detroit Red Wings |
| 12. | Larry Romanchych | RW | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 14. | Bill MacMillan | LW | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 16. | Randy Manery | D | Detroit Red Wings |
| 18. | Keith McCreary | RW | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 20. | Ernie Hicke | C | California Golden Seals |
| 22. | Lew Morrison | RW | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 24. | Lucien Grenier | LW | Los Angeles Kings |
| 26. | Bill Plager | D | St. Louis Blues |
| 28. | Morris Stefaniw | C | New York Rangers |
| 30. | John Stewart | LW | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 32. | Bob Leiter | C | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 34. | Pat Quinn | D | Vancouver Canucks |
| 36. | Larry Hale | D | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 38. | Bill Heindl Jr. | LW | Minnesota North Stars |
| 40. | Frank Hughes | LW | California Golden Seals |
| 42. | Rod Zaine | C | Buffalo Sabres |

## Regular season

When it was first announced that Atlanta would have an NHL franchise many hockey observers thought that a team based in the southern United States was a ludicrous and foolish move, especially since the talent pool had been diluted by repeated expansion and the upstart WHA. Nevertheless, the team quickly began front office operations, naming young St. Louis Blues assistant general manager Cliff Fletcher as general manager. Soon after, Fletcher had found the team its first coach: former Canadiens star forward Bernie "Boom-Boom" Geoffrion.
The team was a pleasant surprise in its first season on the ice, its success built on new star goaltenders Dan Bouchard and Phil Myre, solid defensemen such as Randy Manery and Pat Quinn, and forwards Rey Comeau, (captain) Keith McCreary, Larry Romanchych and Bob Leiter. Despite its inexperience as a team, the Flames were quite successful in the beginning of their rookie season, posting a 20–19–8 record by January 19, 1973, off the success of their young goaltending tandem. However, they lost 19 of their last 31 games, finishing out of the playoffs. Part of the problem as that in defiance of all geographic reality, the Flames were placed in the West Division—saddling them with some of the longest road trips in the league—and ultimately, the team's excellent defense and goaltending were sabotaged by its lack of goalscoring, finishing second worst in the NHL in that category. However, their 65 points were 35 better than the Islanders, who toiled at the bottom of the East Division.

### Season standings

West Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 42 | 27 | 9 | 284 | 225 | +59 | 93 |
| 2 | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 37 | 30 | 11 | 296 | 256 | +40 | 85 |
| 3 | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 37 | 30 | 11 | 254 | 230 | +24 | 85 |
| 4 | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 32 | 34 | 12 | 233 | 251 | −18 | 76 |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 32 | 37 | 9 | 257 | 265 | −8 | 73 |
| 6 | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 31 | 36 | 11 | 232 | 245 | −13 | 73 |
| 7 | Atlanta Flames | 78 | 25 | 38 | 15 | 191 | 239 | −48 | 65 |
| 8 | California Golden Seals | 78 | 16 | 46 | 16 | 213 | 323 | −110 | 48 |

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

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | W | October 7, 1972 | 3–2 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 1–0–0 | 12,221 |
| 2 | L | October 8, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 1–1–0 | 15,508 |
| 3 | L | October 11, 1972 | 1–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 1–2–0 | N/A |
| 4 | L | October 12, 1972 | 0–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 1–3–0 | 16,002 |
| 5 | T | October 14, 1972 | 1–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 1–3–1 | 14,568 |
| 6 | L | October 18, 1972 | 0–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 1–4–1 | 8,852 |
| 7 | W | October 21, 1972 | 3–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 2–4–1 | 15,229 |
| 8 | L | October 22, 1972 | 2–7 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 2–5–1 | 15,516 |
| 9 | W | October 25, 1972 | 4–3 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 3–5–1 | 1,998 |
| 10 | L | October 26, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 3–6–1 | 6,155 |
| 11 | W | October 28, 1972 | 2–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 4–6–1 | 15,570 |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1972 | 4–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 5–6–1 | 11,344 |
| 13 | L | November 2, 1972 | 1–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 5–7–1 | 12,280 |
| 14 | T | November 5, 1972 | 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 5–7–2 | 10,732 |
| 15 | T | November 8, 1972 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 5–7–3 | 9,073 |
| 16 | W | November 10, 1972 | 5–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 6–7–3 | 12,066 |
| 17 | W | November 12, 1972 | 3–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 7–7–3 | 10,486 |
| 18 | L | November 15, 1972 | 1–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 7–8–3 | 16,381 |
| 19 | W | November 16, 1972 | 4–0 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 8–8–3 | 9,820 |
| 20 | L | November 18, 1972 | 1–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 8–9–3 | 10,959 |
| 21 | W | November 19, 1972 | 3–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 9–9–3 | 9,972 |
| 22 | L | November 21, 1972 | 1–3 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 9–10–3 | 11,505 |
| 23 | L | November 24, 1972 | 0–4 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 9–11–3 | 15,078 |
| 24 | W | November 26, 1972 | 6–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 10–11–3 | 9,041 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1972 | 0–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 10–12–3 | 15,125 |
| 26 | T | November 30, 1972 | 5–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 10–12–4 | 14,221 |
| 27 | T | December 2, 1972 | 4–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 10–12–5 | 16,455 |
| 28 | L | December 3, 1972 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 10–13–5 | 17,500 |
| 29 | W | December 7, 1972 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 11–13–5 | 11,018 |
| 30 | L | December 9, 1972 | 1–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 11–14–5 | 18,425 |
| 31 | L | December 10, 1972 | 4–5 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 11–15–5 | 11,140 |
| 32 | W | December 13, 1972 | 2–0 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 12–15–5 | 11,044 |
| 33 | L | December 16, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 12–16–5 | 11,095 |
| 34 | W | December 17, 1972 | 4–0 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 13–16–5 | 10,117 |
| 35 | W | December 20, 1972 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 14–16–5 | 12,590 |
| 36 | W | December 21, 1972 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 15–16–5 | 17,500 |
| 37 | L | December 23, 1972 | 1–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 15–17–5 | 15,003 |
| 38 | L | December 27, 1972 | 1–3 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 15–18–5 | 15,078 |
| 39 | T | December 30, 1972 | 1–1 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 15–18–6 | 17,024 |
| 40 | W | January 2, 1973 | 6–1 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 16–18–6 | 10,042 |
| 41 | L | January 3, 1973 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 16–19–6 | 11,144 |
| 42 | T | January 6, 1973 | 2–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 16–19–7 | 19,065 |
| 43 | W | January 7, 1973 | 5–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 17–19–7 | 9,206 |
| 44 | W | January 10, 1973 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 18–19–7 | 11,829 |
| 45 | W | January 12, 1973 | 1–0 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 19–19–7 | 15,078 |
| 46 | W | January 14, 1973 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 20–19–7 | 11,194 |
| 47 | T | January 17, 1973 | 3–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 20–19–8 | 18,181 |
| 48 | L | January 19, 1973 | 1–2 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 20–20–8 | 15,078 |
| 49 | L | January 21, 1973 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 20–21–8 | 15,078 |
| 50 | L | January 24, 1973 | 2–5 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 20–22–8 | 11,222 |
| 51 | T | January 26, 1973 | 3–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 20–22–9 | 15,078 |
| 52 | W | January 28, 1973 | 8–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 21–22–9 | 15,668 |
| 53 | W | February 1, 1973 | 3–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 22–22–9 | 14,169 |
| 54 | L | February 3, 1973 | 0–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 22–23–9 | 12,862 |
| 55 | L | February 4, 1973 | 0–6 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 22–24–9 | 17,500 |
| 56 | L | February 7, 1973 | 3–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 22–25–9 | 13,186 |
| 57 | L | February 9, 1973 | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 22–26–9 | 15,078 |
| 58 | W | February 11, 1973 | 3–1 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 23–26–9 | 13,422 |
| 59 | T | February 14, 1973 | 3–3 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 23–26–10 | 3,829 |
| 60 | L | February 16, 1973 | 0–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 23–27–10 | 15,570 |
| 61 | T | February 17, 1973 | 3–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 23–27–11 | 11,108 |
| 62 | T | February 21, 1973 | 2–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 23–27–12 | 16,352 |
| 63 | L | February 25, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 23–28–12 | N/A |
| 64 | T | March 1, 1973 | 4–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 23–28–13 | 12,730 |
| 65 | L | March 3, 1973 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 23–29–13 | 15,512 |
| 66 | W | March 4, 1973 | 3–2 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 24–29–13 | 11,565 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1973 | 2–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 24–30–13 | 12,632 |
| 68 | L | March 9, 1973 | 2–3 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 24–31–13 | 15,078 |
| 69 | L | March 10, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 24–32–13 | 16,600 |
| 70 | T | March 14, 1973 | 1–1 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 24–32–14 | 15,078 |
| 71 | W | March 17, 1973 | 3–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 25–32–14 | 15,078 |
| 72 | L | March 18, 1973 | 1–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 25–33–14 | 15,003 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1973 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 25–34–14 | 15,078 |
| 74 | L | March 24, 1973 | 0–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 25–35–14 | N/A |
| 75 | L | March 25, 1973 | 2–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 25–36–14 | 13,200 |
| 76 | L | March 28, 1973 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 25–37–14 | 10,081 |
| 77 | L | March 29, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 25–38–14 | 16,600 |
| 78 | T | April 1, 1973 | 4–4 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 25–38–15 | 13,592 |

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty 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 |
| Bob Leiter | 16 | 78 | 26 | 34 | 60 | 19 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Larry Romanchych | 21 | 70 | 18 | 30 | 48 | 39 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Rey Comeau | 18 | 77 | 21 | 21 | 42 | 19 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Keith McCreary | 9 | 77 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 21 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Ernie Hicke$^‡$ | 12 | 58 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 37 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Curt Bennett$^†$ | 5 | 52 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 9 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Randy Manery | 7 | 78 | 5 | 30 | 35 | 44 | – | – | – | – | - |
| John Stewart | 17 | 68 | 17 | 17 | 34 | 30 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Jacques Richard | 15 | 74 | 13 | 18 | 31 | 32 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Leon Rochefort$^†$ | 11 | 54 | 9 | 18 | 27 | 10 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bill MacMillan | 20 | 78 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 52 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Pat Quinn | 3 | 78 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 113 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Lew Morrison | 8 | 77 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 19 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Noel Price | 4 | 54 | 1 | 13 | 14 | 38 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bill Plager | 2 | 76 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 92 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Noel Picard$^†$ | 22 | 41 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 43 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Norm Gratton$^‡$ | 10 | 29 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bob Paradise | 6 | 71 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 103 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Ron Harris$^‡$ | 5 | 24 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Morris Stefaniw | 19 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Kerry Ketter | 24 | 41 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 58 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Arnie Brown$^†$ | 19 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 17 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Butch Deadmarsh$^†$ | 10 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Dan Bouchard | 30 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Phil Myre | 1 | 46 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 5 | – | – | – | – | - |
| Bill Hogaboam$^‡$ | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | - |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Atlanta. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. $^‡$Traded mid-season

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; 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 |
| Phil Myre | 1 | 46 | 2736 | 16 | 23 | 5 | 138 | 2 | 3.03 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |
| Dan Bouchard | 30 | 34 | 1944 | 9 | 15 | 10 | 100 | 2 | 3.09 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season.

### Trades

| June, 1972 | To: Atlanta Flames Ted Tucker | To: Montreal Canadiens cash |
| June, 1972 | To: Atlanta Flames Bill Hogaboam | To: New York Rangers Bill Heindl Jr. |
| October, 1972 | To: Atlanta Flames Brian McKenzie | To: Pittsburgh Penguins cash |
| November 28, 1972 | To: Atlanta Flames Leon Rochefort | To: Detroit Red Wings Bill Hogaboam |
| November 29, 1972 | To: Atlanta Flames Curt Bennett | To: New York Rangers Ron Harris |
| February 13, 1973 | To: Atlanta Flames Arnie Brown | To: New York Islanders Ernie Hicke future considerations (Bill MacMillan; May 29, 1973) |
| February 14, 1973 | To: Atlanta Flames Butch Deadmarsh | To: Buffalo Sabres Norm Gratton |

### Free agents

| Player | Former team |
| D Ed Kea | St. Petersburg Suns (EHL) |
| Player | New team |

### Claimed off waivers

| Player | Former team |
| D Noel Picard | St. Louis Blues |