# 1974–75 Kansas City Scouts season

The 1974–75 Kansas City Scouts season was the first season for the franchise. The NHL completed its first 8-year expansion cycle by adding franchises in Washington and Kansas City. Kansas City was awarded an NHL franchise on June 8, 1972. The city had a hockey history but had been a home to minor league hockey teams only. Initially, the franchise chose MO-hawks as their nickname to reflect a Missouri-Kansas union, an attempt to appeal to both Kansas and Missouri residents (the Kansas City metropolitan area spills across both states) and incorporating Missouri's postal abbreviation with the Kansas Jayhawker nickname, but the name was vetoed by the Chicago Black Hawks. Therefore, the franchise selected its 2nd choice, Scouts. This was named after the famous statue overlooking the city.
The arrival of the Scouts and Capitals led the NHL into creating 4 divisions, the Adams, Norris, Patrick and Smythe Divisions. The Scouts would be placed in the Smythe Division while their expansion cousins, the Capitals, would be in the Norris Division. The Scouts played for the first time on October 9 in Toronto. With construction of Kemper Arena (the Scouts home arena) starting late, then delayed by union work stoppages, the Scouts were forced to play their first 8 games on the road losing 7 and tying 1. On November 2, the Scouts made their home debut losing 4–3 to the Black Hawks. The following day they would get their first win beating the Capitals in Washington 5–4. The highlight of the seasons would come on January 23 when the Scouts upset the Bruins 3–2 in Boston. Despite being led in scoring by team captain Simon Nolet, the Scouts finished in last place with a 15–54–11 record.
Kansas City's games aired on radio station WDAF-AM with Dick Carlson the play-by-play broadcaster. A limited number of road contests were televised by KBMA Channel 41. Gene Osborn handled play-by-play with Bill Grigsby serving as analyst.

## Offseason
### NHL draft

| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 2 | Wilf Paiement (RW) | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 20 | Glen Burdon (C) | Canada | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 3 | 38 | Bob Bourne (C) | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 4 | 56 | Roger Lemelin (D) | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 74 | Mark Lomenda (RW) | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 6 | 92 | John Shewchuk (C) | United States | St. Paul Vulcans (MWJHL) |
| 7 | 110 | Mike Boland (D) | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 145 | Brian Kuruliak (LW) | Canada | North Bay Trappers (OPJHL) |
| 10 | 162 | Denis Carufel (D) | Canada | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 11 | 177 | Soren Johansson (C) | Sweden | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |
| 12 | 191 | Mats Ulander (LW) | Sweden | Bodens BK (Sweden) |
| 13 | 203 | Ed Pizunski (D) | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 14 | 213 | Willie Wing (RW) | Canada | Hamilton Fincups (OMJHL) |

### Expansion draft

| # | Player | Drafted from | Drafted by |
| 1. | Michel Plasse (G) | Montreal Canadiens | Kansas City Scouts |
| 3. | Peter McDuffe (G) | New York Rangers | Kansas City Scouts |
| 5. | Simon Nolet (RW) | Philadelphia Flyers | Kansas City Scouts |
| 7. | Butch Deadmarsh (LW) | Atlanta Flames | Kansas City Scouts |
| 9. | Brent Hughes (D) | Detroit Red Wings | Kansas City Scouts |
| 11. | Paul Terbenche (D) | Buffalo Sabres | Kansas City Scouts |
| 13. | Gary Coalter (C) | California Golden Seals | Kansas City Scouts |
| 15. | Gary Croteau (LW) | California Golden Seals | Kansas City Scouts |
| 17. | Randy Rota (LW) | Los Angeles Kings | Kansas City Scouts |
| 19. | Lynn Powis (C) | Chicago Black Hawks | Kansas City Scouts |
| 21. | John Wright (W) | St. Louis Blues | Kansas City Scouts |
| 23. | Ted Snell (RW) | Pittsburgh Penguins | Kansas City Scouts |
| 25. | Chris Evans (W) | Detroit Red Wings | Kansas City Scouts |
| 27. | Bryan Lefley (D) | New York Islanders | Kansas City Scouts |
| 29. | Robin Burns (LW) | Pittsburgh Penguins | Kansas City Scouts |
| 31. | Tom Peluso (W) | Chicago Black Hawks | Kansas City Scouts |
| 33. | Kerry Ketter (D) | Atlanta Flames | Kansas City Scouts |
| 35. | Norm Dube (W) | Los Angeles Kings | Kansas City Scouts |
| 37. | Real Lemieux (C) | Vancouver Canucks | Kansas City Scouts |
| 39. | Dave Hudson (C) | Vancouver Canucks | Kansas City Scouts |
| 41. | Ken Murray (D) | Detroit Red Wings | Kansas City Scouts |
| 43. | Dennis Patterson (D) | Minnesota North Stars | Kansas City Scouts |
| 45. | Ed Gilbert (C) | Montreal Canadiens | Kansas City Scouts |
| 47. | Doug Horbul (W) | New York Rangers | Kansas City Scouts |

## Regular season

Along with the Washington Capitals, the Scouts joined the NHL as an expansion team for the 1974–75 season. With a combined 30 teams between the NHL and the rival World Hockey Association, the talent pool available to stock the new teams was extremely thin. In their first season, the Capitals would set an NHL record for futility, losing 67 of 80 games, and only winning one on the road. The Scouts fared only marginally better, and the expansion was widely seen as having been a mistake.
They played their home games at Kemper Arena. The team was not a particular success either at the gate or on the ice. Rising oil prices and a falling commodity market made for hard going in the Midwest during the 1970s.
* October 9, 1974 – The Scouts played their first game in franchise history against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The final score was 6–2 in favor of the Maple Leafs.
* November 2, 1974 – The first home game in Kansas City Scouts history was played. The opponent was the Chicago Blackhawks and the Blackhawks won the game by a score of 5–4.
* November 3, 1974 – The Scouts won their first game in franchise history by defeating their expansion brethren, the Washington Capitals by a 5–4 score.
* November 13, 1974 – The Scouts won their first home game in franchise history. The final score was 5–3 in a triumph over their cross-state rivals, the St. Louis Blues.
* December 9, 1974 – Prior to a morning practice, the team was informed that head athletic trainer Gordon Marchant had committed suicide at his farm near Plattsburg, Mo. north of Kansas City. Clinton County (Mo.) Sheriff Ray Boyd stated Marchant died of a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Marchant's body was discovered by Scouts equipment manager James Kraus. (Icing on the Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City's NHL Scouts, Pgs. 100–102, Troy Treasure, Balboa Press)
* January 23, 1975 – The Scouts had their biggest win of the season by defeating the Boston Bruins by a score of 3–2 in Boston. Gary Croteau's second-period goal turned out to be the game-winner. Following the game, a Boston fan attempted to attack Croteau at the Scouts' bench, but Boston police intervened. (Icing On The Plains: The Rough Ride of Kansas City's NHL Scouts, Pg. 122)

### Final standings

Smythe Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 271 | 254 | +17 | 86 |
| 2 | St. Louis Blues | 80 | 35 | 31 | 14 | 269 | 267 | +2 | 84 |
| 3 | Chicago Blackhawks | 80 | 37 | 35 | 8 | 268 | 241 | +27 | 82 |
| 4 | Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 23 | 50 | 7 | 221 | 341 | −120 | 53 |
| 5 | Kansas City Scouts | 80 | 15 | 54 | 11 | 184 | 328 | −144 | 41 |

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
CHI
KCS
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Chicago
—4–1–15–14–22–415–8–1
Kansas City
1–4–1—2–41–51–3–25–16–3
Minnesota
1–54–2—1–53–2–19–14–1
St. Louis
2–45–15–1—2–3–114–9–1
Vancouver
4–23–1–22–3–13–2–1—12–8–4
Vs. Patrick Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Chicago
3–21–1–31–3–11–46–10–4
Kansas City
0–4–11–40–4–10–4–11–16–3
Minnesota
1–3–10–4–11–41–43–15–2
St. Louis
3–22–2–11–3–12–38–10–2
Vancouver
2–1–22–1–22–31–47–9–4
Vs. Adams Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CAL
TOR
Total
Chicago
2–21–33–12–28–8–0
Kansas City
1–2–10–42–1–11–2–14–9–3
Minnesota
0–3–11–33–11–35–10–1
St. Louis
2–1–10–2–22–1–10–2–24–6–6
Vancouver
1–32–24–03–110–6–0
Vs. Norris Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
2–1–12–20–3–11–2–13–18–9–3
Kansas City
1–31–30–40–2–23–15–13–2
Minnesota
2–0–20–40–41–33–0–16–11–3
St. Louis
3–0–10–3–12–1–11–1–24–010–5–5
Vancouver
3–11–1–20–41–34–09–9–2 :

### Game log

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 9, 1974 | 2–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 12, 1974 | 2–6 | @ New York Islanders (1974–75) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 13, 1974 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 18, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | L | October 19, 1974 | 0–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) | 0–5–0 |
| 6 | T | October 23, 1974 | 4–4 | @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) | 0–5–1 |
| 7 | L | October 25, 1974 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 0–6–1 |
| 8 | L | October 27, 1974 | 2–8 | @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) | 0–7–1 |
| 9 | L | November 2, 1974 | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 0–8–1 |
| 10 | W | November 3, 1974 | 5–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) | 1–8–1 |
| 11 | L | November 5, 1974 | 3–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) | 1–9–1 |
| 12 | L | November 7, 1974 | 4–6 | Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 1–10–1 |
| 13 | L | November 9, 1974 | 1–6 | Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) | 1–11–1 |
| 14 | W | November 13, 1974 | 5–3 | St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 2–11–1 |
| 15 | W | November 15, 1974 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1974–75) | 3–11–1 |
| 16 | L | November 16, 1974 | 1–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 3–12–1 |
| 17 | L | November 20, 1974 | 0–1 | Atlanta Flames (1974–75) | 3–13–1 |
| 18 | L | November 22, 1974 | 6–7 | Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) | 3–14–1 |
| 19 | L | November 23, 1974 | 0–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 3–15–1 |
| 20 | W | November 26, 1974 | 4–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 4–15–1 |
| 21 | L | November 27, 1974 | 2–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) | 4–16–1 |
| 22 | L | November 30, 1974 | 0–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) | 4–17–1 |
| 23 | L | December 1, 1974 | 0–10 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) | 4–18–1 |
| 24 | L | December 4, 1974 | 3–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 4–19–1 |
| 25 | T | December 6, 1974 | 3–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) | 4–19–2 |
| 26 | L | December 7, 1974 | 1–4 | @ New York Islanders (1974–75) | 4–20–2 |
| 27 | L | December 10, 1974 | 2–6 | Boston Bruins (1974–75) | 4–21–2 |
| 28 | W | December 12, 1974 | 5–3 | California Golden Seals (1974–75) | 5–21–2 |
| 29 | T | December 14, 1974 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 5–21–3 |
| 30 | L | December 18, 1974 | 0–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) | 5–22–3 |
| 31 | T | December 19, 1974 | 4–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) | 5–22–4 |
| 32 | L | December 21, 1974 | 4–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 5–23–4 |
| 33 | L | December 22, 1974 | 2–5 | New York Islanders (1974–75) | 5–24–4 |
| 34 | L | December 28, 1974 | 2–7 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) | 5–25–4 |
| 35 | L | December 29, 1974 | 1–2 | @ New York Rangers (1974–75) | 5–26–4 |
| 36 | L | January 2, 1975 | 1–2 | St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 5–27–4 |
| 37 | W | January 4, 1975 | 2–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) | 6–27–4 |
| 38 | W | January 6, 1975 | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 7–27–4 |
| 39 | L | January 8, 1975 | 1–6 | New York Rangers (1974–75) | 7–28–4 |
| 40 | W | January 11, 1975 | 5–3 | Washington Capitals (1974–75) | 8–28–4 |
| 41 | L | January 14, 1975 | 4–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) | 8–29–4 |
| 42 | L | January 16, 1975 | 4–7 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) | 8–30–4 |
| 43 | W | January 18, 1975 | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 9–30–4 |
| 44 | L | January 19, 1975 | 0–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) | 9–31–4 |
| 45 | W | January 23, 1975 | 3–2 | @ Boston Bruins (1974–75) | 10–31–4 |
| 46 | L | January 25, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 10–32–4 |
| 47 | T | January 27, 1975 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1974–75) | 10–32–5 |
| 48 | T | January 29, 1975 | 4–4 | Atlanta Flames (1974–75) | 10–32–6 |
| 49 | L | February 1, 1975 | 2–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 10–33–6 |
| 50 | L | February 2, 1975 | 1–8 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) | 10–34–6 |
| 51 | T | February 4, 1975 | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 10–34–7 |
| 52 | W | February 6, 1975 | 3–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) | 11–34–7 |
| 53 | L | February 7, 1975 | 0–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 11–35–7 |
| 54 | W | February 9, 1975 | 2–1 | @ California Golden Seals (1974–75) | 12–35–7 |
| 55 | L | February 11, 1975 | 0–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 12–36–7 |
| 56 | W | February 13, 1975 | 5–1 | Washington Capitals (1974–75) | 13–36–7 |
| 57 | L | February 15, 1975 | 0–3 | California Golden Seals (1974–75) | 13–37–7 |
| 58 | L | February 16, 1975 | 0–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1974–75) | 13–38–7 |
| 59 | T | February 18, 1975 | 2–2 | New York Rangers (1974–75) | 13–38–8 |
| 60 | L | February 20, 1975 | 3–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) | 13–39–8 |
| 61 | W | February 23, 1975 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 14–39–8 |
| 62 | L | February 26, 1975 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) | 14–40–8 |
| 63 | L | March 1, 1975 | 0–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1974–75) | 14–41–8 |
| 64 | L | March 2, 1975 | 0–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1974–75) | 14–42–8 |
| 65 | L | March 4, 1975 | 4–7 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) | 14–43–8 |
| 66 | T | March 5, 1975 | 4–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) | 14–43–9 |
| 67 | L | March 7, 1975 | 2–5 | New York Rangers (1974–75) | 14–44–9 |
| 68 | L | March 8, 1975 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1974–75) | 14–45–9 |
| 69 | T | March 11, 1975 | 3–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1974–75) | 14–45–10 |
| 70 | L | March 14, 1975 | 1–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 14–46–10 |
| 71 | L | March 16, 1975 | 3–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1974–75) | 14–47–10 |
| 72 | L | March 19, 1975 | 1–3 | New York Islanders (1974–75) | 14–48–10 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1975 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1974–75) | 14–49–10 |
| 74 | L | March 25, 1975 | 1–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1974–75) | 14–50–10 |
| 75 | T | March 26, 1975 | 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1974–75) | 14–50–11 |
| 76 | L | March 29, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1974–75) | 14–51–11 |
| 77 | L | March 30, 1975 | 2–8 | @ New York Rangers (1974–75) | 14–52–11 |
| 78 | W | April 1, 1975 | 3–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1974–75) | 15–52–11 |
| 79 | L | April 3, 1975 | 4–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1974–75) | 15–53–11 |
| 80 | L | April 6, 1975 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1974–75) | 15–54–11 |

## Player stats
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Simon Nolet | 72 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 30 |
| Guy Charron | 51 | 13 | 29 | 42 | 21 |
| Dave Hudson | 70 | 9 | 32 | 41 | 27 |
| Wilf Paiement | 78 | 26 | 13 | 39 | 101 |
| Ed Gilbert | 80 | 16 | 22 | 38 | 14 |
| Robin Burns | 71 | 18 | 15 | 33 | 70 |
| Randy Rota | 80 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 30 |
| Lynn Powis | 73 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 19 |
| Gary Croteau | 77 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 16 |
| Norm Dube | 56 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 54 |
| Gary Coalter | 30 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| Butch Deadmarsh | 20 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 19 |
| Ted Snell | 29 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 8 |
| Doug Buhr | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Doug Horbul | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Hugh Harvey | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Jim McElmury | 78 | 5 | 17 | 22 | 25 |
| Brent Hughes | 66 | 1 | 18 | 19 | 43 |
| Jean-Guy Lagace | 19 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 22 |
| Bart Crashley | 27 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 |
| Claude Houde | 34 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 20 |
| Larry Johnston | 14 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 |
| Larry Giroux | 21 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 24 |
| Dennis Patterson | 66 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 39 |
| Bryan Lefley | 29 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Glen Burdon | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Chris Evans | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Ken Murray | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 |
| Roger Lemelin | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Mike Baumgartner | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Boland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Hank Lehvonen | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Denis Herron | 22 | 4 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 3.75 |
| Peter McDuffe | 36 | 7 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 4.23 |
| Michel Plasse | 24 | 4 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 4.06 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| August 22, 1974 | To Montreal Canadienscash | To Kansas City ScoutsMike Baumgartner |
| September 1, 1974 | To Atlanta Flamescash | To Kansas City ScoutsMorris Stefaniw |
| September 10, 1974 | To New York IslandersBob Bourne | To Kansas City ScoutsLarry Hornung Bart Crashley |
| October 29, 1974 | To St. Louis BluesChris Evans Kansas City's 4th round draft pick 1976 NHL entry draft | To Kansas City ScoutsLarry Giroux |
| December 1, 1974 | To Vancouver Blazers (WHA)Butch Deadmarsh | To Kansas City Scoutscash |
| December 14, 1974 | To Detroit Red WingsBart Crashley Ted Snell Larry Giroux | To Kansas City ScoutsGuy Charron Claude Houde |
| January 10, 1975 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsMichel Plasse | To Kansas City ScoutsJean-Guy Lagace Denis Herron |
| February 1, 1975 | To Los Angeles Kingscash | To Kansas City ScoutsDoug Buhr |
| February 10, 1975 | To Los Angeles KingsKen Murray | To Kansas City Scoutscash |
| June 3, 1975 | To Toronto Maple LeafsKansas City's 12th round pick 1975 NHL entry draft | To Kansas City Scoutscash |
| June 18, 1975 | To St. Louis BluesLynn Powis Kansas City's 2nd round pick 1975 NHL entry draft | To Kansas City ScoutsCraig Patrick Denis Dupere cash |