# 1975–76 California Golden Seals season

The 1975–76 California Golden Seals season would be the Seals' ninth and final season in the Bay Area of California. The Seals were led by rookie Dennis Maruk.
Maruk centered the 3M line with Bob Murdoch and Al MacAdam. Both Maruk and MacAdam scored over 30 goals while Murdoch led the team in power play goals. Although they recorded a solid improvement over the previous season, the Seals fell 7 points shy of a playoff spot.
Owner Mel Swig was counting on the construction of a new arena in San Francisco, but after the proposal was defeated, he was convinced by minority owner George Gund III to relocate the franchise to Cleveland, where it was renamed Cleveland Barons. The NHL returned to the Bay Area fifteen years later, when the San Jose Sharks entered via expansion.

## Offseason
### Amateur Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 3. | Ralph Klassen | Canada | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 2 | 21. | Dennis Maruk | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 39. | John Tweedle | Canada | Lake Superior State Lakers (CCHA) |
| 4 | 57. | Greg Smith | Canada | Colorado College Tigers (WCHA) |
| 5 | 75. | Doug Young | Canada | Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) |
| 6 | 93. | Larry Hendrick | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 7 | 111. | Rick Shinske | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 8 | 129. | Doug Schoenfeld | Canada | Cambridge Hornets (OHA Sr. A) |
| 9 | 146. | Jim Weaver | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 10 | 162. | Greg Agar | Canada | Merritt Centennials (BCJHL) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 48 | 15 | 17 | 313 | 237 | 113 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 339 | 240 | 105 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 34 | 31 | 15 | 294 | 276 | 83 |
| California Golden Seals | 80 | 27 | 42 | 11 | 250 | 278 | 65 |
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CAL
TOR
Total
Boston
—3–2–15–14–1–112–4–2
Buffalo
2–3–1—5–0–14–211–5–2
California
1–50–5–1—1–3–22–13–3
Toronto
1–4–12–43–1–2—6–9–3
Vs. Norris Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
3–0–24–10–3–23–0–24–0–114–4–7
Buffalo
4–13–22–34–14–0–117–7–1
California
3–1–12–30–52–2–13–1–110–12–3
Toronto
2–1–23–1–11–3–11–44–0–111–9–5
Vs. Patrick Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Boston
3–22–0–23–12–1–110–4–3
Buffalo
2–1–12–22–0–30–3–16–6–5
California
1–31–33–10–4–15–11–1
Toronto
2–21–3–14–00–3–17–8–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1975–76 NHL records
Team
CHI
KCS
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Boston
3–0–12–1–13–0–12–1–12–1–112–3–5
Buffalo
2–0–23–0–14–02–1–11–2–112–3–5
California
2–1–11–2–13–12–1–12–1–110–6–4
Toronto
1–2–13–0–13–12–0–21–2–110–5–5 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 8, 1975 | 4–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1975–76) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | W | October 11, 1975 | 5–2 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) | 2–0–0 |
| 3 | L | October 12, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) | 2–1–0 |
| 4 | L | October 15, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) | 2–2–0 |
| 5 | T | October 17, 1975 | 3–3 | Washington Capitals (1975–76) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | L | October 18, 1975 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) | 2–3–1 |
| 7 | W | October 22, 1975 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) | 3–3–1 |
| 8 | T | October 25, 1975 | 2–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 3–3–2 |
| 9 | L | October 26, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 3–4–2 |
| 10 | L | October 29, 1975 | 4–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) | 3–5–2 |
| 11 | L | October 31, 1975 | 0–2 | Atlanta Flames (1975–76) | 3–6–2 |
| 12 | L | November 2, 1975 | 0–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 3–7–2 |
| 13 | L | November 4, 1975 | 3–5 | @ New York Islanders (1975–76) | 3–8–2 |
| 14 | L | November 5, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) | 3–9–2 |
| 15 | W | November 7, 1975 | 7–5 | New York Rangers (1975–76) | 4–9–2 |
| 16 | L | November 9, 1975 | 3–6 | Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 4–10–2 |
| 17 | W | November 11, 1975 | 3–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) | 5–10–2 |
| 18 | W | November 12, 1975 | 5–1 | New York Islanders (1975–76) | 6–10–2 |
| 19 | L | November 14, 1975 | 2–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 6–11–2 |
| 20 | L | November 16, 1975 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 6–12–2 |
| 21 | W | November 18, 1975 | 5–3 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) | 7–12–2 |
| 22 | L | November 20, 1975 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) | 7–13–2 |
| 23 | W | November 21, 1975 | 2–0 | @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) | 8–13–2 |
| 24 | L | November 23, 1975 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1975–76) | 8–14–2 |
| 25 | W | November 26, 1975 | 2–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) | 9–14–2 |
| 26 | L | November 28, 1975 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 9–15–2 |
| 27 | L | November 30, 1975 | 1–4 | Atlanta Flames (1975–76) | 9–16–2 |
| 28 | L | December 3, 1975 | 2–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) | 9–17–2 |
| 29 | W | December 5, 1975 | 3–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) | 10–17–2 |
| 30 | T | December 10, 1975 | 1–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) | 10–17–3 |
| 31 | W | December 12, 1975 | 5–2 | St. Louis Blues (1975–76) | 11–17–3 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1975 | 2–9 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) | 11–18–3 |
| 33 | W | December 19, 1975 | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) | 12–18–3 |
| 34 | L | December 21, 1975 | 1–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) | 12–19–3 |
| 35 | L | December 26, 1975 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) | 12–20–3 |
| 36 | L | December 28, 1975 | 1–3 | Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) | 12–21–3 |
| 37 | L | December 30, 1975 | 3–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) | 12–22–3 |
| 38 | L | January 1, 1976 | 1–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 12–23–3 |
| 39 | W | January 2, 1976 | 8–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) | 13–23–3 |
| 40 | W | January 7, 1976 | 4–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) | 14–23–3 |
| 41 | W | January 9, 1976 | 5–0 | @ Washington Capitals (1975–76) | 15–23–3 |
| 42 | L | January 10, 1976 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 15–24–3 |
| 43 | T | January 14, 1976 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) | 15–24–4 |
| 44 | W | January 16, 1976 | 7–0 | New York Rangers (1975–76) | 16–24–4 |
| 45 | W | January 17, 1976 | 5–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) | 17–24–4 |
| 46 | W | January 23, 1976 | 4–1 | Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) | 18–24–4 |
| 47 | W | January 25, 1976 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 19–24–4 |
| 48 | L | January 28, 1976 | 2–4 | Washington Capitals (1975–76) | 19–25–4 |
| 49 | L | January 30, 1976 | 4–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) | 19–26–4 |
| 50 | L | February 1, 1976 | 5–9 | Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 19–27–4 |
| 51 | T | February 3, 1976 | 4–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) | 19–27–5 |
| 52 | L | February 4, 1976 | 1–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1975–76) | 19–28–5 |
| 53 | L | February 6, 1976 | 1–7 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) | 19–29–5 |
| 54 | T | February 8, 1976 | 5–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 19–29–6 |
| 55 | T | February 11, 1976 | 4–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) | 19–29–7 |
| 56 | L | February 13, 1976 | 5–6 | Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 19–30–7 |
| 57 | W | February 15, 1976 | 7–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) | 20–30–7 |
| 58 | L | February 16, 1976 | 2–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1975–76) | 20–31–7 |
| 59 | W | February 18, 1976 | 6–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1975–76) | 21–31–7 |
| 60 | L | February 20, 1976 | 4–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) | 21–32–7 |
| 61 | W | February 22, 1976 | 5–2 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1975–76) | 22–32–7 |
| 62 | W | February 25, 1976 | 6–4 | @ New York Rangers (1975–76) | 23–32–7 |
| 63 | T | February 26, 1976 | 1–1 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) | 23–32–8 |
| 64 | L | February 28, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 23–33–8 |
| 65 | L | February 29, 1976 | 1–6 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1975–76) | 23–34–8 |
| 66 | L | March 2, 1976 | 1–2 | @ New York Islanders (1975–76) | 23–35–8 |
| 67 | L | March 3, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) | 23–36–8 |
| 68 | W | March 5, 1976 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 24–36–8 |
| 69 | T | March 7, 1976 | 7–7 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1975–76) | 24–36–9 |
| 70 | W | March 10, 1976 | 4–3 | Detroit Red Wings (1975–76) | 25–36–9 |
| 71 | L | March 13, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1975–76) | 25–37–9 |
| 72 | L | March 14, 1976 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1975–76) | 25–38–9 |
| 73 | L | March 17, 1976 | 3–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1975–76) | 25–39–9 |
| 74 | L | March 19, 1976 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1975–76) | 25–40–9 |
| 75 | T | March 20, 1976 | 2–2 | @ Kansas City Scouts (1975–76) | 25–40–10 |
| 76 | W | March 22, 1976 | 7–1 | St. Louis Blues (1975–76) | 26–40–10 |
| 77 | L | March 26, 1976 | 2–3 | New York Islanders (1975–76) | 26–41–10 |
| 78 | T | March 30, 1976 | 4–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) | 26–41–11 |
| 79 | L | April 2, 1976 | 0–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1975–76) | 26–42–11 |
| 80 | W | April 4, 1976 | 5–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1975–76) | 27–42–11 |

## 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 |
| Al MacAdam | 25 | 80 | 32 | 31 | 63 | 49 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dennis Maruk | 21 | 80 | 30 | 32 | 62 | 44 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wayne Merrick$^†$ | 9 | 56 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 36 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rick Hampton | 2 | 73 | 14 | 37 | 51 | 54 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bob Murdoch | 20 | 78 | 22 | 27 | 49 | 53 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Sabourin | 11 | 76 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 33 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dave Gardner | 7 | 74 | 16 | 31 | 47 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bob Girard | 26 | 80 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 54 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jim Moxey | 19 | 44 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 33 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fred Ahern | 16 | 44 | 17 | 8 | 25 | 43 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ralph Klassen | 10 | 71 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bob Stewart | 4 | 76 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 112 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mike Christie | 3 | 78 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 152 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jim Pappin | 14 | 32 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Len Frig | 6 | 62 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 55 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dave Hrechkosy$^‡$ | 18 | 38 | 9 | 5 | 14 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – |
| George Pesut | 5 | 45 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 57 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wayne King | 24 | 46 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Holt | 8 | 48 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 50 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tim Jacobs | 23 | 46 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 35 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Larry Patey$^‡$ | 9 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 23 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jim Neilson | 15 | 26 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 20 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Butch Williams | 12 | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 7 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Charlie Simmer | 17 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Frank Spring | 14 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Greg Smith | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 41 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brent Meeke | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tom Price | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Simmons | 31 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | – | – | – | – | – |
$^†$Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. $^‡$Traded mid-season

### 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 |
| Gary Simmons | 31 | 40 | 2360 | 15 | 19 | 5 | 131 | 2 | 3.33 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 41 | 2440 | 12 | 23 | 6 | 140 | 1 | 3.44 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1975–76 season:

### Trades

| June, 1975 | To California Golden Seals Gary Holt | To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA) rights to Del Hall rights to Ron Huston |
| June 1, 1975 | To California Golden Seals Jim Pappin 3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (Guy Lash) | To Chicago Black Hawks Joey Johnston |
| June 20, 1975 | To California Golden Seals Gary Sabourin | To Toronto Maple Leafs Stan Weir |
| October 22, 1975 | To California Golden Seals cash | To St. Louis Blues rights to Rick Smith |
| November 14, 1975 | To California Golden Seals Wayne Merrick | To St. Louis Blues Larry Patey 3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (reacquired later—Reg Kerr) |
| March 9, 1976 | To California Golden Seals 5th round pick in 1976 Draft (Cal Sandbeck) Seals' 3rd round pick in 1977 Draft (Reg Kerr) | To St. Louis Blues Dave Hrechkosy |

### Additions and subtractions

Additions :
| Player | Former team | Via |
Subtractions :
| Player | New team | Via |
| Brian Lavender | Denver Spurs (WHA) | free agency |
| Ted McAneeley | Edmonton Oilers (WHA) | free agency |
| Morris Mott | Frölunda HC (Elitserien) | free agency |
| John Stewart | Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) | free agency |
| Larry Wright | Philadelphia Flyers | free agency (1975-09-10) |
| Terry Murray | Philadelphia Flyers | free agency (1975-09-17) |