# 1972–73 California Golden Seals season

The 1972–73 California Golden Seals season was the California Golden Seals' sixth season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Seals were hit particularly hard by defections to the new World Hockey Association, dropping 12 points from the previous year and returning to the basement of the West Division. The Seals had the second worst record in the league, the only team they finished ahead of was the expansion New York Islanders. Making things even worse was that they finished behind one of the two expansion clubs that season, the Atlanta Flames.

## Offseason
### Amateur Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 2 | 22. | Tom Cassidy | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 2 | 28. | Stan Weir | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 3 | 38. | Paul Shakes | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 4 | 54. | Claude St. Sauveur | Canada | Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 70. | Tim Jacobs | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 6 | 86. | Jacques Lefebvre | Canada | Shawinigan Bruins (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 102. | Mike Amodeo | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 8 | 118. | Brent Meeke | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 9 | 134. | Denis Meloche | Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |

## Regular season
### Final 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 |
| 1 | L | October 7, 1972 | 2–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 14, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | W | October 15, 1972 | 4–1 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | T | October 20, 1972 | 3–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 1–3–1 |
| 6 | L | October 22, 1972 | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 1–4–1 |
| 7 | L | October 24, 1972 | 0–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 1–5–1 |
| 8 | L | October 25, 1972 | 3–4 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 1–6–1 |
| 9 | W | October 27, 1972 | 6–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | November 1, 1972 | 2–6 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | T | November 3, 1972 | 6–6 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 2–7–2 |
| 12 | T | November 5, 1972 | 3–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 2–7–3 |
| 13 | L | November 8, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 2–8–3 |
| 14 | T | November 9, 1972 | 0–0 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 2–8–4 |
| 15 | L | November 11, 1972 | 2–7 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 2–9–4 |
| 16 | L | November 12, 1972 | 3–8 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 2–10–4 |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1972 | 0–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 2–11–4 |
| 18 | W | November 17, 1972 | 5–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 3–11–4 |
| 19 | L | November 21, 1972 | 2–4 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 3–12–4 |
| 20 | L | November 23, 1972 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 3–13–4 |
| 21 | L | November 25, 1972 | 0–11 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 3–14–4 |
| 22 | W | November 26, 1972 | 6–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 4–14–4 |
| 23 | L | November 29, 1972 | 1–2 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 4–15–4 |
| 24 | T | December 1, 1972 | 3–3 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 4–15–5 |
| 25 | T | December 6, 1972 | 4–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 4–15–6 |
| 26 | L | December 9, 1972 | 1–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 4–16–6 |
| 27 | L | December 10, 1972 | 4–8 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 4–17–6 |
| 28 | T | December 13, 1972 | 2–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 4–17–7 |
| 29 | L | December 15, 1972 | 4–9 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 4–18–7 |
| 30 | L | December 16, 1972 | 3–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 4–19–7 |
| 31 | L | December 20, 1972 | 2–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 4–20–7 |
| 32 | W | December 22, 1972 | 4–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 5–20–7 |
| 33 | L | December 24, 1972 | 3–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 5–21–7 |
| 34 | L | December 26, 1972 | 3–4 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 5–22–7 |
| 35 | T | December 27, 1972 | 2–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 5–22–8 |
| 36 | W | December 29, 1972 | 5–2 | New York Islanders (1972–73) | 6–22–8 |
| 37 | W | January 3, 1973 | 11–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 7–22–8 |
| 38 | L | January 6, 1973 | 0–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 7–23–8 |
| 39 | L | January 7, 1973 | 0–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 7–24–8 |
| 40 | W | January 10, 1973 | 6–5 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 8–24–8 |
| 41 | T | January 12, 1973 | 3–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 8–24–9 |
| 42 | T | January 14, 1973 | 6–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 8–24–10 |
| 43 | T | January 17, 1973 | 3–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 8–24–11 |
| 44 | L | January 19, 1973 | 0–6 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 8–25–11 |
| 45 | L | January 21, 1973 | 2–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 8–26–11 |
| 46 | L | January 23, 1973 | 1–8 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 8–27–11 |
| 47 | W | January 24, 1973 | 5–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 9–27–11 |
| 48 | T | January 26, 1973 | 1–1 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 9–27–12 |
| 49 | L | January 28, 1973 | 3–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 9–28–12 |
| 50 | L | January 31, 1973 | 1–3 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 9–29–12 |
| 51 | L | February 1, 1973 | 4–6 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 9–30–12 |
| 52 | L | February 3, 1973 | 1–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 9–31–12 |
| 53 | L | February 4, 1973 | 1–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 9–32–12 |
| 54 | L | February 7, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 9–33–12 |
| 55 | L | February 8, 1973 | 0–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 9–34–12 |
| 56 | L | February 10, 1973 | 2–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 9–35–12 |
| 57 | L | February 11, 1973 | 1–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 9–36–12 |
| 58 | T | February 14, 1973 | 3–3 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 9–36–13 |
| 59 | T | February 16, 1973 | 2–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 9–36–14 |
| 60 | L | February 18, 1973 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 9–37–14 |
| 61 | L | February 21, 1973 | 2–6 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 9–38–14 |
| 62 | W | February 23, 1973 | 5–3 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 10–38–14 |
| 63 | L | February 25, 1973 | 0–7 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 10–39–14 |
| 64 | L | February 28, 1973 | 3–7 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 10–40–14 |
| 65 | W | March 3, 1973 | 2–1 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 11–40–14 |
| 66 | L | March 4, 1973 | 2–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 11–41–14 |
| 67 | T | March 7, 1973 | 2–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 11–41–15 |
| 68 | L | March 10, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 11–42–15 |
| 69 | L | March 11, 1973 | 1–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 11–43–15 |
| 70 | L | March 14, 1973 | 2–5 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 11–44–15 |
| 71 | T | March 16, 1973 | 5–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 11–44–16 |
| 72 | W | March 18, 1973 | 2–0 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 12–44–16 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1973 | 3–6 | @ New York Islanders (1972–73) | 12–45–16 |
| 74 | L | March 21, 1973 | 2–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 12–46–16 |
| 75 | W | March 23, 1973 | 7–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 13–46–16 |
| 76 | W | March 25, 1973 | 8–5 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 14–46–16 |
| 77 | W | March 28, 1973 | 3–2 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 15–46–16 |
| 78 | W | March 30, 1973 | 3–1 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 16–46–16 |

## 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 |
| Walt McKechnie | 8 | 78 | 16 | 38 | 54 | 58 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Hilliard Graves | 17 | 75 | 27 | 25 | 52 | 34 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Joey Johnston | 22 | 71 | 28 | 21 | 49 | 62 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Craig Patrick | 14 | 71 | 20 | 22 | 42 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pete Laframboise | 24 | 77 | 16 | 25 | 41 | 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stan Weir | 21 | 78 | 15 | 24 | 39 | 16 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Reggie Leach | 7 | 76 | 23 | 12 | 35 | 45 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ivan Boldirev | 9 | 56 | 11 | 23 | 34 | 58 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rick Smith | 5 | 64 | 9 | 24 | 33 | 77 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Marshall Johnston | 2 | 78 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Darryl Maggs† | 4 | 54 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 46 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Croteau | 18 | 47 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stan Gilbertson | 15 | 66 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 19 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bob Stewart | 6 | 63 | 4 | 17 | 21 | 181 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ted McAneeley | 23 | 77 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 75 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dick Redmond‡ | 4 | 24 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 22 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Morris Mott | 20 | 70 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bert Marshall‡ | 19 | 55 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 71 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Terry Murray | 26 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 59 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Marv Edwards | 1 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pete Vipond | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brent Meeke | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Del Hall | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
†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 |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 59 | 3473 | 12 | 32 | 14 | 235 | 1 | 4.06 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |
| Marv Edwards | 1 | 21 | 1207 | 4 | 14 | 2 | 87 | 1 | 4.32 | – | – | – | – | – | – | -.-- |

## Transactions

The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1972–73 season:

### Trades

| June, 1972 | To California Golden Seals Barry Cummins | To Portland Buckaroos (WHL) $15,000 |
| December 5, 1972 | To California Golden Seals Darryl Maggs | To Chicago Black Hawks Dick Redmond rights to Bobby Sheehan |
| March 4, 1973 | To California Golden Seals cash future considerations (Dave Hrechkosy & Gary Coalter; May 17, 1973) | To New York Rangers Bert Marshall |

### Additions and subtractions

Additions :
| Player | Former team | Via |
| Marv Edwards | Toronto Maple Leafs | Reverse Draft (1972–06–08) |
| Ron Huston | Spokane Jets (WIHL) | free agency (1972–09) |
| Morris Mott | Queen's University (OUAA) | free agency (1972–10–01) |
Subtractions :
| Player | New team | Via |
| Ernie Hicke | Atlanta Flames | Expansion Draft (1972–06–06) |
| Norm Ferguson | New York Islanders | Expansion Draft (1972–06–06) |
| Frank Hughes | Atlanta Flames | Expansion Draft (1972–06–06) |
| Ken Baird | Alberta Oilers (WHA) | free agency |
| Gary Jarrett | Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) | free agency |
| Gary Kurt | New York Raiders (WHA) | free agency |
| Gerry Pinder | Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) | free agency |
| Bobby Sheehan | New York Raiders (WHA) | free agency |
| Paul Shmyr | Cleveland Crusaders (WHA) | free agency |
| Tom Webster | New England Whalers (WHA) | free agency |