# 1974–75 California Golden Seals season

The 1974–75 California Golden Seals season was the Seals' 8th season in the NHL. The team continued to be operated by the league until early 1975, when new local ownership led by Mel Swig, owner of the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco, was found. The Seals adopted new uniforms this season with new turquoise and gold colors. They recorded a 15-point improvement over the previous season. In early 1975, rumors began to circulate that the Seals would be relocated to Denver, Colorado, although this did not come to pass.
On March 28, 1975, the Seals suffered the indignity of losing at home to the expansion Washington Capitals, 5–3, providing the Caps with the only road win of their inaugural season.

## Offseason
### Amateur Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 1 | 3. | Rick Hampton | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 1 | 17. | Ron Chipperfield | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 2 | 21. | Bruce Affleck | Canada | University of Denver Pioneers (WCHA) |
| 3 | 39. | Charlie Simmer | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 4 | 57. | Tom Price | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 5 | 75. | Jim Warden | United States | Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) |
| 6 | 93. | Tom Sundberg | United States | St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL) |
| 7 | 111. | Tom Anderson | United States | St. Paul Vulcans (MidJHL) |
| 8 | 128. | Jim McCabe | Canada | Welland Sabres (SOJHL) |

## Regular season

On March 28, 1975, the Seals lost at home 5–3 to Washington, giving the expansion Capitals their only road win of the season.

### Final standings

Adams Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 49 | 16 | 15 | 354 | 240 | +114 | 113 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 80 | 40 | 26 | 14 | 345 | 245 | +100 | 94 |
| 3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 280 | 309 | −29 | 78 |
| 4 | California Golden Seals | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 212 | 316 | −104 | 51 |

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
CAL
TOR
Total
Boston
—1–4–14–21–2–36–8–4
Buffalo
4–1–1—4–0–24–1–112–2–4
California
2–40–4–2—1–3–23–11–4
Toronto
2–1–31–4–13–1–2—6–6–6
Vs. Norris Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
4–12–30–3–22–1–24–0–112–8–5
Buffalo
3–1–11–3–14–0–13–0–25–016–4–5
California
2–2–11–2–20–50–4–13–26–15–4
Toronto
3–1–10–4–12–1–21–44–110–11–4
Vs. Patrick Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Boston
4–0–12–23–12–1–111–4–2
Buffalo
1–2–12–0–24–10–3–17–6–4
California
2–21–2–10–2–22–35–9–3
Toronto
1–32–2–12–1–10–3–15–9–3
Vs. Smythe Division
1974–75 NHL records
Team
CHI
KCS
MIN
STL
VAN
Total
Boston
2–22–1–13–0–11–2–13–111–6–3
Buffalo
3–14–03–12–0–22–214–4–2
California
1–31–2–11–32–1–10–45–13–2
Toronto
2–22–1–13–12–0–21–310–7–3 :

## Schedule and results

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

## 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 |
| Larry Patey | 9 | 79 | 25 | 20 | 45 | 68 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stan Weir | 21 | 80 | 18 | 27 | 45 | 12 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dave Hrechkosy | 18 | 73 | 29 | 14 | 43 | 25 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Al MacAdam | 25 | 80 | 18 | 25 | 43 | 55 | – | – | – | – | – |
| John Stewart | 17 | 75 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 55 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Joey Johnston | 22 | 62 | 14 | 23 | 37 | 72 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dave Gardner$^†$ | 7 | 64 | 16 | 20 | 36 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ron Huston | 11 | 56 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Butch Williams | 12 | 63 | 11 | 21 | 32 | 118 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rick Hampton | 2 | 78 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 39 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Charlie Simmer | 10 | 35 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jim Neilson | 15 | 72 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 56 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Len Frig | 6 | 80 | 3 | 17 | 20 | 127 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bob Stewart | 4 | 68 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 93 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mike Christie | 3 | 34 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 76 | – | – | – | – | – |
| George Pesut | 5 | 47 | 0 | 13 | 13 | 73 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Wayne King | 24 | 25 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Frank Spring$^†$ | 14 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 6 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Morris Mott | 20 | 52 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brian Lavender | 8 | 65 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 48 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Jim Moxey | 19 | 47 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 47 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 14 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Stan Gilbertson$^‡$ | 10 | 15 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fred Ahern | 16 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Craig Patrick$^‡$ | 14 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Terry Murray | 5 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ted McAneeley | 23 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Holt | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Bruce Greig | 28 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 42 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gary Simmons | 31 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 26 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Glenn Patrick | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Larry Wright | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tom Price | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brent Meeke | 24 | 4 | 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 |
| Gary Simmons | 31 | 34 | 2029 | 10 | 21 | 3 | 124 | 2 | 3.67 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gilles Meloche | 27 | 47 | 2771 | 9 | 27 | 10 | 186 | 1 | 4.03 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

## Transactions

The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1974–75 season:

### Trades

| May 24, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Al MacAdam Larry Wright 1st round pick in 1974 Draft (Ron Chipperfield) Future considerations (George Pesut, December 11, 1974) | To Philadelphia Flyers Reggie Leach |
| May 24, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Mike Christie Len Frig | To Chicago Black Hawks Ivan Boldirev |
| June 18, 1974 | To California Golden Seals John Stewart | To Atlanta Flames Hilliard Graves |
| June 18, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Glenn Patrick | To St. Louis Blues Ron Serafini |
| September 23, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Brian Lavender | To New York Rangers Hartland Monahan |
| October 1, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Gary Simmons | To Phoenix Roadrunners (WHA) cash |
| November 11, 1974 | To California Golden Seals Dave Gardner Butch Williams | To St. Louis Blues Stan Gilbertson Craig Patrick |
| January 9, 1975 | To California Golden Seals Frank Spring | To St. Louis Blues Bruce Affleck |

### Additions and subtractions

Additions :
| Player | Former team | Via |
| Jim Neilson | New York Rangers | Intra-League Draft (1974-06-10) |
| Bob Murdoch | Cranbrook Royals (WIHL) | free agency (1974–10) |
Subtractions :
| Player | New team | Via |
| Walt McKechnie | New York Rangers | Intra-League Draft (1974-06-10) |
| Gary Coalter | Kansas City Scouts | Expansion Draft (1974-06-12) |
| Gary Croteau | Kansas City Scouts | Expansion Draft (1974-06-12) |
| Pete Laframboise | Washington Capitals | Expansion Draft (1974-06-12) |