# 1972–73 New York Islanders season

The 1972–73 New York Islanders season was the first season in the franchise's history. At the beginning of 1972, Gordie Howe was offered the job as first head coach of the New York Islanders, but turned it down. The Islanders were coached by Phil Goyette (6–38–4) and Earl Ingarfield (6–22–2). Overall, the team finished in last place with an appalling 12–60–6 record, unable to qualify for the playoffs.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | 1 | Billy Harris | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 2 | 17 | Lorne Henning | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) |
| 3 | 33 | Bob Nystrom | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 4 | 49 | Ron Smith | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 65 | Richard Grenier | Canada | Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 81 | Derek Black | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 7 | 97 | Richard Brodeur | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 101 | Don McLaughlin | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |
| 8 | 113 | Derek Kuntz | Canada | Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) |
| 8 | 117 | Rene Levasseur | Canada | Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 129 | Yvon Rolando | Canada | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |
| 9 | 133 | Bill Ennos | Canada | Vancouver Nats (WCHL) |
| 10 | 144 | Garry Howatt | Canada | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 10 | 146 | Rene Lambert | Canada | St. Jerome Alouettes (QMJHL) |

### NHL Expansion Draft

| Pick | Player | Drafted from | Drafted by |
| 2 | Gerry Desjardins (G) | Chicago Black Hawks | New York Islanders |
| 4 | Billy Smith (G) | Los Angeles Kings | New York Islanders |
| 5 | Bart Crashley (D) | Montreal Canadiens | New York Islanders |
| 7 | Dave Hudson (C) | Chicago Black Hawks | New York Islanders |
| 9 | Ed Westfall (RW) | Boston Bruins | New York Islanders |
| 11 | Garry Peters (C) | Boston Bruins | New York Islanders |
| 13 | Larry Hornung (D) | St. Louis Blues | New York Islanders |
| 15 | Bryan Lefley (D) | New York Rangers | New York Islanders |
| 17 | Brian Spencer (LW) | Toronto Maple Leafs | New York Islanders |
| 19 | Terry Crisp (C) | St. Louis Blues | New York Islanders |
| 21 | Ted Hampson (C) | Minnesota North Stars | New York Islanders |
| 23 | Gerry Hart (D) | Detroit Red Wings | New York Islanders |
| 25 | John Schella (D) | Vancouver Canucks | New York Islanders |
| 27 | Bill Mikkelson (D) | Los Angeles Kings | New York Islanders |
| 29 | Craig Cameron (RW) | Minnesota North Stars | New York Islanders |
| 31 | Tom Miller (C) | Toronto Maple Leafs | New York Islanders |
| 33 | Brian Marchinko (C) | Buffalo Sabres | New York Islanders |
| 35 | Ted Taylor (LW) | Vancouver Canucks | New York Islanders |
| 37 | Norm Ferguson (RW) | California Golden Seals | New York Islanders |
| 39 | Jim Mair (D) | Philadelphia Flyers | New York Islanders |
| 41 | Ken Murray (D) | Buffalo Sabres | New York Islanders |

## Regular season

With the impending start of the World Hockey Association in the fall of 1972, the upstart league had plans to place its New York team in the brand-new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Nassau County. However, Nassau County officials did not consider the WHA a professional league and wanted nothing to do with the upstart New York Raiders. The only legal way to keep the Raiders out of the Coliseum was to get an NHL team to play there, so William Shea, who had helped bring the New York Mets to the area a decade earlier, was pressed into service once again. Shea found a receptive ear in league president Clarence Campbell, who did not want the additional competition in the New York area. So, despite having expanded to 14 teams just two years before, the NHL hastily awarded a Long Island-based franchise to clothing manufacturer Roy Boe, owner of the American Basketball Association's New York Nets. A second expansion franchise was awarded to Atlanta (the Flames) at the same time to balance the schedule. The new team was widely expected to take the Long Island Ducks name used by an Eastern Hockey League franchise; the more geographically expansive "New York Islanders" came largely as a surprise.
The fledgling Islanders, who were soon nicknamed the Isles by the local newspapers, had an extra burden to pay in the form of a $4 million territorial fee to the nearby New York Rangers. True to their name, the New York Islanders officially represent New York (city and state), with their nickname and logo denoting their current arena location and fan heartbed; but their support has also naturally come from the boroughs, upstate, Connecticut, and elsewhere in the metro area. This geographical backdrop set the stage for one of the NHL's fiercest and most celebrated regional rivalries.
While the Islanders secured veteran forward Ed Westfall from the Boston Bruins in the 1972 NHL Expansion Draft, junior league star Billy Harris in the 1972 NHL Amateur Draft, and a few other respectable players, several other draftees jumped to the WHA. Unlike most other expansion teams' general managers, Islanders' GM Bill Torrey didn't make many trades for veteran players in the early years. Rather than pursue a "win now" strategy of getting a few veterans to boost attendance (a tactic which proved disastrous for many teams in the long run), Torrey was committed to building through the draft.
In the team's first season, young players such as goaltender Billy Smith (the team's second pick in the expansion draft) and forwards Bob Nystrom and Lorne Henning were given chances to prove themselves in the NHL. However, this young and inexperienced expansion team posted a record of 12–60–6, one of the worst in NHL history. The lone highlight of the season came on January 18, when the lowly Islanders upset the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins on the road 9–7.
Phil Goyette was fired midway through the season, and replaced with Earl Ingarfield.

### Final standings

East Division vte :
| | | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | DIFF | Pts |
| 1 | Montreal Canadiens | 78 | 52 | 10 | 16 | 329 | 184 | +145 | 120 |
| 2 | Boston Bruins | 78 | 51 | 22 | 5 | 330 | 235 | +95 | 107 |
| 3 | New York Rangers | 78 | 47 | 23 | 8 | 297 | 208 | +89 | 102 |
| 4 | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 37 | 27 | 14 | 257 | 219 | +38 | 88 |
| 5 | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 37 | 29 | 12 | 265 | 243 | +22 | 86 |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 27 | 41 | 10 | 247 | 279 | −32 | 64 |
| 7 | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 22 | 47 | 9 | 233 | 339 | −106 | 53 |
| 8 | New York Islanders | 78 | 12 | 60 | 6 | 170 | 347 | −177 | 30 |

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

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 7, 1972 | 2–3 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | W | October 12, 1972 | 3–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 1–1–0 |
| 3 | L | October 14, 1972 | 4–7 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 17, 1972 | 0–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | L | October 21, 1972 | 1–2 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 1–4–0 |
| 6 | L | October 24, 1972 | 3–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | T | October 28, 1972 | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 1–5–1 |
| 8 | L | October 29, 1972 | 1–9 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 1–6–1 |
| 9 | W | November 1, 1972 | 6–2 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | November 3, 1972 | 2–7 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 4, 1972 | 2–9 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | L | November 8, 1972 | 1–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 2–9–1 |
| 13 | L | November 11, 1972 | 0–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 2–10–1 |
| 14 | L | November 14, 1972 | 2–7 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 2–11–1 |
| 15 | L | November 16, 1972 | 0–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 2–12–1 |
| 16 | L | November 18, 1972 | 3–7 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 2–13–1 |
| 17 | W | November 21, 1972 | 4–2 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 3–13–1 |
| 18 | L | November 22, 1972 | 3–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 3–14–1 |
| 19 | T | November 25, 1972 | 2–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 3–14–2 |
| 20 | L | November 26, 1972 | 2–9 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 3–15–2 |
| 21 | L | November 28, 1972 | 2–7 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 3–16–2 |
| 22 | L | December 2, 1972 | 1–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 3–17–2 |
| 23 | L | December 3, 1972 | 1–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 3–18–2 |
| 24 | L | December 5, 1972 | 1–6 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 3–19–2 |
| 25 | L | December 9, 1972 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 3–20–2 |
| 26 | L | December 10, 1972 | 1–4 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 3–21–2 |
| 27 | T | December 12, 1972 | 4–4 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 3–21–3 |
| 28 | L | December 13, 1972 | 1–9 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 3–22–3 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1972 | 1–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 3–23–3 |
| 30 | L | December 17, 1972 | 0–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 3–24–3 |
| 31 | L | December 20, 1972 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 3–25–3 |
| 32 | T | December 21, 1972 | 4–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 3–25–4 |
| 33 | W | December 23, 1972 | 4–2 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 4–25–4 |
| 34 | L | December 27, 1972 | 1–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 4–26–4 |
| 35 | L | December 29, 1972 | 2–5 | @ California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 4–27–4 |
| 36 | L | December 30, 1972 | 2–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 4–28–4 |
| 37 | L | January 2, 1973 | 1–6 | Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 4–29–4 |
| 38 | L | January 3, 1973 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 4–30–4 |
| 39 | L | January 6, 1973 | 0–4 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 4–31–4 |
| 40 | L | January 7, 1973 | 0–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 4–32–4 |
| 41 | L | January 9, 1973 | 2–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1972–73) | 4–33–4 |
| 42 | L | January 10, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 4–34–4 |
| 43 | L | January 13, 1973 | 1–8 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 4–35–4 |
| 44 | L | January 14, 1973 | 1–2 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 4–36–4 |
| 45 | L | January 16, 1973 | 0–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 4–37–4 |
| 46 | W | January 18, 1973 | 9–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 5–37–4 |
| 47 | L | January 20, 1973 | 1–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 5–38–4 |
| 48 | W | January 23, 1973 | 8–1 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 6–38–4 |
| 49 | L | January 24, 1973 | 1–6 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 6–39–4 |
| 50 | L | January 26, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 6–40–4 |
| 51 | L | January 31, 1973 | 3–5 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 6–41–4 |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1973 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 6–42–4 |
| 53 | T | February 3, 1973 | 1–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 6–42–5 |
| 54 | L | February 4, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 6–43–5 |
| 55 | W | February 6, 1973 | 4–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 7–43–5 |
| 56 | L | February 7, 1973 | 0–6 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 7–44–5 |
| 57 | L | February 10, 1973 | 0–6 | New York Rangers (1972–73) | 7–45–5 |
| 58 | L | February 13, 1973 | 2–8 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 7–46–5 |
| 59 | L | February 14, 1973 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 7–47–5 |
| 60 | L | February 17, 1973 | 2–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 7–48–5 |
| 61 | L | February 18, 1973 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1972–73) | 7–49–5 |
| 62 | L | February 20, 1973 | 0–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 7–50–5 |
| 63 | L | February 22, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1972–73) | 7–51–5 |
| 64 | W | February 24, 1973 | 4–2 | Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 8–51–5 |
| 65 | L | February 27, 1973 | 3–5 | Chicago Black Hawks (1972–73) | 8–52–5 |
| 66 | W | March 3, 1973 | 9–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1972–73) | 9–52–5 |
| 67 | L | March 4, 1973 | 1–5 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1972–73) | 9–53–5 |
| 68 | L | March 6, 1973 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1972–73) | 9–54–5 |
| 69 | L | March 8, 1973 | 1–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1972–73) | 9–55–5 |
| 70 | L | March 10, 1973 | 4–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 9–56–5 |
| 71 | L | March 11, 1973 | 1–2 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1972–73) | 9–57–5 |
| 72 | L | March 13, 1973 | 0–3 | Boston Bruins (1972–73) | 9–58–5 |
| 73 | W | March 17, 1973 | 6–4 | St. Louis Blues (1972–73) | 10–58–5 |
| 74 | W | March 20, 1973 | 6–3 | California Golden Seals (1972–73) | 11–58–5 |
| 75 | W | March 24, 1973 | 3–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 12–58–5 |
| 76 | L | March 27, 1973 | 2–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1972–73) | 12–59–5 |
| 77 | L | March 31, 1973 | 2–10 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1972–73) | 12–60–5 |
| 78 | T | April 1, 1973 | 4–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1972–73) | 12–60–6 |

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Billy Harris | 78 | 28 | 22 | 50 | 35 |
| Ed Westfall | 67 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 25 |
| Germain Gagnon | 63 | 12 | 29 | 41 | 31 |
| Brian Spencer | 78 | 14 | 24 | 38 | 90 |
| Craig Cameron | 72 | 19 | 14 | 33 | 27 |
| Dave Hudson | 69 | 12 | 19 | 31 | 17 |
| Tom Miller | 69 | 13 | 17 | 30 | 21 |
| Lorne Henning | 63 | 7 | 19 | 26 | 14 |
| Terry Crisp | 54 | 4 | 16 | 20 | 6 |
| Don Blackburn | 56 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 20 |
| Bob Cook | 33 | 8 | 6 | 14 | 14 |
| Ralph Stewart | 31 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 4 |
| Brian Lavender | 43 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 47 |
| Brian Marchinko | 36 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 0 |

### Defencemen

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Jim Mair | 49 | 2 | 11 | 13 | 41 |
| Arnie Brown | 48 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 27 |
| Gerry Hart | 47 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 158 |
| Bill Mikkelson | 72 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 45 |
| Bryan Lefley | 63 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 56 |
| Neil Nicholson | 30 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 23 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; MIN = Minutes; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | MIN | W | L | T | SO | GA | GAA |
| Gerry Desjardins | 37 | 2498 | 5 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 4.68 |
| Gerry Gray | 1 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5.00 |
| Billy Smith | 37 | 2122 | 7 | 24 | 3 | 0 | 147 | 4.16 |