# 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season

The 1974–75 Chicago Black Hawks season was the Hawks' 49th season in the NHL, and the club was coming off a 41–14–23 record in 1973–74, earning 105 points, and finishing in second place in the West Division. Then, the Black Hawks upset the heavily favored Boston Bruins in the NHL preliminary series before losing to the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL quarter-finals.
During the off-season, the NHL made a number of changes. The league expanded by two more teams, as the Kansas City Scouts and Washington Capitals joined the league, making the NHL an 18 team league. The schedule was then bumped up from 78 games to 80, and the previously two division league was split into two conferences and four divisions. The Black Hawks found themselves in the newly created Smythe Division with the Minnesota North Stars, St. Louis Blues, Vancouver Canucks, and the expansion team Kansas City Scouts. The Smythe Division was part of the newly created Campbell Conference.
Chicago began the regular season with a strong 7–3–1 in their first eleven games, however, the team fell into a slump, and found themselves under the .500 level 26 games into the season with a record of 11–12–3. The Black Hawks would continue to hover around .500 for the rest of the season, and eventually finish the year with a 37–35–8 record, earning 82 points. Chicago's 37 victories and 82 points were their lowest totals since the 1968–69 season, while their 35 losses was the most since the team lost 39 in 1957–58. The team finished in third place in the Smythe Division, and earn a spot in the post-season as the eleventh seed.
Offensively, the Black Hawks were led by Stan Mikita, who led the club with 36 goals, 50 assists and 86 points. Jim Pappin tied Mikita with 36 goals, and added 27 assists for 63 points. Newly acquired Ivan Boldirev, who spent the previous season with the California Golden Seals, stepped in and finished second in team scoring with 67 points, as he recorded 23 goals and 44 assists. Cliff Koroll had a strong season, scoring 27 goals and 59 points, while defenseman Dick Redmond led the blueline with 14 goals and 57 points. John Marks led the Black Hawks with a +27 rating, while Phil Russell had a team high 260 penalty minutes.
In goal, Tony Esposito once again led the club with 34 victories and a 2.74 GAA, earning six shutouts in 71 games.
The Hawks opened the playoffs against the fifth seeded Boston Bruins in a best of three preliminary round. The Bruins finished the season with a 40–26–14 record, earning 94 points, and a second-place finish in the Adams Division. The series opened with a game at the Boston Garden, and the heavily favored Bruins easily disposed the Black Hawks by a score of 8–2. The series moved to Chicago Stadium for the next game, and the Hawks responded, with a 4–3 overtime victory, to set up a third and final game back in Boston. Chicago would complete the upset, stunning the Bruins by a score of 6–4 in the third game, to advance to the NHL quarter-finals.
Chicago's next opponent in a best of seven series was the second seeded Buffalo Sabres, who had a record of 49–16–15, earning 113 points, and a first-place finish in the Adams Division. The series started with two games at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The Sabres used their home ice advantage, and quickly took a 2–0 series lead with wins of 4–1 and 3–1. The series moved to Chicago for the next two games, and the Hawks cut into the Sabres lead with a 5–4 overtime win in the third game. Buffalo responded in the fourth game though, as they cruised to a 6–2 win. The Sabres closed out the series in the fifth game back in Buffalo, winning the game 3–1.

## Season standings
### 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
### Regular season

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record | Pts |
| 1 | October 9 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 0–1–0 | 0 |
| 2 | October 13 | Atlanta Flames | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–2–0 | 0 |
| 3 | October 16 | Boston Bruins | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2–0 | 2 |
| 4 | October 17 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | Washington Capitals | 1–3–0 | 2 |
| 5 | October 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–1 | St. Louis Blues | 2–3–0 | 4 |
| 6 | October 20 | Minnesota North Stars | 0–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3–0 | 6 |
| 7 | October 23 | Washington Capitals | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3–0 | 8 |
| 8 | October 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 5–3–0 | 10 |
| 9 | October 27 | St. Louis Blues | 3–10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–3–0 | 12 |
| 10 | October 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–4 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–3–1 | 13 |
| 11 | November 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3 | Kansas City Scouts | 7–3–1 | 15 |
| 12 | November 3 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 3–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 7–3–2 | 16 |
| 13 | November 6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–6 | Buffalo Sabres | 7–4–2 | 16 |
| 14 | November 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–2 | Atlanta Flames | 7–5–2 | 16 |
| 15 | November 12 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–1 | Vancouver Canucks | 7–6–2 | 16 |
| 16 | November 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 0–2 | California Golden Seals | 7–7–2 | 16 |
| 17 | November 16 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | Los Angeles Kings | 8–7–2 | 18 |
| 18 | November 20 | New York Islanders | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 8–7–3 | 19 |
| 19 | November 23 | Kansas City Scouts | 0–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–7–3 | 21 |
| 20 | November 27 | Buffalo Sabres | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 9–8–3 | 21 |
| 21 | November 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–5 | Minnesota North Stars | 9–9–3 | 21 |
| 22 | December 1 | Minnesota North Stars | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 10–9–3 | 23 |
| 23 | December 4 | Kansas City Scouts | 3–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–9–3 | 25 |
| 24 | December 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–3 | Philadelphia Flyers | 11–10–3 | 25 |
| 25 | December 7 | New York Rangers | 7–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–11–3 | 25 |
| 26 | December 8 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 11–12–3 | 25 |
| 27 | December 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–2 | Atlanta Flames | 12–12–3 | 27 |
| 28 | December 14 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 12–13–3 | 27 |
| 29 | December 15 | Vancouver Canucks | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 13–13–3 | 29 |
| 30 | December 18 | Detroit Red Wings | 5–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 14–13–3 | 31 |
| 31 | December 21 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | New York Islanders | 14–13–4 | 32 |
| 32 | December 22 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 15–13–4 | 34 |
| 33 | December 26 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Buffalo Sabres | 15–14–4 | 34 |
| 34 | December 28 | Philadelphia Flyers | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 16–14–4 | 36 |
| 35 | December 29 | St. Louis Blues | 2–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–14–4 | 38 |
| 36 | December 31 | Los Angeles Kings | 3–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–15–4 | 38 |
| 37 | January 1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–6 | New York Rangers | 17–16–4 | 38 |
| 38 | January 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 17–17–4 | 38 |
| 39 | January 5 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 17–18–4 | 38 |
| 40 | January 8 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 5–7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 18–18–4 | 40 |
| 41 | January 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–5 | Boston Bruins | 18–19–4 | 40 |
| 42 | January 12 | New York Rangers | 2–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 19–19–4 | 42 |
| 43 | January 15 | Vancouver Canucks | 1–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 20–19–4 | 44 |
| 44 | January 18 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Kansas City Scouts | 20–20–4 | 44 |
| 45 | January 19 | California Golden Seals | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 21–20–4 | 46 |
| 46 | January 23 | New York Islanders | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 22–20–4 | 48 |
| 47 | January 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–1 | St. Louis Blues | 23–20–4 | 50 |
| 48 | January 26 | California Golden Seals | 2–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–20–4 | 52 |
| 49 | January 29 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–6 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 24–21–4 | 52 |
| 50 | February 1 | New York Rangers | 4–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–22–4 | 52 |
| 51 | February 2 | New York Islanders | 1–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 24–22–5 | 53 |
| 52 | February 4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–3 | Kansas City Scouts | 24–22–6 | 54 |
| 53 | February 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–1 | Minnesota North Stars | 25–22–6 | 56 |
| 54 | February 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Vancouver Canucks | 25–23–6 | 56 |
| 55 | February 9 | Los Angeles Kings | 2–1 | Chicago Black Hawks | 25–24–6 | 56 |
| 56 | February 12 | Boston Bruins | 3–8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 26–24–6 | 58 |
| 57 | February 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Philadelphia Flyers | 26–25–6 | 58 |
| 58 | February 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–12 | Montreal Canadiens | 26–26–6 | 58 |
| 59 | February 16 | Montreal Canadiens | 6–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 26–27–6 | 58 |
| 60 | February 19 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–2 | New York Rangers | 26–27–7 | 59 |
| 61 | February 22 | Washington Capitals | 3–10 | Chicago Black Hawks | 27–27–7 | 61 |
| 62 | February 23 | Atlanta Flames | 0–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 28–27–7 | 63 |
| 63 | February 25 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–2 | Washington Capitals | 29–27–7 | 65 |
| 64 | February 28 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–3 | Atlanta Flames | 30–27–7 | 67 |
| 65 | March 2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–6 | Boston Bruins | 30–28–7 | 67 |
| 66 | March 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 4–2 | California Golden Seals | 31–28–7 | 69 |
| 67 | March 7 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 | Vancouver Canucks | 31–29–7 | 69 |
| 68 | March 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–1 | Los Angeles Kings | 32–29–7 | 71 |
| 69 | March 12 | St. Louis Blues | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 32–30–7 | 71 |
| 70 | March 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 5–2 | Minnesota North Stars | 33–30–7 | 73 |
| 71 | March 16 | Vancouver Canucks | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 33–31–7 | 73 |
| 72 | March 20 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–2 | Detroit Red Wings | 34–31–7 | 75 |
| 73 | March 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–4 | New York Islanders | 34–32–7 | 75 |
| 74 | March 23 | Detroit Red Wings | 4–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 34–32–8 | 76 |
| 75 | March 26 | Buffalo Sabres | 1–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 35–32–8 | 78 |
| 76 | March 29 | Philadelphia Flyers | 5–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 35–33–8 | 78 |
| 77 | March 30 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Philadelphia Flyers | 35–34–8 | 78 |
| 78 | April 3 | Kansas City Scouts | 4–6 | Chicago Black Hawks | 36–34–8 | 80 |
| 79 | April 5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 3–4 | St. Louis Blues | 36–35–8 | 80 |
| 80 | April 6 | Minnesota North Stars | 0–3 | Chicago Black Hawks | 37–35–8 | 82 |

### Chicago Black Hawks 2, Boston Bruins 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 8 | Chicago Black Hawks | 2–8 | Boston Bruins | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 10 | Boston Bruins | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–1 |
| 3 | April 11 | Chicago Black Hawks | 6–4 | Boston Bruins | 2–1 |

### Buffalo Sabres 4, Chicago Black Hawks 1

| # | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | Record |
| 1 | April 13 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–4 | Buffalo Sabres | 0–1 |
| 2 | April 15 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Buffalo Sabres | 0–2 |
| 3 | April 17 | Buffalo Sabres | 4–5 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–2 |
| 4 | April 20 | Buffalo Sabres | 6–2 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 |
| 5 | April 22 | Chicago Black Hawks | 1–3 | Buffalo Sabres | 1–4 |

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Stan Mikita | 79 | 36 | 50 | 86 | 48 |
| Ivan Boldirev | 80 | 24 | 43 | 67 | 54 |
| Jim Pappin | 71 | 36 | 27 | 63 | 94 |
| Cliff Koroll | 80 | 27 | 32 | 59 | 27 |
| Dick Redmond | 80 | 14 | 43 | 57 | 90 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Tony Esposito | 71 | 4219 | 34 | 30 | 7 | 193 | 6 | 2.74 |
| Michel Dumas | 3 | 121 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3.47 |
| Mike Veisor | 9 | 460 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 4.70 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Cliff Koroll | 8 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
| John Marks | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 34 |
| Stan Mikita | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| Ivan Boldirev | 8 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Dick Redmond | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Michel Dumas | 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3.16 |
| Tony Esposito | 8 | 472 | 3 | 5 | 34 | 0 | 4.32 |

## Draft picks

Chicago's draft picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft held via conference call at the NHL office in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 16 | Grant Mulvey | Canada | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 2 | 34 | Alain Daigle | Canada | Trois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 52 | Bob Murray | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 70 | Terry Ruskowski | Canada | Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) |
| 5 | 88 | Dave Logan | Canada | Laval National (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 106 | Bob Volpe | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHA) |
| 7 | 124 | Eddie Mio | Canada | Colorado College (NCAA) |
| 8 | 141 | Mike St. Cyr | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 9 | 158 | Steve Colp | United States | Michigan State University (NCAA) |
| 10 | 173 | Rick Fraser | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 11 | 188 | Jean Bernier | Canada | Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) |
| 12 | 200 | Dwayne Byers | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 13 | 210 | Glen Ing | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |

## Awards, records and honors

* Tommy Ivan, Lester Patrick Trophy