1971–72 California Golden Seals season

NHL season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1971–72 1971 California Golden Seals West 6th 21–39–18 14–12–13 7–27–5 216 288 Fred GloverGarry Young Fred GloverVic Stasiuk Carol Vadnais Bert Marshall Norm FergusonGerry PinderIvan Boldirev Oakland Coliseum Arena Gerry Pinder (23) Dick Redmond (35) Gerry Pinder (54) Paul Shmyr (156) Reggie Leach (+2) Gilles Meloche (16) Gilles Meloche (3.32) The 1971–72 California Golden Seals season was the team's fifth in the NHL. The Seals missed the playoffs again, but posted a solid improvement over the previous season and finished sixth in the West Division. 2 Offseason In the amateur draft, the Seals did not have a first-round pick. For their first pick, the fifteenth pick overall, in the second round, the Seals chose Ken Baird. At owner Charlie Finley's direction, the team adopted their infamous white skates this season, which were widely ridiculed. Regular season Final standings CAL Record vs. opponents CAL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 5px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 5px solid; 1971–72 regular season1971-72 California Golden Seals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGS/1972_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 23, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||T||October 8, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||0–0–1 |- |2||T||October 10, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||0–0–2 |- |3||L||October 13, 1971||4–5 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||0–1–2 |- |4||L||October 15, 1971||6–9 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||0–2–2 |- |5||L||October 17, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||0–3–2 |- |6||L||October 20, 1971||2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||0–4–2 |- |7||L||October 22, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||0–5–2 |- |8||W||October 24, 1971||6–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||1–5–2 |- |9||W||October 27, 1971||6–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||2–5–2 |- |10||W||October 28, 1971||2–0 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||3–5–2 |- |11||T||October 31, 1971||2–2 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||3–5–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |12||W||November 3, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||4–5–3 |- |13||L||November 5, 1971||1–8 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||4–6–3 |- |14||W||November 7, 1971||8–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||5–6–3 |- |15||L||November 11, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||5–7–3 |- |16||L||November 13, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||5–8–3 |- |17||L||November 14, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||5–9–3 |- |18||L||November 16, 1971||2–7 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||5–10–3 |- |19||W||November 18, 1971||7–5 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||6–10–3 |- |20||L||November 20, 1971||1–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||6–11–3 |- |21||L||November 21, 1971||1–12 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||6–12–3 |- |22||W||November 24, 1971||6–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||7–12–3 |- |23||L||November 26, 1971||1–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||7–13–3 |- |24||W||November 28, 1971||5–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||8–13–3 |- |25||L||November 30, 1971||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||8–14–3 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |26||L||December 1, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||8–15–3 |- |27||W||December 3, 1971||2–1 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||9–15–3 |- |28||L||December 5, 1971||0–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||9–16–3 |- |29||T||December 8, 1971||1–1 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||9–16–4 |- |30||T||December 10, 1971||4–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||9–16–5 |- |31||W||December 12, 1971||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||10–16–5 |- |32||T||December 17, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||10–16–6 |- |33||T||December 19, 1971||3–3 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||10–16–7 |- |34||L||December 22, 1971||1–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||10–17–7 |- |35||W||December 25, 1971||3–1 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||11–17–7 |- |36||L||December 26, 1971||2–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||11–18–7 |- |37||L||December 29, 1971||2–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||11–19–7 |- |38||L||December 31, 1971||3–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||11–20–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |39||T||January 2, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||11–20–8 |- |40||L||January 4, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||11–21–8 |- |41||W||January 5, 1972||6–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||12–21–8 |- |42||T||January 7, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||12–21–9 |- |43||L||January 9, 1972||3–10 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||12–22–9 |- |44||W||January 12, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||13–22–9 |- |45||W||January 14, 1972||5–3 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||14–22–9 |- |46||L||January 15, 1972||3–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||14–23–9 |- |47||T||January 18, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||14–23–10 |- |48||L||January 19, 1972||0–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||14–24–10 |- |49||L||January 21, 1972||0–5 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||14–25–10 |- |50||W||January 23, 1972||3–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||15–25–10 |- |51||W||January 28, 1972||3–0 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||16–25–10 |- |52||W||January 30, 1972||2–0 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||17–25–10 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |53||L||February 2, 1972||1–5 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1971–72) ||17–26–10 |- |54||T||February 4, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||17–26–11 |- |55||L||February 6, 1972||2–8 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1971–72) ||17–27–11 |- |56||W||February 9, 1972||3–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||18–27–11 |- |57||L||February 12, 1972||0–3 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||18–28–11 |- |58||L||February 15, 1972||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||18–29–11 |- |59||T||February 16, 1972||1–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1971–72) ||18–29–12 |- |60||T||February 18, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1971–72) ||18–29–13 |- |61||T||February 20, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||18–29–14 |- |62||L||February 23, 1972||6–8 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1971–72) ||18–30–14 |- |63||L||February 26, 1972||0–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||18–31–14 |- |64||T||February 27, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||18–31–15 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |65||L||March 1, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||18–32–15 |- |66||T||March 3, 1972||4–4 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1971–72) ||18–32–16 |- |67||W||March 8, 1972||6–3 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1971–72) ||19–32–16 |- |68||L||March 11, 1972||1–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1971–72) ||19–33–16 |- |69||W||March 12, 1972||7–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1971–72) ||20–33–16 |- |70||W||March 15, 1972||5–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||21–33–16 |- |71||T||March 17, 1972||2–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||21–33–17 |- |72||T||March 19, 1972||3–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||21–33–18 |- |73||L||March 21, 1972||2–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||21–34–18 |- |74||L||March 22, 1972||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1971–72) ||21–35–18 |- |75||L||March 25, 1972||0–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1971–72) ||21–36–18 |- |76||L||March 29, 1972||4–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1971–72) ||21–37–18 |- |77||L||March 31, 1972||1–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1971–72) ||21–38–18 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00965E 2px solid; border-bottom:#FFC72C 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||L||April 1, 1972||4–9 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1971–72) ||21–39–18 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIMGerry Pinder 15 74 23 31 54 59 – – – – –Bobby Sheehan 24 78 20 26 46 12 – – – – –Dick Redmond 4 74 10 35 45 76 – – – – –Ivan Boldirev† 23 57 16 23 39 54 – – – – –Carol Vadnais‡ 5 52 14 20 34 106 – – – – –Norm Ferguson 17 77 14 20 34 13 – – – – –Stan Gilbertson 10 78 16 16 32 47 – – – – –Joey Johnston 22 77 15 17 32 107 – – – – –Wayne Carleton 9 76 17 14 31 45 – – – – –Walt McKechnie 8 56 11 20 31 40 – – – – –Paul Shmyr 3 69 6 21 27 156 – – – – –Gary Croteau 18 73 12 12 24 11 – – – – –Ernie Hicke 20 68 11 12 23 55 – – – – –Gary Jarrett 12 55 5 10 15 18 – – – – –Bert Marshall 19 66 0 14 14 68 – – – – –Reggie Leach† 7 17 6 7 13 7 – – – – –Marshall Johnston 2 74 2 11 13 4 – – – – –Tom Williams‡ 7 32 3 9 12 2 – – – – –Craig Patrick 14 59 8 3 11 12 – – – – –Rick Smith† 3 17 1 4 5 26 – – – – –Don O'Donoghue 11 14 2 2 4 4 – – – – –Ron Stackhouse‡ 21 6 1 3 4 6 – – – – –Tom Webster† 8 7 2 1 3 6 – – – – –Bob Stewart† 6 16 1 2 3 44 – – – – –Ken Baird 6 10 0 2 2 15 – – – – –Gilles Meloche 27 56 0 2 2 6 – – – – –Del Hall 6 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Al Simmons 26 1 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Jim Jones 21 2 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Frank Hughes 16 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Pete Laframboise 11 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Lyle Carter 1 15 0 0 0 2 – – – – –Gary Kurt 30 16 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   Playoffs Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAAGilles Meloche 27 56 3121 16 25 13 173 4 3.32 – – – – – – -.--Lyle Carter 1 15 721 4 7 0 50 0 4.16 – – – – – – -.--Gary Kurt 30 16 838 1 7 5 60 0 4.29 – – – – – – -.-- Transactions The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1971–72 season: Trades May 20, 1971 To California Golden Seals Joey JohnstonWalt McKechnie To Minnesota North Stars Dennis Hextall May 22, 1971 To California Golden Seals Bobby Sheehan To Montreal Canadiens cash August 31, 1971 To California Golden Seals Marshall Johnston To Montreal Canadiens cash September 4, 1971 To California Golden Seals cash To Boston Bruins Doug Roberts September 7, 1971 To California Golden Seals cash To Pittsburgh Penguins Bill Hicke September 9, 1971 To California Golden Seals Kerry BondGerry DesjardinsGerry Pinder To Chicago Black Hawks Gary Smith October, 1971 To California Golden Seals cash To Montreal Canadiens Jocelyn Hardy October, 1971 To California Golden Seals cash To Montreal Canadiens Mike Laughton October, 1971 To California Golden Seals Lyle CarterJohn French To Montreal Canadiens Randy Rota October 6, 1971 To California Golden Seals Ray Martyniuk To Montreal Canadiens Tony Featherstone October 18, 1971 To California Golden Seals Gilles MelochePaul Shmyr To Chicago Black Hawks Gerry Desjardins October 22, 1971 To California Golden Seals Tom Webster To Detroit Red Wings Ron Stackhouse November 17, 1971 To California Golden Seals Ivan Boldirev To Boston Bruins Rich LeducChris Oddleifson February 23, 1972 To California Golden Seals Reggie LeachRick SmithBob Stewart To Boston Bruins Don O'DonoghueCarol Vadnais March 5, 1972 To California Golden Seals cash To Boston Bruins Tom Williams Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Jim Jones Boston Bruins free agency (1971–06) Gary Kurt Cleveland Barons (AHL) Intra-league Draft (1971–06–07) Stan Gilbertson Boston Bruins Intra-league Draft (1971–06–08) Frank Hughes Toronto Maple Leafs Intra-league Draft (1971–06–08) Del Hall St. Clair College (OUAA) free agency (1971–10) Wayne King Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) free agency (1971–10) Craig Patrick Montreal Voyageurs (AHL) free agency (1971–10–06) Subtractions Player New team Via Bob Sneddon Detroit Red Wings Reverse Draft (1971–06) Draft picks Amateur draft 1971 NHL amateur draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team215.Ken BairdCanadaFlin Flon Bombers (WCHL)329.Rich Leduc CanadaTrois-Rivières Ducs (QMJHL)443.Hartland Monahan CanadaMontreal Junior Canadiens (OHA)557.Ray BelangerCanadaShawinigan Bruins (QMJHL)671.Gerry EgersCanadaSudbury Wolves (NOJHL)785.Al Simmons CanadaWinnipeg Jets (WCHL)899.Angus BeckCanadaCharlottetown (Junior A)8104.Rod LyonsCanadaHalifax (Junior) See also 1971–72 NHL season References Golden Seals on Hockey Database Golden Seals on Database Hockey September 2008 Category:California Golden Seals seasons Cali Calif Calif Category:1970s in Oakland, California