1968–69 Oakland Seals season

NHL season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1968–69 1968 Oakland Seals West 2nd 29–36–11 17–14–7 12–22–4 219 251 Frank Selke Jr. Fred Glover Ted Hampson Bill HickeBert MarshallGerry Odrowski Oakland Coliseum Arena 4,584 Norm Ferguson (34) Ted Hampson (49) Ted Hampson (75) Carol Vadnais (151) Gerry Odrowski (+4) Gary Smith (21) Gary Smith (2.96) The 1968–69 Oakland Seals season was the Seals' second season in the National Hockey League (NHL). For the first time in their history they qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs after finishing second in the West Division, with a record of 29–36–11. They were upset in the playoffs, losing their quarter-finals series to the fourth-place Los Angeles Kings in seven games (Oakland's three playoff game victories against Los Angeles were the only ones the franchise would get in their entire ten-year history). 2 Off-season Frank Selke Jr. was named general manager of the team, replacing Bert Olmstead. Selke hired Fred Glover as coach.Currier 2017 70 Rumors persisted over the off-season that the team would be sold to brothers Northrup and Seymour Knox III and moved to Buffalo.Currier 2017 80–81 Amateur draft 1968 NHL amateur draft Round Pick Player Nationality College/junior/club team213.Doug Smith (C)CanadaWinnipeg Jets (WCJHL)320.Jim Trewin (D)CanadaFlin Flon Bombers (WCJHL) Regular season Early in 1969 the Knox brothers did buy a 20% stake in the team; the remaining 80% was purchased by Trans-National Communications, a holding company based in New York City.Currier 2017 80 The sale was $4.5 million: $1.6 million for Seals outright; $1.9 million in debt; the remaining expansion fee due to the NHL; a $680,000 loan to Labatt Brewery; an undisclosed sum to Hockey Investors Inc. (their role in the sale was not disclosed); and settlements to Rudy Pilous, Bert Olmstead, and Gord Fashoway.Currier 2017 81–82 The Seals finished the season with a record of 26 wins, 36 losses, and 11 ties, second in the West Division.Currier 2017 90 Attendance averaged 4,584 per game.Currier 2017 99 Norm Ferguson scored 34 goals, tying him with Danny Grant for the most by an NHL rookie (set by Nels Stewart in 1925–26). Ferguson finished second to Grant in voting for the Calder Memorial Trophy as rookie-of-the-year. Ted Hampson won the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for "exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey". This would be the only major NHL trophy a Seal player would win. Hampson also finished second overall in voting for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship.Currier 2017 95 Final standings OAK Record vs. opponents OAK Playoffs The Seals made it into the playoffs and went against Los Angeles in the Quarter-finals in a best of seven series and lost in 7 games, or 3–4. Schedule and results Regular season background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 5px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 5px solid; 1968–69 regular season1968-69 Oakland Seals Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/OAK/1969_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 23, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; October Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |1||October 11, 1968||1–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||0–1–0 || 1968020003 L |- |2||October 13, 1968||4–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||0–1–1 || 1968020009 T |- |3||October 16, 1968||1–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||0–2–1 || 1968020013 L |- |4||October 19, 1968||1–4 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||0–3–1 || 1968020022 L |- |5||October 20, 1968||4–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||1–3–1 || 1968020025 W |- |6||October 22, 1968||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||2–3–1 || 1968020026 W |- |7||October 23, 1968||1–6 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1968–69) ||2–4–1 || 1968020029 L |- |8||October 25, 1968||2–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||2–5–1 || 1968020033 L |- |9||October 27, 1968||2–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||2–5–2 || 1968020041 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; November Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |10||November 1, 1968||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||3–5–2 || 1968020049 W |- |11||November 3, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||3–6–2 || 1968020058 L |- |12||November 8, 1968||2–3 || align="left"| New York Rangersnote1 1 (1968–69) ||3–7–2 || 1968020067 L |- |13||November 10, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||3–8–2 || 1968020073 L |- |14||November 12, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||3–9–2 || 1968020076 L |- |15||November 13, 1968||2–1 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||4–9–2 || 1968020079 W |- |16||November 16, 1968||3–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||4–9–3 || 1968020086 T |- |17||November 17, 1968||3–6 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||4–10–3 || 1968020093 L |- |18||November 20, 1968||0–7 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||4–11–3 || 1968020100 L |- |19||November 21, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||4–12–3 || 1968020103 L |- |20||November 23, 1968||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||5–12–3 || 1968020108 W |- |21||November 24, 1968||2–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1968–69) ||5–13–3 || 1968020111 L |- |22||November 27, 1968||3–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||5–13–4 || 1968020119 T |- |23||November 29, 1968||5–4 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||6–13–4 || 1968020122 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; December Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |24||December 1, 1968||4–4 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||6–13–5 || 1968020131 T |- |25||December 6, 1968||4–0 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||7–13–5 || 1968020139 W |- |26||December 8, 1968||1–4 || align="left"| Minnesota North Starsnote1 1 (1968–69) ||7–14–5 || 1968020149 L |- |27||December 12, 1968||6–0 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||8–14–5 || 1968020157 W |- |28||December 14, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||8–15–5 || 1968020162 L |- |29||December 15, 1968||4–7 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||8–16–5 || 1968020167 L |- |30||December 17, 1968||3–2 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||9–16–5 || 1968020170 W |- |31||December 18, 1968||2–5 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||9–17–5 || 1968020172 L |- |32||December 20, 1968||0–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||9–18–5 || 1968020177 L |- |33||December 22, 1968||2–1 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyersnote1 1 (1968–69) ||10–18–5 || 1968020187 W |- |34||December 25, 1968||3–1 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||11–18–5 || 1968020190 W |- |35||December 26, 1968||1–3 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1968–69) ||11–19–5 || 1968020194 L |- |36||December 28, 1968||4–3 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||12–19–5 || 1968020202 W |- |37||December 29, 1968||2–1 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||13–19–5 || 1968020206 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; January Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |38||January 1, 1969||3–7 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||13–20–5 || 1968020209 L |- |39||January 3, 1969||1–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||13–21–5 || 1968020215 L |- |40||January 5, 1969||0–0 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||13–21–6 || 1968020225 T |- |41||January 9, 1969||4–8 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||13–22–6 || 1968020230 L |- |42||January 11, 1969||4–2 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||14–22–6 || 1968020240 W |- |43||January 12, 1969||1–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||14–23–6 || 1968020242 L |- |44||January 15, 1969||4–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||15–23–6 || 1968020248 W |- |45||January 17, 1969||1–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1968–69) ||15–24–6 || 1968020255 L |- |46||January 19, 1969||6–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||16–24–6 || 1968020263 W |- |47||January 23, 1969||5–3 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||17–24–6 || 1968020265 W |- |48||January 25, 1969||3–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||17–25–6 || 1968020275 L |- |49||January 26, 1969||1–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||17–26–6 || 1968020282 L |- |50||January 29, 1969||3–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||17–26–7 || 1968020286 T |- |51||January 31, 1969||5–4 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||18–26–7 || 1968020291 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; February Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |52||February 1, 1969||5–8 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||18–27–7 || 1968020296 L |- |53||February 5, 1969||5–1 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1968–69) ||19–27–7 || 1968020304 W |- |54||February 8, 1969||4–1 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||20–27–7 || 1968020312 W |- |55||February 9, 1969||3–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||20–27–8 || 1968020319 T |- |56||February 12, 1969||3–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1968–69) ||21–27–8 || 1968020325 W |- |57||February 15, 1969||4–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||21–27–9 || 1968020335 T |- |58||February 16, 1969||2–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||21–28–9 || 1968020341 L |- |59||February 19, 1969||5–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||22–28–9 || 1968020346 W |- |60||February 21, 1969||3–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Bluesnote1 1 (1968–69) ||23–28–9 || 1968020352 W |- |61||February 23, 1969||3–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||23–29–9 || 1968020360 L |- |62||February 26, 1969||6–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Starsnote1 1 (1968–69) ||24–29–9 || 1968020366 W |- |63||February 27, 1969||0–9 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1968–69) ||24–30–9 || 1968020368 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; March Game Date Score Opponent Record Recap |- |64||March 2, 1969||4–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||24–30–10 || 1968020379 T |- |65||March 5, 1969||2–5 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||24–31–10 || 1968020384 L |- |66||March 8, 1969||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||24–32–10 || 1968020393 L |- |67||March 9, 1969||3–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1968–69) ||24–33–10 || 1968020397 L |- |68||March 12, 1969||4–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1968–69) ||25–33–10 || 1968020403 W |- |69||March 13, 1969||1–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1968–69) ||25–34–10 || 1968020405 L |- |70||March 16, 1969||7–2 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1968–69) ||26–34–10 || 1968020415 W |- |71||March 18, 1969||2–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||26–35–10 || 1968020417 L |- |72||March 19, 1969||4–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1968–69) ||26–35–11 || 1968020422 T |- |73||March 22, 1969||4–0 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||27–35–11 || 1968020432 W |- |74||March 23, 1969||5–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1968–69) ||28–35–11 || 1968020437 W |- |75||March 26, 1969||3–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1968–69) ||28–36–11 || 1968020442 L |- |76||March 29, 1969||7–2 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1968–69) ||29–36–11 || 1968020450 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Notes: Note1 1Game played at Cow Palace in Daly City. Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 5px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 5px solid; 1969 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#046A38 2px solid; border-bottom:#0032A0 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (W4) Los Angeles Kings – Kings win 4–3 Game Date Score Opponent Series Recap |- | 1 || April 2, 1969 || 4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings || Kings lead 1–0 || 1968030141 L |- | 2 || April 3, 1969 || 4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings || Series tied 1–1 || 1968030142 W |- | 3 || April 5, 1969 || 5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Seals lead 2–1 || 1968030143 W |- | 4 || April 6, 1969 || 2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Series tied 2–2 || 1968030144 L |- | 5 || April 9, 1969 || 4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings || Seals lead 3–2 || 1968030145 W |- | 6 || April 10, 1969 || 3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings || Series tied 3–3 || 1968030146 L |- | 7 || April 13, 1969 || 3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings || Kings win 4–3 || 1968030147 L |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black W #fcc Loss 1px solid black L 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 PIMTed Hampson 10 76 26 49 75 6 7 3 4 7 2Bill Hicke 9 67 25 36 61 68 7 0 3 3 4Norm Ferguson 17 76 34 20 54 31 7 1 4 5 7Gary Jarrett 12 63 22 23 45 22 7 2 1 3 4Gerry Ehman 8 70 21 24 45 12 7 2 2 4 0Mike Laughton 15 53 20 23 43 22 7 3 2 5 0Carol Vadnais 5 76 15 27 42 151 7 1 4 5 10Brian Perry 20 61 10 21 31 10 6 1 1 2 4Earl Ingarfield† 7 26 8 15 23 8 7 4 6 10 2Joe Szura 18 70 9 12 21 20 7 2 3 5 2Doug Roberts 2 76 1 19 20 79 7 0 1 1 34Bob Dillabough† 21 48 7 12 19 4 7 3 0 3 0Bert Marshall 19 68 3 15 18 81 7 0 7 7 20Francois Lacombe 4 72 2 16 18 50 3 1 0 1 0George Swarbrick‡ 14 50 3 13 16 75 – – – – –Gene Ubriaco† 16 26 4 7 11 14 7 2 0 2 2Dick Mattiussi† 6 24 1 9 10 16 7 0 1 1 6Gerry Odrowski 11 74 5 1 6 24 7 0 1 1 2Bryan Watson‡ 6 50 2 3 5 97 – – – – –Billy Harris‡ 7 19 0 4 4 2 – – – – –John Brenneman 16 21 1 2 3 6 7 0 0 0 0Gary Smith 30 54 0 2 2 7 7 0 0 0 0Len Ronson 15 5 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Charlie Hodge 1 14 0 0 0 0 – – – – –Chris Worthy 25 14 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 GAAGary Smith 30 54 2993 21 24 7 148 4 2.96 7 420 3 4 23 0 3.29Charlie Hodge 1 14 781 4 6 1 48 0 3.69 – – – – – – –Chris Worthy 25 14 786 4 6 3 54 0 4.12 – – – – – – – Transactions The Seals were involved in the following transactions during the 1968–69 season: Trades May 14, 1968 To Oakland Seals cash To Toronto Maple Leafs Terry Clancy May 21, 1968 To Oakland Seals Norm FergusonStan FullerFrançois LacombeMichel Jacques To Montreal Canadiens Wally BoyerAlain Caronrights to Lyle Bradley May 27, 1968 To Oakland Seals Gary JarrettDoug RobertsChris WorthyHowie Young To Detroit Red Wings Bobby BaunRon Harris June 6, 1968 To Oakland Seals Bryan Watsoncash To Montreal Canadiens 1st round pick in 1972 (Michel Larocque) August, 1968 To Oakland Seals Len Ronson To Montreal Canadiens cash September 13, 1968 To Oakland Seals cash To New York Rangers Ron Boehm November, 1968 To Oakland Seals cash To San Diego Gulls (WHL) Len Ronson November 29, 1968 To Oakland Seals Bob Dillabough To Pittsburgh Penguins Billy Harris January 30, 1969 To Oakland Seals Earl IngarfieldDick MattiussiGene Ubriaco To Pittsburgh Penguins Tracy PrattGeorge SwarbrickBryan Watson Additions and subtractions Additions Player Former team Via Brian Perry Providence Reds (AHL) Inter-league Draft (1968–06–06) Carol Vadnais Montreal Canadiens Intra-league Draft (1968–06–12) Subtractions Player New team Via Charlie Burns Pittsburgh Penguins Intra-league Draft (1968–06–12) Larry Cahan Montreal Canadiens Intra-league Draft (1968–06–12) Howie Young Chicago Black Hawks Waivers (1968–10–02) September 2008 References Bibliography Currier Steve The California Golden Seals: A Tale of White Skates, Red Ink, and One of the NHL's Most Outlandish Teams University of Nebraska Press Lincoln, Nebraska 2017 978-0-8032-8848-5 Seals on Hockey Database Seals on Database Hockey Category:California Golden Seals seasons Oakland Category:1960s in Oakland, California