1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their first in the NHL. Pittsburgh was one of six cities awarded an expansion team during the 1967 NHL expansion.

1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division	5th West
1967–68 record	27–34–13
Home record	15–12–10
Road record	12–22–3
Goals for	195
Goals against	216
Team information
General manager	Jack Riley
Coach	Red Sullivan
Captain	Ab McDonald
Alternate captains	Leo Boivin Earl Ingarfield Al MacNeil
Arena	Pittsburgh Civic Arena
Average attendance	7,405 (59.2%) (36 games)[1]
Team leaders
Goals	Ab McDonald (22)
Assists	Andy Bathgate (39)
Points	Andy Bathgate (59)
Penalty minutes	Leo Boivin (74)
Wins	Les Binkley (20)
Goals against average	Hank Bassen (2.86)
1968–69 →

After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was going to play in an "Igloo",^[2] the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Center), a logo was chosen, that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which is thought to be in tribute to the "Golden Triangle".^[3]

Offseason

On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded a franchise to the Hockey Club of Pittsburgh, Incorporated: a partnership of several investors headed by Pennsylvania State Senator Jack McGregor and his friend and business associate Peter Block. McGregor became the public face of the ownership, as president and chief executive officer, and representing the club at Board of Governors meetings.

Later that year McGregor and Block began assembling their new hockey team. American Hockey League executive Jack Riley was named the club's general manager, and began immediately acquiring the services of players. He signed minor-leaguers Les Binkley, Ted Lanyon, Dick Mattiussi and Bill Speer to contracts before the club had ever taken to the ice.

The name of the new team was chosen by a contest in a local newspaper: on February 10, 1967, the new team became known as the Penguins.

In the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Riley chose experienced players, particularly former New York Rangers players. Coincidentally Penguins head coach Red Sullivan was a former Ranger player and head coach. Earl Ingarfield, Ken Schinkel, Val Fonteyne, Mel Pearson, Al MacNeil, Noel Price, Billy Dea and Art Stratton had each spent time in their careers with the Rangers, but the Penguins' most prized acquisition was former Rangers star Andy Bathgate. Bathgate, then 34 years old, was near the end of his career and deemed expendable by the Red Wings, who had previously acquired his rights.

The rest of the roster was filled with minor-leaguers, particularly members of the Pittsburgh Hornets, the American Hockey League club which had served the Pittsburgh market since the late 1930s.

Expansion Draft

See also: 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Pittsburgh Penguins selections

The Pittsburgh Penguins made 20 selections in the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft held in Montreal from June 5–7.^[4]

Round #	Player	Position	Drafted from
1	Joe Daley	Goaltender	Detroit Red Wings
2	Roy Edwards	Goaltender	Chicago Black Hawks
3	Earl Ingarfield	Center	New York Rangers
4	Al MacNeil	Defense	New York Rangers
5	Larry Jeffrey	Left Wing	Toronto Maple Leafs
6	Ab McDonald	Left Wing	Detroit Red Wings
7	Leo Boivin	Defense	Detroit Red Wings
8	Noel Price	Defense	Montreal Canadiens
9	Keith McCreary	Right Wing	Montreal Canadiens
10	Ken Schinkel	Right Wing	New York Rangers
11	Bob Dillabough	Center	Boston Bruins
12	Art Stratton	Center	Chicago Black Hawks
13	Val Fonteyne	Left Wing	Detroit Red Wings
14	Jeannot Gilbert	Center	Boston Bruins
15	Tom McCarthy	Left Wing	Montreal Canadiens
16	Billy Dea	Left Wing	Chicago Black Hawks
17	Bob Rivard	Center	Montreal Canadiens
18	Mel Pearson	Left Wing	Chicago Black Hawks
19	Andy Bathgate	Right Wing	Detroit Red Wings
20	Les Hunt	Defense	New York Rangers

Regular season

The Penguins' first general manager was Jack Riley. His team (along with the other expansion teams) was hampered by restrictive rules that kept most major talent with the "Original Six." Beyond aging sniper Andy Bathgate and tough defenceman Leo Boivin, the first Penguins team was manned by a cast of former minor-leaguers. The club missed the playoffs, but were a mere six points out of 1st place in the close-fought West Division.

• October 11, 1967 – Andy Bathgate of the Pittsburgh Penguins scores a goal in a 2–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first goal ever scored by a player for an expansion team.

Final standings

West Division^[5]

• v
• t
• e

		GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	DIFF	Pts
1	Philadelphia Flyers	74	31	32	11	173	179	−6	73
2	Los Angeles Kings	74	31	33	10	200	224	−24	72
3	St. Louis Blues	74	27	31	16	177	191	−14	70
4	Minnesota North Stars	74	27	32	15	191	226	−35	69
5	Pittsburgh Penguins	74	27	34	13	195	216	−21	67
6	Oakland Seals	74	15	42	17	153	219	−66	47

Record vs. opponents

Vs. West Division 1967–68 NHL records[6] Team LAK MIN OAK PHI PIT STL Total Los Angeles — 2–6–2 4–4–2 5–4–1 6–4 4–3–3 21–21–8 Minnesota 6–2–2 — 5–2–3 3–6–1 3–4–3 3–5–2 20–19–11 Oakland 4–4–2 2–5–3 — 4–3–3 1–5–4 0–7–3 11–24–15 Philadelphia 4–5–1 6–3–1 3–4–3 — 3–4–3 7–1–2 23–17–10 Pittsburgh 4–6 4–3–3 5–1–4 4–3–3 — 4–6 21–19–10 St. Louis 3–4–3 5–3–2 7–0–3 1–7–2 6–4 — 22–18–10

Vs. East Division 1967–68 NHL records Team BOS CHI DET MTL NYR TOR Total Los Angeles 1–3 1–2–1 2–1–1 2–2 2–2 2–2 10–12–2 Minnesota 2–2 1–3 2–2 1–2–1 0–2–2 1–2–1 7–13–4 Oakland 2–2 0–3–1 0–3–1 1–3 0–4 1–3 4–18–2 Philadelphia 1–3 1–3 1–3 1–2–1 1–3 3–1 8–15–1 Pittsburgh 2–2 1–2–1 1–3 0–4 0–3–1 2–1–1 6–15–3 St. Louis 1–2–1 0–2–2 1–2–1 0–3–1 1–3 2–1–1 5–13–6

Schedule and results

1967–1968 Schedule
October: 3–6–1 (Home: 2–3–1; Road: 1–3–0) 7 points # Oct Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 1 11 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,307) 0–1–0 0 2 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–1 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (5,126) 1–1–0 2 3 14 St. Louis Blues 4–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,166) 1–2–0 2 4 18 Minnesota North Stars 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,885) 1–2–1 3 5 19 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,812) 1–3–1 3 6 21 Chicago Black Hawks 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,274) 2–3–1 5 7 22 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (III) (13,706) 2–4–1 5 8 25 Oakland Seals 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (3,819) 3–4–1 7 9 28 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,536) 3–5–1 7 10 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (13,909) 3–6–1 7
November: 6–3–2 (Home: 3–1–1; Road: 3–2–1) 14 pints # Nov Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 11 1 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (7,535) 4–6–1 9 12 4 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,549) 5–6–1 11 13 8 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,719) 5–6–2 12 14 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–5 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (10,683) 5–7–2 12 15 11 St. Louis Blues 5–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,183) 5–8–2 12 16 15 Philadelphia Flyers 0–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,876) 6–8–2 14 17 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 5–3 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (7,715) 7–8–2 16 18 22 Boston Bruins 1–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,701) 8–8–2 18 19 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–5 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (6,409) 8–9–2 18 20 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,977) 8–9–3 19 21 29 Oakland Seals 1–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,499) 9–9–3 21
December: 4–8–2 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–5–0) 10 points # Dec Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 22 2 New York Rangers 4–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,725) 9–10–3 21 23 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–6 Detroit Red Wings Olympia Stadium (12,215) 9–11–3 21 24 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–7 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (17,000) 9–12–3 21 25 9 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,927) 10–12–3 23 26 10 Minnesota North Stars 7–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,662) 10–13–3 23 27 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (15,718) 11–13–3 25 28 16 Chicago Black Hawks 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,174) 11–13–4 26 29 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,522) 11–14–4 26 30 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (4,013) 11–15–4 26 31 23 Minnesota North Stars 0–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,631) 12–15–4 28 32 25 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,002) 13–15–4 30 33 27 Oakland Seals 0–0 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,039) 13–15–5 31 34 29 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–2 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (8,286) 13–16–5 31 35 30 Detroit Red Wings 5–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,041) 13–17–5 31
January: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1; Road: 1–5–1) 10 points # Jan Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 36 4 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (4,202) 14–17–5 33 37 6 Philadelphia Flyers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,351) 14–17–6 34 38 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (7,935) 14–18–6 34 39 10 Montreal Canadiens 4–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,580) 14–19–6 34 40 12 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,292) 15–19–6 36 41 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–7 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leaf Gardens (15,732) 15–20–6 36 42 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–1 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (2,638) 15–20–7 37 43 18 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–3 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (5,755) 15–21–7 37 44 20 Detroit Red Wings 5–8 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (10,547) 16–21–7 39 45 21 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (9,298) 16–22–7 39 46 27 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (11,156) 16–23–7 39 47 28 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–0 Boston Bruins Boston Garden (13,909) 17–23–7 41 48 31 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–9 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (7,748) 17–24–7 41
February: 4–5–3 (Home: 2–3–3; Road: 2–2–0) 11 points # Feb Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 49 1 St. Louis Blues 0–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (5,980) 18–24–7 43 50 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 3–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (12,563) 18–24–8 44 51 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–1 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (5,283) 19–24–8 46 52 8 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–3 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (6,195) 19–25–8 46 53 10 New York Rangers 2–2 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (10,237) 19–25–9 47 54 14 Minnesota North Stars 3–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,133) 20–25–9 49 55 16 St. Louis Blues 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,209) 20–26–9 49 56 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (14,687) 20–27–9 49 57 21 Philadelphia Flyers 1–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (9,198) 20–27–10 50 58 24 Oakland Seals 3–1 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (11,057) 20–28–10 50 59 25 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Philadelphia Flyers The Spectrum (14,418) 21–28–10 52 60 27 Boston Bruins 5–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,546) 21–29–10 52
March: 6–5–3 (Home: 3–0–2; Road: 3–5–1) 15 points # Mar Visitor Score Home Location/Attendance Record Points 61 2 Oakland Seals 6–6 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,390) 21–29–11 53 62 6 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–4 St. Louis Blues St. Louis Arena (9,092) 21–30–11 53 63 7 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–2 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (10,705) 21–30–12 54 64 9 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (8,176) 22–30–12 56 65 13 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–4 Chicago Black Hawks Chicago Stadium (16,666) 22–31–12 56 66 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 4–6 Montreal Canadiens Montreal Forum (15,041) 22–32–12 56 67 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 New York Rangers Madison Square Garden (III) (17,250) 22–33–12 56 68 20 St. Louis Blues 2–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,126) 23–33–12 58 69 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–3 Minnesota North Stars Met Center (11,910) 23–34–12 58 70 24 Minnesota North Stars 4–4 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (7,229) 23–34–13 59 71 26 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Great Western Forum (7,057) 24–34–13 61 72 27 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–4 Oakland Seals Oakland Coliseum Arena (4,365) 25–34–13 63 73 30 Pittsburgh Penguins 2–0 Philadelphia Flyers at Quebec City (5,569) 26–34–13 65 74 31 Philadelphia Flyers 1–5 Pittsburgh Penguins Civic Arena (6,756) 27–34–13 67
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Player statistics

Skaters

Regular Season[7] Player GP G A Pts +/− PIM Andy Bathgate 74 20 39 59 -11 55 Ab McDonald 74 22 21 43 -4 38 Ken Schinkel 57 14 25 39 -10 19 Art Stratton‡ 58 16 21 37 -6 16 Earl Ingarfield 50 15 22 37 -8 12 Val Fonteyne 69 6 28 34 -11 0 Gene Ubriaco 65 18 15 33 -11 16 Noel Price 70 6 27 33 -7 48 Paul Andrea 65 11 21 32 -5 2 Billy Dea 73 16 12 28 -14 6 Keith McCreary 70 14 12 26 -3 44 Leo Boivin 73 9 13 22 -16 74 Bob Dillabough 47 7 12 19 -6 18 Bob Rivard 27 5 12 17 0 4 Bill Speer 68 3 13 16 -12 44 George Konik 52 7 8 15 -9 26 Al MacNeil 74 2 10 12 -5 58 Wayne Hicks† 15 4 7 11 2 2 Dick Mattiussi 32 0 2 2 -9 18 Dunc McCallum 32 0 2 2 -2 36 Mel Pearson 2 0 1 1 -1 0 Ted Lanyon 5 0 0 0 1 4 Total 195 323 518 — 540

Goaltenders

Regular Season^[8]

Player	GP	GS	TOI	W	L	OT	T	GA	GAA	SA	SV%	SO	G	A	PIM
Les Binkley	54	54	3139:01	20	24	--	10	150	2.87	1585	0.905	6	0	0	0
Hank Bassen	25	20	1295:19	7	10	--	3	62	2.87	685	0.909	1	0	0	8
Total		74	4434:20	27	34	0	13	212	2.87	2270	0.907	7	0	0	8

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
^‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records

• Les Binkley recorded the first shutout in team history with a 1–0 win against Oakland on November 4.
• Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 50 points in a season. He did so by recording an assist in a 6–6 tie against Oakland on March 2.
• Andy Bathgate became the first Penguins player to earn 20 goals in a season. He did so by scoring in a 4–6 loss against Montreal on March 16.
• Andy Bathgate, Al MacNeil and Ab McDonald each became the first players to suit up for all of the Penguins' games for an entire season.
• Les Binkley became the first Penguins goaltender to record 20 wins in a season. He did so in a 5–1 win against Philadelphia on March 30.
• By leading the team in scoring in its first season, Andy Bathgate set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 59 points.
• Noel Price became the first Penguin to lead defenseman in scoring. He set the Penguin's single season scoring record at 33 points.
• Leo Boivin set the team record for goals by a defenseman at 9.

Transactions

The Penguins were involved in the following transactions during the 1967–68 season:

Trades

September 7, 1967	To Detroit Red Wings Roy Edwards	To Pittsburgh Penguins Hank Bassen
February 27, 1968	To Philadelphia Flyers Art Stratton	To Pittsburgh Penguins Wayne Hicks cash
May 21, 1968	To Boston Bruins cash	To Pittsburgh Penguins Jean Pronovost John Arbour
June 11, 1968	To Montreal Canadiens Al MacNeil	To Pittsburgh Penguins Wally Boyer
June 11, 1968	To St. Louis Blues Ab McDonald	To Pittsburgh Penguins Lou Angotti

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Bill LeCaine Port Huron Flags (IHL) free agency (1967–08) Marv Edwards Nashville Dixie Flyers (EHL) free agency (1967–09)

Subtractions Player New team Via

Draft picks

Amateur Draft

Main article: 1967 NHL Amateur Draft

Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1967 NHL Amateur Draft.^[9]

Round	#	Player	Pos	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team
1	2	Steve Rexe	Goaltender	Canada	Belleville Seniors
1	11	Bob Smith	Center	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

References

1. "The Civic Arena (Mellon Arena) Attendance Records". Pittsburgh Hockey. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
2. Michael L. LaBlanc; Mary K. Ruby (1994). Michael L. LaBlanc, Mary K. Ruby (ed.). Professional Sports Team Histories: Hockey (illustrated ed.). University of Michigan: Gale Research. p. 324. ISBN 9780810388628.
3. "Pittsburgh Penguins Logo History". Pittsburgh Hockey. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
4. "1967 NHL Expansion Draft Picks". hockeyDB. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
5. "1967–1968 Division Standings Standings - NHL.com - Standings". National Hockey League.
6. "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
7. "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
8. "1967–1968 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
9. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 3, 2013.