[NoSkillz]

1966-1967 SEASON


1966 NHL AMATEUR DRAFT

The 1966 Amateur Draft shifted away from the Queen Elizabeth Hotel for the first time but stayed in Montreal, this time taking place at the Mount Royal Hotel.

There were no changes to the draft ages this year so that meant a pretty strong class, especially at the top. The consensus choice for #1 was a young star defenseman from Parry Sound, Ontario and the hometown Toronto Maple Leafs, so strong in recent years but coming off a shocking last place (*cough* TANK *cough*) finish, couldn’t get to the podium quick enough.

Indeed, the top selection in the 1966 draft would be Bobby Orr, as I throw up in my mouth seeing him end up on the Maple Leafs.

Here is how the first round went in a remarkably strong draft:

FIRST ROUND -
1. Toronto Maple Leafs - Bobby Orr, Defense, Canada
2. Detroit Red Wings - Ken Dryden, Goaltender, Canada
3. Boston Bruins - Mickey Redmond, Right Wing, Canada
4. New York Rangers - Guy Lapointe, Defense, Canada
5. Montreal Canadiens - Syl Apps, Centre, Canada
6. Chicago Black Hawks - Garry Unger, Centre, Canada

Other top prospects selected included Gerry Hart (7th overall to Toronto), Pierre Bouchard (9th overall to Boston) and Keith Magnuson (16th overall to New York).


1966-67 NHL SEASON PREVIEW

Expansion was only one year away and 14 applications for franchises were received by the NHL, including five from ownership groups in Los Angeles, two from Pittsburgh and one each from Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Philadelphia, San Francisco-Oakland, Baltimore, Buffalo and Vancouver.

Rules changes for the 1966-67 season included allowing substitutions on coincidental major penalties and between period intermissions were set at 15 minutes.

It’s been pretty customary to see a major deal or two prior to each season beginning and 1966 was no exception, as the three-time defending Cup champions Chicago traded young goaltending prospect Tony Esposito to Toronto in return for established players John Ferguson and long-time Leaf fan favourite George Armstong. Armstrong, at 35 years old, is still a capable player but was traded while still injured, a risky proposition for the Hawks in my opinion. He’d likely be out until early January while rehabbing his injured elbow.

The deal made clear the fact that Chicago intended to keep making deals for the present and that meant they’d once again be the consensus favourite to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup for the fourth consecutive year. Toronto and Montreal are once again considered to be the main challengers. The main dark horse pick once again is the Boston Bruins.

Top candidates in the scoring race will Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull from Chicago along with Detroit’s Gordie Howe. No change here from the last number of years.

The top defencemen in the league are considered to be Hawks blue liner Pierre Pilote, Rangers defender Doug Harvey and Boston’s Doug Mohns. The top goaltenders continue to be Montreal’s Jacques Plante, Detroit’s Terry Sawchuk and Chicago’s Glenn Hall.

The notable 17 year olds entering this universe in 1966 include John Donnelly, Jude Drouin, Barry Gibbs, Jerry Korab, Rick Ley, Don Luce, Phil Myre, Brad Park, Gene Peacosh, Gerry Pinder, Rene Robert, Ron Snell, Dave Burrows, Terry Caffery, Guy Charron, Bob Girard, John Gould, Pierre Jarry, Keith Kokkola, Daryl Maggs, Randy Manery, John Migneault, Dennis O’Brien, Jean Potvin, Phil Roberto, Gregg Sheppard and Marc Tardif.