Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - FHM 2: NHL History Revisited! (1962-Present Day)

NoSkillz · 10-06-2015, 08:32 PM

1966-67 NHL SEASON RECAP

After seeing a bit of movement in the standings last year, things reverted a bit back to normal during the 1966-67 season, most notably with the dramatic falloff seen from the New York Rangers, who looked to have turned the corner last year only to fall back into the basement this year.

There were only 18 points that separated the first and last placed teams last year but this year? 53 points difference!!

Once again, it was Chicago dominating, becoming one of the few teams to reach the elusive 100 point barrier and on the way, they put up an incredible +90 goal differential. They were in a class by themselves, winning the league by 12 points over the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs bounced back somewhat, finishing in third on the year after a frantic, late season charge, with rookie defenseman Bobby Orr leading the charge. More on him shortly. Detroit got back into the playoffs for the first time in a few years, edging the fifth place Bruins by two points.

Scoring continued to increase and once again, no one did it better than Chicago and their top two players. Bobby Hull, now 28 years old, set NHL records right across the board, scoring 52 goals, adding 64 assists and notching 116 total points, blowing past the former records in all three categories. It was a truly dominating season for the “Golden Jet”, as he also led the league in shots (380) and plus/minus (+46). Hull would be rewarded late in the regular season with a monster seven year contract extension valued at $875,000, the largest deal in NHL history to that point. Chicago goaltender Glenn Hall continued to dominate at age 35, putting up 36 wins and 7 shutouts, both league highs while Jacques Plante from Montreal had the league low in goals against average at a minuscule 2.04.

There is no guessing who the Stanley Cup favourite was as the playoffs approached, as three time defending champion Chicago showed no signs of slowing down whatsoever. Experts felt a rejuvenated Leafs team would offer them the most trouble.

Indeed, Toronto would face Montreal in one semi-final and take them to a deciding seventh game, which saw the Leafs prevail on the road. They would have to face the vaunted Hawks, who eased past Detroit in five games in the other semi.

There was some drama, however, as the league’s top player Bobby Hull sprained his thumb late in the Detroit series and would miss the entire final against Toronto.

The result was yet another seven game nail-biter and the Leafs would draw first blood on a Ron Ellis 2nd period goal but the Hawks were not amused, scoring three unanswered goals to take game seven 3-1 and win their FOURTH straight Stanley Cup championship.

1966-67 Stanley Cup Champions - CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS (FOUR STRAIGHT CUPS)

The Conn Smythe Trophy for outstanding player in the Stanley Cup playoffs was awarded to Stan Mikita for a second straight year. Mikita scored two goals and added 14 assists in his 12 games. Toronto’s Eddie Shack almost single-handedly brought the Leafs to the brink of a title, scoring a league-high 11 playoff goals.

At the 1966-67 NHL Awards ceremony, the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s most valuable player went to the “straw that stirs the drink” in Chicago, Stan Mikita (70gp 40g 61a 101pts 40pim +45), a bit of a surprise considering his linemate’s incredible accomplishments. Bobby Hull (70gp 52g 64a 116pts 24pim +46) would of course win the Art Ross Trophy for most points in the regular season. The James Norris Trophy for best defenseman went to Chicago’s Pierre Pilote (70gp 9g 50a 59pts 46pim +38), for a second year in a row and for the third time in four years. The awards continued to go Chicago’s way and 35 year old keeper Glenn Hall (52gp 36-9-6 2.21 .910%) was awarded with the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender for a second straight year.

Finally, the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year was awarded to Chicago’s 22 year old winger Ken Hodge (39gp 14g 23a 37pts 78pim +14), giving the Black Hawks a clean sweep on all of the NHL awards.

So, how did Bobby Orr fare, you ask?

Well, the Leafs stupidly had him on their reserve list to start the season and would finally call him up to the big team on January 3rd to make his official NHL debut. The Leafs were floundering in last place at the time and Orr almost singlehandedly carried them into the playoffs, scoring 3 goals and adding 23 assists in only 38 games.

He was in the NHL to stay and it will be fun following his career now that he’s solidified his spot on the roster.

There were no new additions to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967.

1966-67 Highest Salaried Player: Bobby Hull (Chicago) - $95,000/year
Last Year: Bobby Hull (Chicago) - $95,000/year

1966-67 Hockey News Player Poll (** designates new choices over last year)
Best Skater: Bobby Hull (Chicago)
Hardest Shot: Jim McKenny (Chicago) **
Smartest Player: Alex Delvecchio (New York Rangers)
Toughest Player: Bobby Baun (Toronto)
Fastest Player: Bobby Hull (Chicago)
Best Role Model: Dave Keon (Toronto)
Cleanest Player: Dave Keon (Toronto)
Toughest Goalie to Beat: Jacques Plante (Detroit)

There were a couple of key retirements at the end of the 1966-67 season. Toronto legend Johnny Bower finally hung up the pads at 42 years old after a 12 year career in the NHL with New York and the Leafs. He finishes his career with 587 games played, a 284-203-96 record, 43 shutouts and a 2.61 goals against average.

The other major retirement saw a still productive Doug Harvey hang them up after a remarkable 20 year career, starting out as a 23 year old with Montreal before playing his twilight years with the Rangers. In all, Harvey played in 1289 games, scored 122 goals and added 547 assists (third on the all-time list) for 669 points, adding 1486 penalty minutes as well. Hall of fame, here we come!

**************************************************
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN 1966-67?

Top Three Draft Picks:
1st Overall: Barry Gibbs, Defense, Boston Bruins
2nd Overall: Brad Park, Defense, New York Rangers
3rd Overall: Terry Caffery, Centre, Chicago Black Hawks

Regular Season Winners: Chicago Black Hawks - 94 Points
Stanley Cup Champions: Toronto Maple Leafs (Defeat Montreal Canadiens 4 games to 2)

Most Goals: Bobby Hull (Chicago) - 52
Most Assists: Stan Mikita (Chicago) - 62
Most Points: Stan Mikita (Chicago) - 97
Most Wins: Ed Giacomin (New York) - 34
Goals Against Average: Glenn Hall (Chicago) - 2.38

Art Ross Trophy (Most Points): Stan Mikita (Chicago)
Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Bobby Orr (Boston)
Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player): Stan Mikita (Chicago)
James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman): Harry Howell (New York)
Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender): Denis DeJordy and Glenn Hall (Chicago)
**************************************************

10-06-2015, 08:32 PM	#16
NoSkillz College Benchwarmer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: St. Catharines, Canada	1966-67 NHL SEASON RECAP After seeing a bit of movement in the standings last year, things reverted a bit back to normal during the 1966-67 season, most notably with the dramatic falloff seen from the New York Rangers, who looked to have turned the corner last year only to fall back into the basement this year. There were only 18 points that separated the first and last placed teams last year but this year? 53 points difference!! Once again, it was Chicago dominating, becoming one of the few teams to reach the elusive 100 point barrier and on the way, they put up an incredible +90 goal differential. They were in a class by themselves, winning the league by 12 points over the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs bounced back somewhat, finishing in third on the year after a frantic, late season charge, with rookie defenseman Bobby Orr leading the charge. More on him shortly. Detroit got back into the playoffs for the first time in a few years, edging the fifth place Bruins by two points. Scoring continued to increase and once again, no one did it better than Chicago and their top two players. Bobby Hull, now 28 years old, set NHL records right across the board, scoring 52 goals, adding 64 assists and notching 116 total points, blowing past the former records in all three categories. It was a truly dominating season for the “Golden Jet”, as he also led the league in shots (380) and plus/minus (+46). Hull would be rewarded late in the regular season with a monster seven year contract extension valued at $875,000, the largest deal in NHL history to that point. Chicago goaltender Glenn Hall continued to dominate at age 35, putting up 36 wins and 7 shutouts, both league highs while Jacques Plante from Montreal had the league low in goals against average at a minuscule 2.04. There is no guessing who the Stanley Cup favourite was as the playoffs approached, as three time defending champion Chicago showed no signs of slowing down whatsoever. Experts felt a rejuvenated Leafs team would offer them the most trouble. Indeed, Toronto would face Montreal in one semi-final and take them to a deciding seventh game, which saw the Leafs prevail on the road. They would have to face the vaunted Hawks, who eased past Detroit in five games in the other semi. There was some drama, however, as the league’s top player Bobby Hull sprained his thumb late in the Detroit series and would miss the entire final against Toronto. The result was yet another seven game nail-biter and the Leafs would draw first blood on a Ron Ellis 2nd period goal but the Hawks were not amused, scoring three unanswered goals to take game seven 3-1 and win their FOURTH straight Stanley Cup championship. 1966-67 Stanley Cup Champions - CHICAGO BLACK HAWKS (FOUR STRAIGHT CUPS) The Conn Smythe Trophy for outstanding player in the Stanley Cup playoffs was awarded to Stan Mikita for a second straight year. Mikita scored two goals and added 14 assists in his 12 games. Toronto’s Eddie Shack almost single-handedly brought the Leafs to the brink of a title, scoring a league-high 11 playoff goals. At the 1966-67 NHL Awards ceremony, the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s most valuable player went to the “straw that stirs the drink” in Chicago, Stan Mikita (70gp 40g 61a 101pts 40pim +45), a bit of a surprise considering his linemate’s incredible accomplishments. Bobby Hull (70gp 52g 64a 116pts 24pim +46) would of course win the Art Ross Trophy for most points in the regular season. The James Norris Trophy for best defenseman went to Chicago’s Pierre Pilote (70gp 9g 50a 59pts 46pim +38), for a second year in a row and for the third time in four years. The awards continued to go Chicago’s way and 35 year old keeper Glenn Hall (52gp 36-9-6 2.21 .910%) was awarded with the Vezina Trophy for best goaltender for a second straight year. Finally, the Calder Memorial Trophy for rookie of the year was awarded to Chicago’s 22 year old winger Ken Hodge (39gp 14g 23a 37pts 78pim +14), giving the Black Hawks a clean sweep on all of the NHL awards. So, how did Bobby Orr fare, you ask? Well, the Leafs stupidly had him on their reserve list to start the season and would finally call him up to the big team on January 3rd to make his official NHL debut. The Leafs were floundering in last place at the time and Orr almost singlehandedly carried them into the playoffs, scoring 3 goals and adding 23 assists in only 38 games. He was in the NHL to stay and it will be fun following his career now that he’s solidified his spot on the roster. There were no new additions to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1967. 1966-67 Highest Salaried Player: Bobby Hull (Chicago) - $95,000/year Last Year: Bobby Hull* (Chicago) - $95,000/year* 1966-67 Hockey News Player Poll ( designates new choices over last year) Best Skater: Bobby Hull (Chicago) Hardest Shot: Jim McKenny (Chicago) Smartest Player: Alex Delvecchio (New York Rangers) Toughest Player: Bobby Baun (Toronto) Fastest Player: Bobby Hull (Chicago) Best Role Model: Dave Keon (Toronto) Cleanest Player: Dave Keon (Toronto) Toughest Goalie to Beat: Jacques Plante (Detroit) There were a couple of key retirements at the end of the 1966-67 season. Toronto legend Johnny Bower finally hung up the pads at 42 years old after a 12 year career in the NHL with New York and the Leafs. He finishes his career with 587 games played, a 284-203-96 record, 43 shutouts and a 2.61 goals against average. The other major retirement saw a still productive Doug Harvey hang them up after a remarkable 20 year career, starting out as a 23 year old with Montreal before playing his twilight years with the Rangers. In all, Harvey played in 1289 games, scored 122 goals and added 547 assists (third on the all-time list) for 669 points, adding 1486 penalty minutes as well. Hall of fame, here we come! ************************************************ WHAT REALLY HAPPENED IN 1966-67? Top Three Draft Picks: 1st Overall: Barry Gibbs, Defense, Boston Bruins 2nd Overall: Brad Park, Defense, New York Rangers 3rd Overall: Terry Caffery, Centre, Chicago Black Hawks Regular Season Winners: Chicago Black Hawks - 94 Points Stanley Cup Champions: Toronto Maple Leafs (Defeat Montreal Canadiens 4 games to 2) Most Goals: Bobby Hull (Chicago) - 52 Most Assists: Stan Mikita (Chicago) - 62 Most Points: Stan Mikita (Chicago) - 97 Most Wins: Ed Giacomin (New York) - 34 Goals Against Average: Glenn Hall (Chicago) - 2.38 Art Ross Trophy (Most Points): Stan Mikita (Chicago) Calder Memorial Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Bobby Orr (Boston) Hart Memorial Trophy (Most Valuable Player): Stan Mikita (Chicago) James Norris Memorial Trophy (Best Defenseman): Harry Howell (New York) Vezina Trophy (Best Goaltender): Denis DeJordy and Glenn Hall (Chicago) ********************************************** __________________ MY CURRENT FM19 DYNASTY - FM19: "Ludere causa Ludendi - To Play for the Sake of Playing" - Queen's Park FC (Scottish League Two) MY OLD FM11 DYNASTY - FM11: From Semi-Pro Minnows to the EPL - Dover Athletic FC My Personal Blog - Now on the Tee - Golf, Sports, Poker, Life 2006 GOLDEN SCRIBE AWARD WINNER FOR BEST 'OTHER SPORT' DYNASTY -** EHM2005: Sharpening Swords in Buffalo Last edited by NoSkillz : 10-06-2015 at 08:32 PM.