1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season



The 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their 1st in the National Hockey League. Pittsburgh was one of six cities awarded an expansion team during the 1967 NHL expansion. The Penguins finished 5th in the West Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Off-season
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. After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was going to play in an "Igloo", 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 Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle." 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.

Pre-season
The Penguins held their training camp in Brantford, Ontario.

September 29, 1967: Pittsburgh 7, Minnesota North Stars 2 @ Brantford, Ontario September 30, 1967: Minnesota 6, Pittsburgh 1 @ Oshawa, Ontario October 1, 1967: Oakland 3, Minnesota 2 @ Port Huron, Michigan October 4, 1967: Pittsburgh 2, Minnesota 0 @ Belleville, Ontario October 5, 1967: Pittsburgh 5, Minnesota 2 @ Kingston, Ontario

Regular Season
The Penguins inaugural jersey colours were blue, white, and black with a primarily blue home jersey and a primarily white away jersey. The jerseys had five outlined stripes on the arms and body, no names on the back and the jersey numbers were outlined. The logo was a diagonal "PITTSBURGH" that was outlined. The Penguins wore these jersey for this season only.

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, Ab McDonald 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.

On October 11, 1967 Andy Bathgate of the Pittsburgh Penguins scored a goal in a 2–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. It was the first goal ever scored by a player for a 1967 expansion team. Bathgate led the team in scoring with 59 points.

Mel Pearson played the last 2 games of his 38 game NHL career, that spanned over eight years, when he appeared for the Penguins on February 7, 1968 versus the Oakland Seals and February 8 against the Los Angeles Kings. Pearson had an assist in the latter game.

Ab McDonald's 22 goals led the team while Les Binkley played 54 games in net for the Penguins and finished with 20 wins, just two behind second place Cesare Maniago's 22 wins.

Playoffs

 * The Penguins did not qualify for the post season.

Forwards
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Defencemen
Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Goaltending
Note: GP= Games played; MIN= Minutes; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Awards and Records

 * The Penguins did not win any awards this season.

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

Trivia

 * Penguins who recorded a hat trick this season include:
 * Andy Bathgate during the 3-3 tie with the Minnesota North Stars on October 18, 1967.
 * Ken Schinkel during the 4-2 win over the Chicago Black Hawks on October 21, 1967.