1976–77 Cleveland Barons season



The 1976–77 Cleveland Barons season was the 1st season for this franchise in Cleveland, after nine seasons in the Bay Area as the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals. The Barons displaced the World Hockey Association's Cleveland Crusaders who elected to relocate to Minnesota. The Barons finished 4th in the Adams Division and did not qualify for the playoffs.

Draft Picks
The franchise participated in the 1976 Amateur Draft as the California Golden Seals, the move to Cleveland not being announced until late August.

Regular Season
The Barons played in the tough Adams Division and spent most of the season in last place. Midway through the season, majority owner Mel Swig announced the team might have trouble finishing the season. The club missed payroll twice in February, and only a loan from the league and NHLPA kept the team afloat. Following the season, minority owner George Gund III purchased a controlling interest in the club.

Playoffs

 * The Barons did not qualify for the post season.

Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Barons. Stats reflect time with the Barons only. ‡Traded/released 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 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Seals. Stats reflect time with the Seals only. ‡Traded mid-season

Awards and Records

 * The Barons did not win any awards this season.

Transactions
The Barons were involved in the following transactions during the 1976–77 season: