1967–68 NHL season

1967–68 NHL season was a transformative campaign that marked the first major expansion of the National Hockey League in the modern era. The league doubled in size from six to twelve teams, introducing the Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Oakland Seals. The Montreal Canadiens captured their fifteenth Stanley Cup championship, defeating the expansion St. Louis Blues in a four-game sweep.

Regular season

The league was divided into the established East Division and the new West Division, composed entirely of expansion franchises. Each team played a 74-game schedule, facing divisional opponents ten times each and teams from the other division four times. The Montreal Canadiens, led by Jean Béliveau and Yvan Cournoyer, finished atop the East Division with 94 points. The Chicago Black Hawks, featuring Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull, were close behind. In the West Division, the Philadelphia Flyers and St. Louis Blues emerged as the top teams, with the Blues claiming first place under coach Scotty Bowman and goaltender Glenn Hall.

Stanley Cup playoffs

The Stanley Cup playoffs format guaranteed a finalist from the new West Division. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Boston Bruins and Chicago Black Hawks to win the East Division championship. In the West Division playoffs, the St. Louis Blues triumphed over the Philadelphia Flyers and Minnesota North Stars. The Stanley Cup Finals pitted the experienced Canadiens against the expansion Blues. Montreal won the series in four straight games, with goaltender Rogatien Vachon and defenseman J. C. Tremblay playing key roles. The Blues' Glenn Hall was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP despite his team's loss.

League leaders

Chicago Black Hawks center Stan Mikita dominated the scoring race, winning the Art Ross Trophy with 87 points. His teammate, Bobby Hull, led the league with 44 goals, capturing the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy. Mikita also earned the Hart Memorial Trophy as Most Valuable Player and the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship. Goaltenders Gump Worsley of the Montreal Canadiens and Rogatien Vachon shared the Vezina Trophy, while Boston Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr began his ascent by leading all blueliners in assists.

Milestones and events

The season was notable for the debut of future legends like Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins and Gilbert Perreault's future teammate Phil Esposito, who was traded from the Chicago Black Hawks to the Boston Bruins. Gordie Howe of the Detroit Red Wings continued to add to his legendary career totals. The first NHL Amateur Draft was held in Montreal, with the Montreal Canadiens selecting Réjean Houle. A notable on-ice event was a bench-clearing brawl involving the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins in November 1967.

Team expansions and changes

This season represented the most significant NHL expansion in history, ending the Original Six era that had lasted since the 1942–43 season. The new franchises were the Philadelphia Flyers, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Oakland Seals. The expansion draft was held on June 6, 1967, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, with existing teams protecting key players. The league also introduced new divisions, with the Original Six placed in the East Division and all new teams in the West Division.

Category:National Hockey League seasons Category:1967–68 NHL season Category:1967 in ice hockey Category:1968 in ice hockey