1966–67 NHL season


The 1966–67 NHL season was the 50th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. Since the 1942–43 season, there had only been six teams in the NHL, but this was to be the last season of the Original Six as six more teams were added for the 1967–68 season. This season saw the debut of one of the greatest players in hockey history, defenceman Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins. The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Montreal Canadiens four games to two in the 1967 Stanley Cup Finals to win their thirteenth Stanley Cup in franchise history; to date this was the Leafs' last Stanley Cup victory.

League business

President David Molson of the Canadian Arena Company announced that the Montreal Forum would undergo major alterations in a $5 million work program commencing in April 1968.
NHL sponsorship of junior teams ceased, making all players of qualifying age not already on NHL-sponsored lists eligible for the amateur draft.

Regular season

made his NHL debut on October 19, with an assist in a 6–2 win over Detroit.
Terry Sawchuk got his 99th shutout when Toronto blanked Detroit 4–0 on February 25. He got his 100th career shutout on March 4, when Toronto defeated Chicago 4–0.
Bobby Hull scored his 50th goal of the season when Chicago lost to Toronto 9–5 on March 18 at Maple Leaf Gardens. Another superlative for the Black Hawks was Stan Mikita, who tied the league scoring record with 97 points in claiming the Art Ross Trophy for the third time. Mikita was also awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as most valuable player.
The Chicago Black Hawks, who had won three Stanley Cups, finished first overall in the standings for the first time in their history, a full seventeen points ahead of the Montreal Canadiens and nineteen ahead of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Boston Bruins missed the playoffs, their last time before their record 29-season playoff streak.

Final standings

Playoffs

Playoff bracket

Semifinals

(1) Chicago Black Hawks vs. (3) Toronto Maple Leafs

Despite Chicago's impressive regular season marks, it was the third seed Toronto Maple Leafs who beat the Black Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

(2) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) New York Rangers

Montreal swept the Rangers in four games.

Stanley Cup Finals

Awards

All-Star teams

Player statistics

Scoring leaders

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
PlayerTeamGPGAPtsPIM
Stan MikitaChicago Black Hawks7035629712
Bobby HullChicago Black Hawks6652288052
Norm UllmanDetroit Red Wings6826447026
Ken WharramChicago Black Hawks7031346521
Gordie HoweDetroit Red Wings6925406553
Bobby RousseauMontreal Canadiens6819446358
Phil EspositoChicago Black Hawks6921406140
Phil GoyetteNew York Rangers701249616
Doug MohnsChicago Black Hawks6125356058
Henri RichardMontreal Canadiens6521345528
Alex DelvecchioDetroit Red Wings7017385510

Source: NHL.

Leading goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; Min – Minutes Played; GA = Goals Against; GAA = Goals Against Average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts
PlayerTeamGPMINGAGAAWLTSO
Glenn HallChicago Black Hawks321664662.3819552
Denis DeJordyChicago Black Hawks4425361042.46221274
Charlie HodgeMontreal Canadiens372055882.60111573
Ed GiacominNew York Rangers6839811732.613027119
Johnny BowerToronto Maple Leafs271431632.6412932
Terry SawchukToronto Maple Leafs281409662.8115542
Roger CrozierDetroit Red Wings5832561823.35222944
Eddie JohnstonBoston Bruins3418801163.7082120

Coaches

The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1966–67 :
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1966–67 :