The Panther
Registered User
Previous threads:
SEASON in REVIEW: 1967-68
SEASON in REVIEW: 1968-69
The 1969-70 NHL Season
The third season, post-expansion, and it wasn't entirely unlike the previous season: same 12 clubs, same divisional breakdowns, same number of games played (76), same "West" division (i..e., expansion) club in the Finals (St. Louis Blues).
The big difference, however, compared to 1968-69, was that the Montreal Canadiens missed the playoffs (gasp!), despite having a better record than every West-division club and tying the playoff-bound Rangers in points (New York had a better goal differential). This seemingly opened the door somewhat for ascendant Boston, which -- as Bobby Orr hit his absolute peak -- won its first Stanley Cup since 1941. Boston, which had tied for 1st overall with Chicago, lost only 2 playoff games (to the same Blackhawks, in round one) on the way to the Cup.
Speaking of the Chicago Blackhawks, they were quite a story this season: In 1968-69, they had crapped out, finishing at .507 and last place among the established teams, not even close to a playoff spot. But in 1969-70 they suddenly surged to tie for 1st overall. The difference for Chicago appears to have been defence, as the club shaved an amazing 76 goals-against off its totals -- that is, one goal per game less!
Winning the 1969-70 booby-prize for ineptness was the Los Angeles Kings, who bottomed-out to a horrendous 14-52-10 record, 38 points, and last overall. The Kings were last overall in offense, and last overall in defence. Their leading scorer was Ross Lonsberry with 42 points, and they didn't have a single "plus" player on their entire roster (defenceman Larry Cahan had a League-worst minus 43).
Amazingly, the 1970 Art Ross trophy was won by a defenceman... Bobby Orr, with 120 points. No defenceman had ever been scoring leader or Art Ross winner, prior. To put Orr's 120 points into perspective, the most points any Dman in history had ever scored to that point was... Bobby Orr's 64 points the year prior (and before that, Pierre Pilote's 59 points in 1965).
Phil Esposito dropped from 126 points to 99, but still finished second to Orr in scoring. Chicago's Stan Mikita was third, with Phil Goyette (Blues) and Walt Tkaczuk (Rangers) rounding out the top-5. Notably, this was the first season in 21 years that Gordie Howe (now aged 41) wasn't top-five in scoring. Howe still finished 1st in scoring on a strong Red Wings team (the last 'good' Wings club for a long time), and was still overall 9th in scoring!
In addition to his 120 points, Orr had the most assists (87) in NHL history (10 more than Esposito the year prior and 37 more than any defenceman had ever had), and led the League at +54. Needless to say, he won the Hart trophy.
Back to the playoffs: St. Louis achieved the unlikely feat of reaching the Cup Finals three seasons in a row -- due to the existence of the 'West' division and the playoff format pitting East vs. West in the Final -- and losing every single game. It would be another 49 years (!) before the Blues would be in the Stanley Cup Final again (winning, in 2019).
Bobby Orr won the Conn Smythe trophy for Boston. This meant that in one season, Orr won the Hart trophy, the Art Ross trophy, the Norris trophy, and the Conn Smythe (needless to say, he was also 1st-team All Star). No player had ever come close to winning (or winning the equivalent of) those 4 trophies in one season before... and no player has done it since.
Regular Season:
Summary: 1969-70 NHL Summary | Hockey-Reference.com
1969-70 also gave us probably the most famous photo in NHL hockey history:
SEASON in REVIEW: 1967-68
SEASON in REVIEW: 1968-69
The 1969-70 NHL Season
The third season, post-expansion, and it wasn't entirely unlike the previous season: same 12 clubs, same divisional breakdowns, same number of games played (76), same "West" division (i..e., expansion) club in the Finals (St. Louis Blues).
The big difference, however, compared to 1968-69, was that the Montreal Canadiens missed the playoffs (gasp!), despite having a better record than every West-division club and tying the playoff-bound Rangers in points (New York had a better goal differential). This seemingly opened the door somewhat for ascendant Boston, which -- as Bobby Orr hit his absolute peak -- won its first Stanley Cup since 1941. Boston, which had tied for 1st overall with Chicago, lost only 2 playoff games (to the same Blackhawks, in round one) on the way to the Cup.
Speaking of the Chicago Blackhawks, they were quite a story this season: In 1968-69, they had crapped out, finishing at .507 and last place among the established teams, not even close to a playoff spot. But in 1969-70 they suddenly surged to tie for 1st overall. The difference for Chicago appears to have been defence, as the club shaved an amazing 76 goals-against off its totals -- that is, one goal per game less!
Winning the 1969-70 booby-prize for ineptness was the Los Angeles Kings, who bottomed-out to a horrendous 14-52-10 record, 38 points, and last overall. The Kings were last overall in offense, and last overall in defence. Their leading scorer was Ross Lonsberry with 42 points, and they didn't have a single "plus" player on their entire roster (defenceman Larry Cahan had a League-worst minus 43).
Amazingly, the 1970 Art Ross trophy was won by a defenceman... Bobby Orr, with 120 points. No defenceman had ever been scoring leader or Art Ross winner, prior. To put Orr's 120 points into perspective, the most points any Dman in history had ever scored to that point was... Bobby Orr's 64 points the year prior (and before that, Pierre Pilote's 59 points in 1965).
Phil Esposito dropped from 126 points to 99, but still finished second to Orr in scoring. Chicago's Stan Mikita was third, with Phil Goyette (Blues) and Walt Tkaczuk (Rangers) rounding out the top-5. Notably, this was the first season in 21 years that Gordie Howe (now aged 41) wasn't top-five in scoring. Howe still finished 1st in scoring on a strong Red Wings team (the last 'good' Wings club for a long time), and was still overall 9th in scoring!
In addition to his 120 points, Orr had the most assists (87) in NHL history (10 more than Esposito the year prior and 37 more than any defenceman had ever had), and led the League at +54. Needless to say, he won the Hart trophy.
Back to the playoffs: St. Louis achieved the unlikely feat of reaching the Cup Finals three seasons in a row -- due to the existence of the 'West' division and the playoff format pitting East vs. West in the Final -- and losing every single game. It would be another 49 years (!) before the Blues would be in the Stanley Cup Final again (winning, in 2019).
Bobby Orr won the Conn Smythe trophy for Boston. This meant that in one season, Orr won the Hart trophy, the Art Ross trophy, the Norris trophy, and the Conn Smythe (needless to say, he was also 1st-team All Star). No player had ever come close to winning (or winning the equivalent of) those 4 trophies in one season before... and no player has done it since.
Regular Season:
Summary: 1969-70 NHL Summary | Hockey-Reference.com
1969-70 also gave us probably the most famous photo in NHL hockey history:
