1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season

The 1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their tenth in the National Hockey League. They finished third in the Norris Division for the third season in a row. In the playoffs, the Penguins were eliminated in the first round. Changes occurred in management and ownership. In December 1976, Baz Bastien replaced Wren Blair as the club's general manager. The club was sold to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. in February 1977.

1976–77 Pittsburgh Penguins
Division3rd Norris
Conference5th Wales
1976–77 record34–33–13
Goals for240
Goals against252
Team information
General managerWren Blair (Oct–Dec)
Baz Bastien (Dec–Apr)
CoachKen Schinkel
CaptainRon Schock
Alternate captainsNone
ArenaPittsburgh Civic Arena
Team leaders
GoalsJean Pronovost (33)
AssistsSyl Apps, Jr. (43)
PointsJean Pronovost (64)
Penalty minutesBob Kelly (115)
WinsDunc Wilson (18)
Goals against averageDenis Herron (2.94)

Regular season

Despite the fact that Pierre Larouche, Jean Pronovost and Syl Apps were unable to reproduce their franchise record-setting offensive output of the previous season the team finished with a similar regular season record on the strength of improved defensive prowess and the goaltending of Dunc Wilson and Denis Herron, who was re-acquired from the Kansas City Scouts in the off-season.

General Manager Wren Blair, who had been part of the ownership group which bought the club from the NHL in July 1975 until February 1976, was removed from his position December 3, 1976. Aldege 'Baz' Bastien, the man who had coached the American Hockey League's Pittsburgh Hornets to a Calder Cup championship in 1967, was named Blair's replacement.

Co-owners Al Savill and Otto Frenzel sold the club to shopping mall magnate Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr. in February 1977, less than two years after having bought the team from the NHL.

Final standings
Norris Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens8060812387171132
Los Angeles Kings8034311527124183
Pittsburgh Penguins8034331324025281
Washington Capitals8024421422130762
Detroit Red Wings801655918330941

[1]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results
1976–77 Schedule
October: 2–6–4 (Home: 2–2–2 ; Road: 0–4–2), 8 Points
November: 6–5–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 3–2–1), 13 Points
December: 7–5–1 (Home: 4–1–1 ; Road: 3–4–0), 15 Points
January: 7–4–2 (Home: 5–3–1 ; Road: 2–1–1), 16 Points
February: 5–5–4 (Home: 4–0–2 ; Road: 1–5–2), 14 Points
March: 5–8–1 (Home: 3–3–0 ; Road: 2–5–1), 11 Points
April: 2–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0 ; Road: 1–0–0), 4 Points
Legend:        = Win        = Loss        = Tie

Playoffs

The Penguins' opponent in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was once again the Toronto Maple Leafs. While the Penguins' offensive output greatly improved to ten goals scored (compared to 1976's three goals), the Maple Leafs once again dispatched the Penguins in three games.

Toronto won series 2–1

Player statistics
Skaters
Goaltenders
Regular Season[4]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Dunc Wilson45181981295
Denis Herron3415115941
Gordon Laxton6130260
Total3433132496
Playoffs[5]
Player GP W L T GA SO
Denis Herron3120110
Total120110

†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.

Awards and records
  • Syl Apps, Jr. became the first player to record 300 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 9–5 win over Vancouver on October 6th.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first person to play 600 games for the Penguins. He did so in a 1–2 loss to Atlanta on October 15th.
  • Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 500 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 3–6 loss to New York on December 11th.

Transactions

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

Trades
August 11, 1976 To Montreal Canadiens

1978 3rd round pick
future considerations

To Pittsburgh Penguins

Don Awrey

October 8, 1976 To New York Rangers

1978 4th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Dunc Wilson

October 18, 1976 To Los Angeles Kings

1977 5th round pick

 To Pittsburgh Penguins

Mike Corrigan

Additions and subtractions
Additions
PlayerFormer teamVia
Denis HerronKansas City Scoutsfree agency (1976-08-07)
Steve LyonMinnesota North Starsfree agency (1976–11)
Tom PriceCleveland Baronsfree agency (1977-02-28)
Subtractions
PlayerNew teamVia
Barry WilkinsEdmonton Oilers (WHA)free agency
Pete LaframboiseEdmonton Oilers (WHA)free agency (1976-05)
Simon NoletColorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Michel PlasseColorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-08-07)
Colin Campbell†Colorado Rockiescompensation for signing of Denis Herron (1976-09-01)

†Colin Campbell was loaned to the Rockies for one season. He was returned to the Penguins in 1977.

This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Roster
# Nat Player Pos S/G Age NHL Draft Birthplace
7 Russell Anderson D L 22 1975 Minneapolis, Minnesota
26 Syl Apps Jr. C R 29 1964 Toronto, Ontario
24 Don Awrey D L 33 Undrafted Kitchener, Ontario
20 Yves Bergeron RW R 25 1972 Malartic, Quebec
14 Wayne Bianchin RW L 23 1973 Nanaimo, British Columbia
4 David Burrows D L 28 Undrafted Toronto, Ontario
9 Blair Chapman RW R 20 1976 Lloydminster, Saskatchewan
27 Mike Corrigan LW L 31 Undrafted Ottawa, Ontario
5 Mario Faubert D R 22 1974 Valleyfield, Quebec
23 Ed Gilbert C L 25 1972 Hamilton, Ontario
15 Stan Gilbertson LW L 32 Undrafted Duluth, Minnesota
11 Vic Hadfield LW L 36 Undrafted Oakville, Ontario
1 Denis Herron G L 24 1972 Chambly, Quebec
8 Rick Kehoe RW R 25 1971 Windsor, Ontario
22 John Kelly RW L 30 1967 Fort William, Ontario
10 Pierre Larouche C R 21 1974 Taschereau, Quebec
30 Gordon Laxton G L 22 1975 Montreal, Quebec
5 Steve Lyon D R 24 1972 Toronto, Ontario
18 Lowell MacDonald LW R 35 Undrafted New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
12 William Malone C L 21 1976 Fredericton, New Brunswick
16 Lew Morrison RW R 29 1968 Gainsborough, Saskatchewan
25 Dennis Owchar D R 24 1973 Dryden, Ontario
6 Thomas Price D — 22 1974 Toronto, Ontario
19 Jean Pronovost RW R 31 Undrafted Shawinigan Falls, Quebec
17 Ron Schock (C) C L 33 Undrafted Chapleau, Ontario
3 Ronald Stackhouse D R 27 1969 Haliburton, Ontario
2 Ed Van Impe D L 36 Undrafted Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
29 Dunc Wilson G L 29 Undrafted Toronto, Ontario

Draft picks
See also: List of Pittsburgh Penguins draft picks

The 1976 NHL Amateur Draft was held on June 1, 1976 in Montreal, Quebec.[6]

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
1 2 Blair Chapman Right Wing  Canada Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)
2 19 Greg Malone Center  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
2 29 Peter Marsh Right Wing  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
3 47 Morris Lukowich Left Wing  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
4 65 Greg Redquest Goaltender  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)
5 83 Brendan Lowe Defense  Canada Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)
6 101 Vic Sirko Defense  Canada Oshawa Generals (OHA)

References
  1. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  2. "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  3. "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – All Skaters – Summary – Points – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  4. "1976–1977 – Regular Season – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  5. "1976–1977 – Playoffs – Pittsburgh Penguins – Goalie – Summary – Wins – NHL.com – Stats". NHL.
  6. "NHL Entry Draft Year by Year Results". NHL.
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