1964–65 NHL season | |
---|---|
League | National Hockey League |
Sport | Ice hockey |
Duration | October 12, 1964 – May 1, 1965 |
Number of games | 70 |
Number of teams | 6 |
Regular season | |
Season champion | Detroit Red Wings |
Season MVP | Bobby Hull (Black Hawks) |
Top scorer | Stan Mikita (Black Hawks) |
Playoffs | |
Playoffs Playoffs MVP | Jean Beliveau (Canadiens) |
Stanley Cup | |
Champions | Montreal Canadiens |
Runners-up | Chicago Black Hawks |
The 1964–65 NHL season was the 48th season of the National Hockey League. Six teams each played 70 games. Jean Beliveau was the winner of the newly introduced Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player during the playoffs. The Montreal Canadiens won their first Stanley Cup since 1960 as they were victorious over the Chicago Black Hawks in a seven-game final series.
Important new additions by Chicago were Bobby Hull's brother Dennis Hull and defenceman Doug Jarrett, and they traded Reg Fleming, Ab McDonald and Murray Balfour to Boston in exchange for Doug Mohns.
Frank Selke had retired as general manager of the Montreal Canadiens, and a man who was showing all the signs of being more capable than Selke, Sam Pollock, took over as general manager. Pollock had been doing an outstanding job as director of the Canadiens farm system the past few seasons and the Habs were deep in talent.
Ted Lindsay decided to make a comeback with Detroit and though Toronto beat Detroit in the opener 5–3, the Olympia fans gave him an ovation.
This was the first season the Conn Smythe Trophy was awarded for the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Muzz Patrick resigned as general manager of the New York Rangers and Emile Francis, assistant general manager, took his place. On January 27, 1965, Ulf Sterner, the first European trained player, made his debut in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers in a game versus the Boston Bruins.