1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season
| 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins | |
|---|---|
| Division | 5th West |
| 1967–68 record | 27–34–13 |
| Home record | 15–12–10 |
| Road record | 12–22–3 |
| Goals for | 195 |
| Goals against | 216 |
| Team information | |
| General Manager | Jack Riley |
| Coach | Red Sullivan |
| Captain | Ab McDonald |
| Alternate captains |
Leo Boivin Earl Ingarfield Al MacNeil |
| Arena | Pittsburgh Civic Arena |
| Average attendance | 7,405 (59.2%) (36 games) |
| Team leaders | |
| Goals | Ab McDonald (22) |
| Assists | Andy Bathgate (39) |
| Points | Andy Bathgate (59) |
| Penalties in minutes | Leo Boivin (74) |
| Wins | Les Binkley (20) |
| Goals against average | Hank Bassen (2.86) |
The 1967–68 Pittsburgh Penguins season was their first in the NHL. Pittsburgh was one of six cities awarded an expansion team during the 1967 NHL expansion.
After deciding on the "Penguin" nickname (which was inspired by the fact that the team was going to play in an "Igloo", the nickname of the Pittsburgh Civic Center), a logo was chosen, that had a penguin in front of a triangle, which is thought to be in tribute to the "Golden Triangle".
On February 8, 1966, the NHL awarded a franchise to the Hockey Club of Pittsburgh, Incorporated: a partnership of several investors headed by Pennsylvania State Senator Jack McGregor and his friend and business associate Peter Block. McGregor became the public face of the ownership, as President and Chief Executive Officer, and representing the club at Board of Governors meetings.
Later that year McGregor and Block began assembling their new hockey team. American Hockey League executive Jack Riley was named the club's general manager, and began immediately acquiring the services of players. He signed minor-leaguers Les Binkley, Ted Lanyon, Dick Mattiussi and Bill Speer to contracts before the club had ever taken to the ice.
The name of the new team was chosen by a contest in a local newspaper: on February 10, 1967, the new team became known as the Penguins.
In the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft Riley chose experienced players, particularly former New York Rangers players. Coincidentally Penguins head coach Red Sullivan was a former Ranger player and head coach. Earl Ingarfield, Ken Schinkel, Val Fonteyne, Mel Pearson, Al MacNeil, Noel Price, Billy Dea and Art Stratton had each spent time in their careers with the Rangers, but the Penguins' most prized acquisition was former Rangers star Andy Bathgate. Bathgate, then 34 years old, was near the end of his career and deemed expendable by the Red Wings, who had previously acquired his rights.
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