At 10 a.m. NHL president Clarence Campbell asks Jack Kent Cooke to make the first selection of the goalkeeper draft for the Los Angeles Kings. Cooke has three minutes to ponder his selection, but he doesn’t hesitate or confer with advisor Larry Regan. Cooke announces the Kings will select Terry Sawchuk from the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A murmur goes through the room, with expressions of surprise. Most observers felt that Glenn Hall of Chicago would be the first choice among the goalies, and there was sentiment that Boston’s Bernie Parent was the best young netminder available.
Sawchuk, age 37, Played 30 games with Toronto last season, going 15-5-4 with 2.81 GAPG. He was the runner-up to Dave Keon in the 1967 Conn Smythe Trophy voting. Terry is one of the All-time great goalkeepers, a sure-fire Hall of Famer. Toronto filled with Al Smith.
Here are the full results of goaltender phase of the expansion draft, with a few somewhat surprising selections:
Round 1:
1. Los Angeles: Terry Sawchuk from Toronto, who filled with Al Smith.
2. Philadelphia: Bernie Parent, BOS. Age 22, split last season between Boston and Oklahoma City (CPHL). Had 3.64 GAPG in 18 games with Bruins. Won Memorial Cup with Niagara Falls Flyers in 1965. (Bruins filled with Ed Johnston)
3. St. Louis: Glenn Hall, Chicago. Age 35, played 32 games for Black Hawks last year with a 2.38 GAPG, best in NHL. Won Vezina Trophy (shared with Denis DeJordy). (Hawks filled with Dave Dryden)
4. Minnesota: Cesare Maniago, New York. Age 28, played 6 games for Rangers last year backing up Ed Giacomin, with a 3.84 GAPG. Was leading goaltender in the CPHL in 1964-65. (Rangers filled with Gilles Villemure)
5. Pittsburgh: Joe Daley, Detroit, a very surprising pick by the Penguins. Age 24, spent most of last season with Memphis (CPHL) and also saw time with Pittsburgh in the AHL. Had a 3.34 average with Memphis. (Red Wings filled with George Gardner).
6. California: Charlie Hodge, Montreal. Age 34, played 37 games with Montreal last season with a 2.57 GAPG. Won 2 Vezina Trophies and played in 3 NHL All-star games. (Canadiens filled with Rogatien Vachon)
Round 2:
7. California: Gary Smith, Toronto. Age 23, spent most of 66-67 with Rochester (AHL), going 7-4-4 with 2.62 GAPG in 17 games. Also played 2 games with Leafs. Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1964. Nicknamed “Suitcase.”
8. Pittsburgh: Roy Edwards, Chicago. Age 30, spent last season with Buffalo (AHL). In 39 games, had a 5.07 GAPG but performed much better than the record indicates. Played with World-champion Whitby Dunlops in 1958. This pick was a bit confusing for Penguins GM Jack Riley. He initially tried to select Toronto goalie Bruce Gamble but was informed that Leafs had already lost the maximum two netminders when Punch Imlach called out to him “Nice try!”
9. Minnesota: Garry Bauman, Montreal. Age 26, played most of last season with Quebec Aces (AHL) but got into 2 games with the Habs. Led AHL in wins with 36 last season. WCHA first-team all-star in 62-63-64.
10. St. Louis: Don Caley, Detroit. Age 21, spent 66-67 with Pittsburgh (AHL), playing 20 games with a 3.80 GAPG. First-team SJHL all-star in 65-66. He’s a largely unknown quantity at this point in his career.
11. Philadelphia: Doug Favell, Boston. Age 22, spent 66-67 with Oklahoma City (CPHL) with a 2.83 GAPG in 33 games. Will continue a partnership with Bernie Parent that began with a Memorial Cup win in Niagara Falls in 64-65. Shared leading goaltender award for CPHL last year with Gerry Cheevers.
12. Los Angeles: Wayne Rutledge, New York. Age 25, played all 70 games for Omaha of CPHL last year, leading league in wins with 36 and was named First All-star goaltender.
In our next post, the skater draft begins! Who will be the first overall choice? That decision rests with Wren Blair, general manager of the Minnesota North Stars…stay tuned!
This is awesome stuff!
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