Our coverage of the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft continues with rounds 3-5. As the draft moves on,it’s a bit surprising that the Los Angeles Kings have not yet selected the great Red Kelly from the Toronto Maple Leafs. Kelly has been long rumoured to become the first Kings coach. However, in order for that to take place, the Kings must acquire his rights from Toronto. Leafs, of course, would like to see Kelly selected sooner rather than later so they can reclaim a player who figures into their plans. But Kings owner Jack Kent Cooke seems intent on waiting as long as possible before he picks Kelly. Kelly is present, sitting at the back of the room with other players and reporters.
Round 3:
13. PIT: Larry Jeffery, LW, TOR. Age 26, played 56 games with Leafs last year, (11-17-28). Hard-nosed winger with good speed, excellent checker. Came to Toronto in huge 8-player trade between TOR and DET that saw Marcel Pronovost go to Leafs and Andy Bathgate move to Red Wings.
14. LAK: Eddie Joyal, C, TOR. Age 27, spent last season with Rochester Americans (32-51-83, 5th in AHL). Speedy centre with a good scoring touch, is nicknamed “The Jet”. There has always been questions about his work ethic and dedication.
15. PHI: Brit Selby, LW, TOR. Age 22, began last season with Leafs, but early on was farmed out to Vancouver (WHL) where he suffered a broken leg and missed most of the year. Was NHL rookie-of-the-year in 1966. Swift-skating winger with good hockey sense and potentially a good scorer. Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1964 and was OHA Jr A 1st All-star LW in 1964-65.
16. STL: Al Arbour, D, TOR. Age 34, spent 66-67 with Rochester Americans (3-19-22). Defensive specialist and one of the best shot-blockers in hockey. Four-time AHL 1st All-star, won Eddie Shore Trophy as AHL’s best defenceman in 1965. TOR filled with George Armstrong.
17. MIN: Bob Woytowich, D, BOS. Age 25. Was with BOS last season (2-7-9). Defensive-minded blueliner who possesses a good shot from the point. BOS filled with Skip Krake.
18. CAL: Bill Hicke, RW, NYR. Age 29, spent most of last season with NYR (48 GP, 3-4-7). Led all AHL point scorers in playoffs with Baltimore. In 1959 was AHL MVP, Top Scorer and Rookie-of-the-year with Rochester. Came to Rangers in December of 1964 in the trade that saw Dick Duff go to Canadiens.
Round 4:
19. LAK: Real Lemieux, LW, DET. Spent most of 66-67 with Memphis (28-34-62); led CPHL in PIM with 211. Had 1 goal in 14 games with DET. Hard-nosed winger who plays it rough with a scoring touch.
20. PHI: Flyers took a 10-minute timeout before selecting Lou Angotti, C, CHI. Age 29, spent 66-67 with Hawks (6-12-18). Industrious centre who can play wing, is adept on penalty kill. Assisted on Bobby Hull’s 51st goal, March 12, 1966. Won NCAA championship with Michigan Tech in 1962 and was member of NCAA All-American team as well. Would be interesting to know what the discussion was that caused the Flyers to spend a timeout on this pick. CHI filled with Wayne Maki.
21. STL: Rod Seiling, D, NYR. Age 22, spent most of 66-67 with Baltimore. In 12 games with NY had 1-1-2. Excellent skater, still learning the game at the pro level. Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1964, also played in the Olympics for Canada that year and was named to the Olympic all-star team.
22. MIN: Jean-Guy Talbot, D, MTL. Age 34, spent 66-67 with MTL, his 12th NHL season (3-5-8 in 68 games). Versatile, can play F as well as D. Not flashy but very dependable. Was suspended for a year in 1952 for “cutting down” Scotty Bowman, now assistant coach at STL Blues. That incident ended Bowman’s playing career.
23. CAL: Billy Harris, C, DET. Age 31, spent 10 years with Toronto before being traded to DET in 1965. Was with AHL Pittsburgh last season (34-36-70). Won Memorial Cup with Toronto Marlboros in 1955 (scored GW goal), also three Stanley Cups with Leafs.
24. PIT: Ab McDonald, LW, DET. Age 31, spent most of 66-67 with Pittsburgh Hornets (25-31-56) and got into 12 games with Detroit (2-0-2). Tall, rangy winger won three Stanley Cups with MTL (1958, 59, 60) and also with CHI in 1961.
Round 5:
25. PHI: Leon Rochefort, RW, MTL. Age 28. Spent most of 66-67 with MTL, (9-8-17 in 27 GP). Was second team EPHL All-star RW in 1962. Always a good scorer at every level he has played, still looking to make his mark in the NHL. Came to Habs in huge 1963 trade between MTL and NYR that saw Jacques Plante and Gump Worsley exchange uniforms. MTL filled with Dick Duff.
26. STL: Ron Schock, C, BOS. Age 23, spent 66-67 with BOS (10-20-30 in 66 games). Speedy C, good penalty-killer. Was OHA Jr A second team all-star in 1963 with Niagara Falls. A slight surprise that Boston left him available.
27. MIN: Wayne Connelly, RW, BOS. Played for BOS in 66-67 (13-17-30 in 64 games). Strong skater with a big shot, Bobby Orr’s first NHL point was an assist on his goal on October 19 last fall. Connelly assisted on the last goal of the six-team NHL era on April 1, vs TOR.
28. CAL: Larry Cahan, D, NYR. Age 33. Played with WHL Vancouver last season (18-36-54) and was a First Team All-star for the second time. Also won the Hal Laycoe Trophy as the league’s best defenceman last season. Heady blueliner with an offensive flair and a heavy shot.
29. PIT: Leo Boivin, D, DET. Age 34. Scored 4-17-21 in 69 games with DET in 66-67. Hard-rock rearguard with a reputation as one of the NHL’s toughest checkers. Can also play on the forward line in a pinch. DET filled with Gary Jarrett.
30. LAK: Poul Popiel, D, BOS. Age 24. Played with Hershey in 66-67 (5-27-32 in 63 games). Was rookie-of-the-year in CPHL in 63-64, sharing award with Garry Peters. Smooth, puck-moving defenceman.
To this point in time, the draft has been moving along at an amazingly quick pace. It appears that most of the new teams have done their homework and know exactly who they want.
50 Years Ago In Hockey 