1974-75 saw the National Hockey League expand from 16 to 18 teams. Two expansion franchises joined the league, the Washington Capitals and Kansas City Scouts. Since, the two have combined for four Stanley Cup championships. But, that first year was anything but a joy. The Capitals won just eight games. The Scouts fared a bit better but were off to Denver after just two seasons in Missouri. They would eventually win three championships as the New Jersey Devils.
On the captaincy front, 1974-75 was a bit of a transition year. Henri Richard, Dave Keon and Doug Mohns were at the end of their NHL careers. Although, Keon would return for a swansong with the Hartford Whalers after a stint in the World Hockey Association.
Two teams, the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks, did not designate a full time captain for the 1974-75 NHL season. Instead, the captaincy was rotated.
Below the video, we get into a bit more details about the 16 players that wore the C in 1974-75. The players are listed in no particular order…
Video: 1974-75 NHL Team Captains
1974-75 NHL Team Captains
Jim Schoenfeld – Buffalo Sabres
Gerry Meehan started the season as captain of the Buffalo Sabres. However, Meehan was traded to the Vancouver Canucks just three games into the 1974-75 NHL campaign. Jim Schoenfeld took over the captaincy for the rest of the season. He remained team captain through the 1976-77 season before Danny Gare took over.
Schoenfeld remained with the Sabres until a 1981-82 trade sent him to the Detroit Red Wings. Over his career, Jim played in 719 regular season NHL games between 1972-73 and 1984-85 with the Sabres, Red Wings and Boston Bruins.
Johnny Bucyk – Boston Bruins
John Bucyk was the sole team captain in Boston for the 1966-67 season and then again from 1973-74 to 1976-77. In the years between, he shared the captaincy. Bucyk initially took over the role in 1966 from Leo Boivin. He was replaced by Wayne Cashman.
Over 23 National Hockey League seasons, all with the Boston Bruins, The Chief appeared in 1,540 regular season games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.
Dave Keon – Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Keon was captain of the Maple Leafs from 1969-70 to 1974-75. He took over from George Armstrong and was replaced by Darryl Sittler. Keon left for the WHA in 1975-76 and certainly made his mark in the Rebel League.
Keon returned to the NHL with the Hartford Whalers after the WHA was merged. In his final season, 1981-82, Dave served as captain for the Whalers. He ended his career with 1,296 regular season games between Toronto and Hartford. Keon was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1986.
Joey Johnston – California Golden Seals
Seals captain for 1973-74 and 1974-75, Joey Johnston replaced Bert Marshall and was replaced by Jim Neilson. Johnston moved to the Chicago Blackhawks for the 1975-76 season, the final year of his NHL career.
During his National Hockey League playing career, Joey appeared in 331 regular season games. Johnson started his career with the Minnesota North Stars before his time with California and Chicago.
Henri Richard – Montreal Canadiens
Henri Richard captained the Habs from 1971-72 to 1974-75 after wearing the A for the previous four seasons. In 1974-75, Richard appeared in just 16 games, the last of his career. He took over the captaincy from Jean Beliveau and was replaced by Yvan Cournoyer.
Playing solely for the Canadiens, the Pocket Rocket appeared in 1,256 regular season games for Montreal between 1955-56 and 1974-75. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979.
Terry Harper – Los Angeles Kings
His second and last year as captain of the Kings, Terry Harper took over the responsibility from Bob Pulford and was replaced by Mike Murphy. After being sent to Detroit for 1975-76, he shared the C with Danny Grant.
A leader from the beginning, Terry was captain for two seasons in his junior days with the Regina Pats. He played in the NHL from 1962-63 to 1980-81, appearing in 1,066 regular season games with the Montreal Canadiens, Kings, Red Wings, St. Louis Blues and Colorado Rockies.
Ron Schock – Pittsburgh Penguins
After four seasons without a designated team captain, the Penguins called on Ron Schock to wear the C from 1973-74 to 1976-77. Earl Ingarfield was the last in 1968-69. Jean Pronovost would take over for the 1977-78 season.
Schock played 909 regular season games in the National Hockey League from 1963-64 to 1977-78 with the Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues, Pittsburgh and the Buffalo Sabres.
Marcel Dionne – Detroit Red Wings
Marcel Dionne became a Hall of Famer for his play with the Los Angeles Kings. However, 1974-75 with the Red Wings was the only season he was the sole captain. The job was shared in 1973-74 and, as mentioned above, was split between Terry Harper and Danny Grant in 1975-76.
Dionne played in the NHL from 1971-72 to 1988-89 with the Red Wings, Kings and New York Rangers, appearing in 1,348 regular season games. He became a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.
Doug Mohns – Washington Capitals
The first ever team captain of the Washington Capitals. Over a career that crossed through three different decades, 1974-75 was the only time Mohns wore the C. It would also be his last year in the NHL. Yvon Labre took over the captaincy the following year.
Diesel played 1,390 regular season games in the NHL from 1953-54 to 1974-75. He started with the Boston Bruins, also playing for the Blackhawks, North Stars and Atlanta Flames before his year with the Caps.
Bobby Clarke – Philadelphia Flyers
Synonymous with ‘Philadelphia Flyers’ and ‘Team Captain’, Bobby Clarke served from 1972-73 to 1978-79, then again in 1982-83 and 1983-84. He replaced Ed Van Impe, the team’s first ever captain, and was replaced initially by Mel Bridgman.
Clarke spent his entire NHL career with the Broad Street Bullies. From 1969-70 to 1983-84, he played in 1,144 regular season games with the club. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987.
Brad Park – New York Rangers
1974-75 was Brad Park’s first and only full season as captain for the New York Rangers. He would wear the C for 13 games in 1975-76 before the famous (infamous?) blockbuster trade with the Bruins. Vic Hadfield had previously served as team captain. Phil Esposito took over after arriving from Boston.
Park played in 1,113 regular season National Hockey League games between 1968-69 and 1984-85. Along with the Rangers and Bruins, Brad also did time with the Detroit Red Wings. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988.
Ed Westfall – New York Islanders
The first ever captain of the Islanders. Ed Westfall served from 1972-73 to 1976-77. In his final year as captain, he shared duties with Clark Gillies. Previously, with the Boston Bruins, he wore the A in 1969-70.
Westfall played in 1,226 regular season NHL games between 1961-62 and 1978-79 with the Bruins and Islanders.
Keith McCreary – Atlanta Flames
Another inaugural franchise captain. Keith McCreary was the first ever team captain for the Atlanta Flames. He served from 1972-73 to 1974-75. He was replaced by Pat Quinn.
1974-75 would be McCreary’s final season in the NHL. He played his first game in 1964-65 and appeared in 532 regular season games. Along with the Flames, Keith also played for the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Barclay Plager – St. Louis Blues
After sharing duties for the 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons, Barclay Plager became full time captain for the St. Louis Blues in 1972-73. He would wear the C through the 1975-76 season, replaced by Garry Unger.
From 1967-68 to 1976-77, Plager appeared in 614 regular season games. His entire career was spent with the Blues, joining the club for their inaugural season.
Bill Goldsworthy – Minnesota North Stars
1974-75 was the first of three seasons that Bill Goldsworthy wore the C in Minnesota. He replaced Ted Harris and was replaced by Nick Beverley. His NHL career started with the Boston Bruins in 1964-65 and ended with the New York Rangers in 1977-78. Over that time, he played in 771 regular season games.
Goldsworthy also spent time in the World Hockey Association. He appeared with both the Indianapolis Racers and Edmonton Oilers.
Simon Nolet – Kansas City Scouts
The first captain for the Scouts, Nolet wore the C in both seasons that the franchise was in Kansas City. However, 41 games into the 1975-76 campaign, he was shipped to Pittsburgh and Guy Charron took over.
In 1976-77, Nolet returned to the franchise, now the Colorado Rockies, and again served as team captain. It was his final year in the league. Between 1967-68 and 1976-77, Simon played in 562 regular season NHL games with the Philadelphia Flyers, Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Colorado.