1966-67 marked a major end of an era for the National Hockey League. The league played its last season with just six teams. The following year, the NHL doubled in size to 12 teams and within seven years that number would increase to 18. 1966-67 also marked the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs would win the Stanley Cup.
The NHL was also a couple of years away from the offensive explosion, in most part brought on by the Boston Bruins. None of the six team leaders in 1966-67 would exceed 100 points, although Stan Mikita’s 97 points would establish a league record for most points in a season. That record was shattered just a few years later.
Player | Team | G | A | Pts. |
Stan Mikita | Chicago | 35 | 62 | 97 |
Norm Ullman | Detroit | 26 | 44 | 70 |
Bobby Rousseau | Montreal | 19 | 44 | 63 |
Phil Goyette | New York | 12 | 49 | 61 |
Dave Keon | Toronto | 19 | 33 | 52 |
John Bucyk | Boston | 18 | 30 | 48 |
Chicago Black Hawks – Stan Mikita
Mikita was the Art Ross Trophy recipient and, obviously the top point producer on the Chicago Black Hawks. Chicago was an offensive powerhouse with six players reaching higher point levels than Johnny Bucyk, the team leader of the Boston Bruins. Included was Phil Esposito, finishing fourth on the team with 61 points.
Detroit Red Wings – Norm Ullman
Norm Ullman of the fifth place Detroit Red Wings finished third in the race for the Art Ross with 70 points. In between Ullman and Mikita was Bobby Hull of the Black Hawks. Ullman led superstar teammate Gordie Howe by five points. However, leading Detroit in goals scored was Bruce McGregor with 28 to Ullman’s 26. It was a career year for McGregor.
Montreal Canadiens – Bobby Rousseau
The Montreal Canadiens finished second overall and made it to the Stanley Cup finals. Leading the way for the Habs with his moment of glory was Bobby Rousseau. Rousseau was tops on the team with 63 points. He finished eight points higher than Henri Richard and 21 points ahead of John Ferguson. Yvan Cournoyer led the team in goals with just 25. The point total placed Bobby in sixth place in the NHL.
New York Rangers – Phil Goyette
Phil Goyette led the New York Rangers with 61 points. Goyette scored just 12 goals while assisting on 49. Rod Gilbert led the team with 28 goals and was second in points, 15 behind Phil. The Rangers finished fourth in the league to capture the final playoff spot. However, New York was swept by the Canadiens in the opening round.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Dave Keon
Dave Keon was the top producer on the Toronto Maple Leafs with just 52 points. Ron Ellis led the team in goals with a minuscule 22. Frank Mahovlich finished second on the Maple Leafs to Keon with just 46 points. Toronto finished third during the regular season but actually had a minus -7 goal differential. The Maple Leafs topped the Black Hawks in the opening round, taking the series in six games. Toronto then met their arch rival, Montreal, in the Stanley Cup finals and also won that series in six games.
Boston Bruins – John Bucyk
As mentioned, John Bucyk led the Boston Bruins in points. With Phil Esposito still a Chicago Black Hawk and Bobby Orr in just his rookie season, the Bruins were limited to just 17 wins and finished dead last. Bucyk led the team with just 48 points. However, Orr was already making his mark, finishing third on the team with 41 points, just one behind Pit Martin. Just three years later, Boston was ripping up the league and winning the Stanley Cup.