For me, the 1967-68 edition of the Boston Bruins is the most fascinating. For eight straight seasons, that franchise had missed the playoffs - and (in fact) had never been close to joining the postseason excitement. In 1966-67 - the last year of the playoff drought, and the rookie season of # 4 - they won just 17 games, and accumulated 44 points (finishing 14 points behind the 5th place Detroit Red Wings). They were last in the NHL in Goals Scored (182) and worst in the league in Goals Against (253). They had just one 20-goal scorer (Pit Martin) and two players who hit the 100-PIM mark (Bobby Orr and Gilles Marotte).
Boston won 37 games in 1967-68 - 20 more than in 1966-67. Their 84 points were good enough for 3rd place in the East Division - 4 ahead of the 4th place Chicago Black Hawks. They led the league in Goals Scored (259), while allowing 216 goals. Orr had little to do with this drastic turnaround. Thanks to his knee problems, he played only 46 games, scoring 11 goals and adding 20 assists. The improvement was the result of the five new faces, four of them added through trades.
Each of the three Hawks who came to Boston in the Big Trade contributed significantly: Phil Esposito, 35 goals, 49 assists, 84 points; Fred Stanfield, 20 goals, 44 assists, 64 points; and Ken Hodge, 25 goals, 31 assists, 56 points. Eddie Shack - who was acquired in a trade made the same day as the 3-for-3 trade - had 23 goals, 19 assists, 49 points. Rookie Derek Sanderson contributed 24 goals, 25 assists, 49 points - earning himself the Calder Trophy. Thanks to the offensive production provided by the newcomers, both Johnny Bucyk (30+39=69) and John Mckenzie (28+38=66) enjoyed their best seasons so far in their careers.
In 1967-68, Boston had 5 players hit the 100-PIM mark (with Don Awrey leading the NHL with 153), while Sanderson finished with 98 PIM.
Perhaps the Bruins were a bit too successful. Their 3rd place finish earned them a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, who swept them in four straight games. A 4th place finish would have meant facing the New York Rangers in the first round. Chicago bounced the Blueshirts in 6 games. Maybe Boston would have done as well.
Boston won 37 games in 1967-68 - 20 more than in 1966-67. Their 84 points were good enough for 3rd place in the East Division - 4 ahead of the 4th place Chicago Black Hawks. They led the league in Goals Scored (259), while allowing 216 goals. Orr had little to do with this drastic turnaround. Thanks to his knee problems, he played only 46 games, scoring 11 goals and adding 20 assists. The improvement was the result of the five new faces, four of them added through trades.
Each of the three Hawks who came to Boston in the Big Trade contributed significantly: Phil Esposito, 35 goals, 49 assists, 84 points; Fred Stanfield, 20 goals, 44 assists, 64 points; and Ken Hodge, 25 goals, 31 assists, 56 points. Eddie Shack - who was acquired in a trade made the same day as the 3-for-3 trade - had 23 goals, 19 assists, 49 points. Rookie Derek Sanderson contributed 24 goals, 25 assists, 49 points - earning himself the Calder Trophy. Thanks to the offensive production provided by the newcomers, both Johnny Bucyk (30+39=69) and John Mckenzie (28+38=66) enjoyed their best seasons so far in their careers.
In 1967-68, Boston had 5 players hit the 100-PIM mark (with Don Awrey leading the NHL with 153), while Sanderson finished with 98 PIM.
Perhaps the Bruins were a bit too successful. Their 3rd place finish earned them a first-round series against the Montreal Canadiens, who swept them in four straight games. A 4th place finish would have meant facing the New York Rangers in the first round. Chicago bounced the Blueshirts in 6 games. Maybe Boston would have done as well.
