The teams that didn’t last
Welcome to Wrist Shot, giving you quick fire shots that you may, or may not know about hockey
The NHL has a rich history, and yes fine, while unlike other smaller leagues where teams disappear and no one cares, when an NHL team disappears, people notice – But who remembers them now.
This is the PowerPlayGoal.com guide to teams that lasted less than 5 seasons.
Brooklyn Americans
Where: Madison Square Gardens
When: 1941 – 1942
Why: The team was collapsed in 1942
Accomplishments: The team was rather unsuccessful in their brief two years of actually existing. In those two years neither year resulted in a trip to the playoffs and the team suffered greatly from the poor behavior of its staff off the ice.
California Seals / Oakland Seals
Where: Oakland/Alameda Colliseum
When: 1967 -1978
Why: Never successful at the box office, the team was constantly in the red, and they were sold to Cleveland (which is mentioned next)
Accomplishments: The team enjoyed limited success reaching the playoffs just twice in their shortish history.
Cleveland Barons
Where: Richfield, Ohio
When: 1976-1978
Why: After failing to establish the franchise and losing a shed load of cash in California, the franchise was sold, and moved to Ohio.
Money was poured into the team, and for a short period it actually worked, bringing in record crowds featuring numbers in the 12,000′s.
Sadly numbers dwindled on the team being unsuccessful, and the team became cash strapped having blown lots of money early on.
They eventually merged with another cash strapped team, The Minnesota North Stars.
Accomplishments: None, other than lasting just 2 years…
Kansas City Scouts
Where: Kansas City, Missouri
When: 1974-1976
Why: The team was named after a statue in the city. They were an expansion team awarded to Kansas in 1972.
The NHL at this stage was struggling to cope with the increased expansion and therefore the talent pool was very thin, with many players who were not up to a professional standard suddenly finding themselves in the big leagues. This led to the teams demise after just two years, and they were moved to Denver. Seems like fans actually want to see a winning team.
Accomplishments: Winning just 12 games one season.
Philadelphia Quakers
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 1930-1931
Why: Moved to Philadelphia from Pittsburgh as a way of avoiding crippling debt, the team remained financially streched for the year in Philadelphia, and finished with a 4-36-4 record, terrible then and just as bad now.
It was announced that they would not ice the following season, and never returned, leaving Philadelphia waiting until 1967 for a new team.
Accomplishments: Tied with the Quebec Bulldogs for the fewest wins in NHL history.
I hope you have found this episode of Wrist Shot interesting, and full of small “shots” of hockey.
KevKev.