Los Angeles Kings: Recapping their 1967 first season
By Ryan Sikes
Bill Flett ended up being a great expansion draft pick for the Los Angeles Kings.
Despite being taken in the 18th round, a 24-year-old Bill Flett led the Los Angeles Kings in scoring, putting 26 goals in the net along with 20 assists. For his efforts, Flett finished fourth in the Calder Trophy voting, but The Sporting News declared him the NHL West Division rookie of the year.
He would spend the next three and a half years in LA before being traded to the Flyers. During his time with the Kings, Flett averaged nearly 18 goals and 20 assists per season.
Eddie Joyal led the Kings in points (57), scoring 23 goals with 34 assists while also tallying five goals in the man advantage. 1967 was a breakout year for Joyal, whose previous career-high in goals was just ten, coming in the 1963-1964 season.
After scoring 23 goals in 1967, the Edmonton native scored 33 goals the following year. But after a couple of middling seasons in LA, Joyal was part of the Flett trade to Philadelphia, which would end up being his last in the NHL.
Next. From undrafted to first line, the rise of Alex Iafallo. dark
Despite taking Sawchuk number one overall, Wayne Rutledge was the primary netminder for the Kings during the 1967-1968 season, logging a .897 save percentage and a 2.88 GAA. Sawchuk, 38, recorded one of his worst seasons with a .891 save percentage and a 3.07 GAA.