1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 1974–75 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Hockey League. It was also the Penguins first season in the Norris division of the Prince of Wales Conference. The team qualified for the playoffs for the third time in franchise history, losing to the New York Islanders after gaining a 3–0 lead in the quarter-final round.
Offseason
In early 1975, newspapers reported that the California Golden Seals and Penguins were to be relocated to Denver and Seattle respectively, in an arrangement that would have seen the two teams sold to groups in those cities that had already been awarded "conditional" franchises for the 1976–77 season. After staunchly rejecting previous franchise relocation attempts, league president Clarence Campbell saw this as a method by which the NHL might extricate itself from two problem markets, while honoring the expansion commitments it had made. However Seattle Totems owner Vince Abbey missed an opportunity to acquire the Penguins when they were sold in a bankruptcy auction for $4.4 million in June 1975. The Penguins ended up staying in Pittsburgh and ultimately, over time, made Pittsburgh one of the NHL's stronger markets.Regular season
Final standings
Schedule and results
Playoffs
Preliminary Round vs. St. Louis Blues
Quarterfinals vs. New York Islanders
Player statistics
;Skaters;Goaltenders
†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Penguins. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Penguins only.
Awards and records
- Jean Pronovost became the first player to score 300 points for the Penguins. He did so in a 5–5 tie with Boston on October 23.
- Syl Apps Jr. became the first player to record 200 assists for the Penguins. He did so in a 7–5 win over Toronto on December 30.
- Jean Pronovost became the first person to play 500 games for the Penguins. He did so in an 8–6 win over New York on March 2.
- Pierre Larouche established a rookie record for the Penguins in terms of goals assists and points.
- Ron Schock established a new franchise record for assists in a season with 63, besting the previous high of 61 held by Syl Apps Jr..
- Ron Schock established a new franchise record for points in a season with 86, besting the previous high of 85 held by Syl Apps Jr..
- Ron Stackhouse established a new franchise defenseman record for assists and points in a season. He topped the previous highs held by Duane Rupp and Darryl Edstrand.
Transactions
Trades
| June 4, 1974 | To Vancouver Canucks ---- Ab DeMarco Jr. | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Barry Wilkins |
| September 13, 1974 | To Toronto Maple Leafs ---- Blaine Stoughton 1977 1st round pick | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Rick Kehoe |
| November 2, 1974 | To Vancouver Canucks ---- Ab DeMarco Jr. | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Barry Wilkins |
| December 14, 1974 | To Washington Capitals ---- Ron Lalonde | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Lew Morrison |
| January 10, 1975 | To Kansas City Scouts ---- Denis Herron Jean-Guy Lagace | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Michel Plasse |
| January 20, 1975 | To St. Louis Blues ---- Bernie Lukowich | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Bob Stumpf |
| January 21, 1975 | To Washington Capitals ---- Ron Jones | To Pittsburgh Penguins ---- Pete Laframboise |
Additions and subtractions
Roster
Draft picks
Pittsburgh Penguins' picks at the 1974 NHL amateur draft.| Round | # | Player | Pos | Nationality | College/Junior/Club Team |
| 1 | 8 | Pierre Larouche | C | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks |
| 2 | 27 | Jacques Cossette | RW | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks |
| 4 | 62 | Mario Faubert | D | Canada | St. Louis University |
| 5 | 80 | Bruce Aberhart | G | Canada | London Knights |
| 6 | 98 | William Schneider | LW | United States | University of Minnesota |
| 7 | 116 | Rob Laird | LW | Canada | Regina Pats |
| 8 | 133 | Larry Finck | D | Canada | St. Catharines Black Hawks |
| 9 | 150 | Jim Chicoyne | D | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings |
| 10 | 166 | Rick Uhrich | RW | Canada | Regina Pats |
| 11 | 181 | Serge Gamelin | RW | Canada | Sorel Black Hawks |
| 12 | 195 | Rich Perron | D | Canada | Quebec Ramparts |
| 13 | 206 | Rick Hindmarch | RW | Canada | University of Calgary |
| 14 | 216 | Bill Davis | D | Canada | Colgate University |
| 15 | 223 | James Mathers | D | United States | Northeastern University |
;Draft notes
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' second-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a January 17, 1974, trade that sent Steve Durbano, Ab DeMarco, and Bob Kelly to the Penguins in exchange for Bryan Watson, Greg Polis and this pick.
- The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as a result of an October 6, 1972, trade that sent Roy Edwards to the Red Wings in exchange for a 1973 second-round pick and this pick.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a June 27, 1974, trade that sent Nelson Debenedet to the Penguins in exchange for Hank Nowak and this pick.