Photo: Washington Capitals
With the Washington Capitals celebrating their 50th anniversary this season, NoVa Caps is summarizing each season of the team, from earliest to most recent. The series leads off with the Capitals’ 1974-75 season, their first season in the NHL.
A succinct description of the Capitals’ inaugural season was that it was both their first season and their worst season. Their record was 8-67-5 in 80 games for just 21 points. The Capitals that season had compiled the worst record in the history of the NHL, although two later expansion teams were nearly as bad: the 1992-1993 San Jose Sharks (11-71-2 and 24 points in their second season) and the 1992-93 Ottawa Senators (10-70-4 and 24 points in their first season).
They never won two consecutive games and had five losing streaks of five or more games, including a 17-game losing streak. They were last in goals scored with 181 and worst in goals given up with 446.
Notable Capitals Draftees in 1974 NHL Draft
- Greg Joly (1st round — #1 overall)
- Mike Marson (2nd round – 19th overall)
- Tony White (10th round — #161 overall)
General Manager: Milt Schmidt, formerly the Boston Bruins coach
Head Coaches:
- Jim Anderson — through February 9
- Red Sullivan — from February 11 through March 22
- Milt Schmidt – since March 23
Captain: Doug Mohns
Leaders
Goals: Tommy Williams (22), Denis Dupere (20)
Assists: Tommy Williams (36), Yvon Labre (23)
Points: Tommy Williams (58), Denis Dupere (35)
Penalty Minutes: Yvon Labre (182), Mike Bloom (84)
Major Trades
- February 8, 1975 — Traded Dennis Dupere to St Louis Blues for Garnet “Ace” Bailey and Stan Gilbertson
- February 38, 1975 — Traded 1975 third-round pick (#37) to Detroit Red Wings for Nelson Pyatt
Related Reading
Retro Recap – October 17, 1974 – The Washington Capitals First Ever Win
The First Night: Looking Back At the Capitals’ First Regular Season Game
Building The Washington Capitals: A Look At The Expansion Draft Of 1974
By Diane Doyle
