The Second Six
Written by The Mayor, Saturday December 05 2009
With all the talk in recent weeks about Montreal's 100th season, the Blackhawks resurgence and the Flyers coaching change, the Original Six may be the talk of the town - yet, let's not forget the Second Six.
Up until 1967 the NHL was a small - very, small - exclusive club. Just six teams. The smallest of any big time sports league. Then, they decided to do the unthinkable and expand. The number of teams doubled and the game moved west.
With the Blues in LA Saturday for a game between two of the Second Six, it seemed like a good time to review a little history.
How it came to be - the entire story of the '67 expansion would be a long one. In brief, a few owners had been pushing for adding teams to the NHL in the mid-'60s but were being met with resistance. However, the rival WHL was expanding into West Coast markets and was now threatening the NHL's ability to secure a TV contract. Specifically, in 1965 the NHL was told that without expansion they wouldn't be getting a TV deal going forward. The process began, with the league receiving 14 bids - including FIVE from Los Angeles based groups. In the end, six cities were chosen - Los Angeles, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Oakland.
The Second Six were placed in their own division, you know to keep the "bad" away from the "good". It's like when the new kid comes into a classroom and they make him sit at the back of the room by himself. St Louis got out of the gate quickly, going to the finals three straight years (and being swept all three times - should we call that a St Louis hat trick?). However, they never won the Cup, nor have they been back to the finals since.
But long before the teams started playing each other there was the draft. Dean Lombardi and many GMs before him have talked about the need to build a team from the net out. It's true now and it must have been true back then too. On June 6, 1967 the expansion draft was held - officially creating the Second Six, as they now had players to call their own. LA had the first pick, they took a goalie. Then, the next 11 picks were all goalies. Thus, each team had taken two netminders before the first skater was ever selected. (note: I'll have more on this in an upcoming article on the draft.)
As the years went by a few changes took place with some of the Second Six teams. The California (Oakland) Seals went through a number of name changes, relocated to Cleveland in '76 and eventually folded in '78 (merging with fellow expansion team, the Minnesota North Stars). Of course, Minnesota left their original home too, moving to Dallas in 1993.
Six Stanley Cups have been won by the Second Six. And if the Cup is the ultimate measure of success, Pittsburgh would be the most successful of the bunch. Their three Cups beats Philly's two and the lone cup won by Dallas. The Flyers won their cups first though, going back to back in '74 and '75. Additionally, the Flyers have been to the most Conference finals (14), the most Stanley Cup finals (8) and have the best winning percentage (.578) of all six teams.
As for the Kings...well, they've been to the Stanley Cup finals just once - the magical season of '93. LA has played 644 games against the other surviving Second Six teams (ignoring the defunct California Seals). They have the most wins against Dallas and Pittsburgh, tied at 70.
Back to the present...
Today's game between the Kings and Blues was the second match up of the season between the two Second Six teams. LA won the first game back in October by a score of 2-1. Two coach Murrays - Andy and Terry (no relation) - were squaring off against each other.
In my best Vin Scully voice "...and the deuces are wild!"
In the end, the Kings lost in a shootout, earning one point - not two.
The Mayor
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