The California Golden Seals were the second branding of the NHL's first team in Northern California.
After abandoning the Oakland Seals name, the team went by the "Bay Area Seals" for two games before settling on their current name.
One of the NHL's six 1967 expansion teams, it was the least successful with just two playoff berths (both as the Oakland Seals), zero winning seasons, and the ignominious honor of being the only NHL team that merged with another (the Minnesota North Stars).
The name change was spurred by the team's purchase by Charles O. Finley in 1970, then the owner of the Oakland A's. Among his many innovations were all white player skates (ridiculed) and putting players' names on the backs of their jerseys (now so normal that the opposite is unthinkable). In addition to this, Finley's Seals should be remembered for the most lopsided trade in league history: trading the first overall draft pick (HHOF forward Guy Lafleur) for Ernie Hicke (who left after two seasons), the tenth overall draft pick (Chris Oddleifson, who never played for the Seals), and cash.
After an improved 1971-1972 season, the WHA's formation and Finley's refusal to match their contract offers decimated the team, and the Seals plummeted to the bottom of the standings. Without any potential buyers, the league stepped in to purchase the team and ran it for two more years. Against the threat of ending the franchise, Melvin Swig, owner of San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel, purchased the team. After a mayoral election ended any plans for a new arena, the Gund brothers (minority owners) conviced Swig to seek the NHL's permission to move the team to Cleveland as the Barons.
Among their notable players were:
The name change was spurred by the team's purchase by Charles O. Finley in 1970, then the owner of the Oakland A's. Among his many innovations were all white player skates (ridiculed) and putting players' names on the backs of their jerseys (now so normal that the opposite is unthinkable). In addition to this, Finley's Seals should be remembered for the most lopsided trade in league history: trading the first overall draft pick (HHOF forward Guy Lafleur) for Ernie Hicke (who left after two seasons), the tenth overall draft pick (Chris Oddleifson, who never played for the Seals), and cash.
After an improved 1971-1972 season, the WHA's formation and Finley's refusal to match their contract offers decimated the team, and the Seals plummeted to the bottom of the standings. Without any potential buyers, the league stepped in to purchase the team and ran it for two more years. Against the threat of ending the franchise, Melvin Swig, owner of San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel, purchased the team. After a mayoral election ended any plans for a new arena, the Gund brothers (minority owners) conviced Swig to seek the NHL's permission to move the team to Cleveland as the Barons.
Among their notable players were:
Team Captains
- Ted Hampson 1970-1971
- Carol Vadnais 1971-1972
- Bert Marshall 1972-1973
- Joey Johnston 1974-1975
- Jim Neilson 1975-1976 (co-captaincy)
- Bob Stewart 1975-1976 (co-captaincy)
Hockey Hall of Fame Members
- Harry Howell 1979
- Craig Patrick 2001 (Builder)
Generally Notable
- Dennis Hextall (Ron and Leah Hextall's uncle)
- Dennis Maruk (the last active player to play for the Seals)
| General Manager: | Frank Selke Jr. (not that one, his son) | 1970 |
| General Manager: | Bill Torrey | 1970 |
| General Manager: | Fred Glover | 1970-1971 |
| General Manager: | Garry Young | 1971-1972 |
| General Manager: | Fred Glover | 1972-1974 |
| General Manager: | Garry Young | 1974 |
| General Manager: | Bill McCreary | 1974-1976 |
| Head Coach: | Fred Glover | 1970-1971 |
| Head Coach: | Vic Stasiuk | 1971-1972 |
| Head Coach: | Garry Young | 1972 |
| Head Coach: | Fred Glover | 1972-1973 |
| Head Coach: | Marshall Johnston | 1973-1975 |
| Head Coach: | Bill McCreary | 1975 |
| Head Coach: | Jack Evans | 1975-1976 |
Season Stats
| Season | Wins | Losses | Ties | Goals For | Goals Against | Goals Leader | Assists Leader | Points Leader | Penalty Minutes Leader | Wins Leader | GAA Leader |
| 1970-1971 | 21 | 39 | 18 | 216 | 288 | Ernie Hicke (22) | Dennis Hextall (31) | Dennis Hextall (52) | Dennis Hextall (217) | Gary Smith (19) | Gary Smith (3.86) |
| 1971-1972 | 20 | 53 | 5 | 199 | 320 | Gerry Pinder (23) | Dick Redmond (35) | Gerry Pinder (54) | Paul Shmyr (156) | Gilles Meloche (16) | Gilles Meloche (3.32) |
| 1972-1973 | 16 | 46 | 16 | 213 | 323 | Joey Johnston (22) | Walt McKechnie (38) | Walt McKechnie (54) | Bob Stewart (181) | Gilles Meloche (12) | Gilles Meloche (4.06) |
| 1973-1974 | 13 | 55 | 10 | 195 | 342 | Joey Johnston (27) | Joey Johnston (40) | Joey Johnston (67) | Bob Stewart (69) | Gilles Meloche (9) | Ted Tucker (3.39) |
| 1974-1975 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 212 | 316 | Dave Hrechkosy (29) | Stan Weir (27) |
Stan Weir (45) Larry Patey (45) |
Len Frig (127) | Gary Simmons (10) | Gary Simmons (3.67) |
| 1975-1976 | 27 | 42 | 11 | 250 | 278 | Al MacAdam (32) | Dennis Maruk (32) | Al MacAdam (63) | Mike Christie (152) | Gary Simmons (15) | Gary Simmons (3.33) |