National Hockey League NHL 1972-1973
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1972-1973
1972-1973 Season
Montréal Canadiens finished first in the 1972-73 NHL standings with 120 points. Boston Bruins (107 points) and New York Rangers (102 points) followed.
1972-1973 NHL Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | T | L | OTW | OTL | GF | GA | +/- | TP | PPG | Postseason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Montréal Canadiens | 78 | 52 | 16 | 10 | - | - | 329 | 184 | 145 | 120 | 1.54 | Champion |
| 2. | Boston Bruins | 78 | 51 | 5 | 22 | - | - | 330 | 235 | 95 | 107 | 1.37 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 3. | New York Rangers | 78 | 47 | 8 | 23 | - | - | 297 | 208 | 89 | 102 | 1.31 | Semifinal loss |
| 4. | Chicago Black Hawks | 78 | 42 | 9 | 27 | - | - | 284 | 225 | 59 | 93 | 1.19 | Final loss |
| 5. | Buffalo Sabres | 78 | 37 | 14 | 27 | - | - | 257 | 219 | 38 | 88 | 1.13 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 6. | Detroit Red Wings | 78 | 37 | 12 | 29 | - | - | 265 | 243 | 22 | 86 | 1.10 | Did not make playoffs |
| 7. | Philadelphia Flyers | 78 | 37 | 11 | 30 | - | - | 296 | 256 | 40 | 85 | 1.09 | Semifinal loss |
| 8. | Minnesota North Stars | 78 | 37 | 11 | 30 | - | - | 254 | 230 | 24 | 85 | 1.09 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 9. | St. Louis Blues | 78 | 32 | 12 | 34 | - | - | 233 | 251 | -18 | 76 | 0.97 | Quarterfinal loss |
| 10. | Pittsburgh Penguins | 78 | 32 | 9 | 37 | - | - | 257 | 265 | -8 | 73 | 0.94 | Did not make playoffs |
| 11. | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 31 | 11 | 36 | - | - | 232 | 245 | -13 | 73 | 0.94 | Did not make playoffs |
| 12. | Atlanta Flames | 78 | 25 | 15 | 38 | - | - | 191 | 239 | -48 | 65 | 0.83 | Did not make playoffs |
| 13. | Toronto Maple Leafs | 78 | 27 | 10 | 41 | - | - | 247 | 279 | -32 | 64 | 0.82 | Did not make playoffs |
| 14. | Vancouver Canucks | 78 | 22 | 9 | 47 | - | - | 233 | 339 | -106 | 53 | 0.68 | Did not make playoffs |
| 15. | California Golden Seals | 78 | 16 | 16 | 46 | - | - | 213 | 323 | -110 | 48 | 0.62 | Did not make playoffs |
| 16. | New York Islanders | 78 | 12 | 6 | 60 | - | - | 170 | 347 | -177 | 30 | 0.38 | Did not make playoffs |
1972-1973 NHL Player Stats
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Phil Esposito (F) | 78 | 55 | 75 | 130 | 87 |
| 2. | Bobby Clarke (F) | 78 | 37 | 67 | 104 | 80 |
| 3. | Bobby Orr (D) | 63 | 29 | 72 | 101 | 99 |
| 4. | Rick MacLeish (F) | 78 | 50 | 50 | 100 | 69 |
| 5. | Jacques Lemaire (F) | 77 | 44 | 51 | 95 | 16 |
1972-1973 NHL Goalie Stats
| # | Player | GP | GAA | SVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ken Dryden (G) | 54 | 2.26 | .926 |
| 2. | Tony Esposito (G) | 56 | 2.52 | .917 |
| 3. | Doug Favell (G) | 44 | 2.83 | .916 |
| 4. | Jim Rutherford (G) | 49 | 2.92 | .912 |
| 5. | Michel Plasse (G) | 17 | 2.58 | .912 |
NHL Stories
Insights and analysis from EP Editorial team
1972-1973 NHL Demographics
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NHL Games
| date | home | visiting | score |
|---|---|---|---|
 Washington Capitals |  Florida Panthers | - | |
 Minnesota Wild |  San Jose Sharks | 4 - 1 | |
 Calgary Flames |  Anaheim Ducks | 3 - 5 | |
 Buffalo Sabres |  Columbus Blue Jackets | 5 - 2 | |
 Colorado Avalanche |  Nashville Predators | 2 - 3 (OT 62:18) |
NHL Transactions
| Date | Status | Player | From | To | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirmed | Antonio Stranges (F) | Dallas Stars | Hamilton Hammers | ||
| Confirmed | Robby Fabbri (F) | Minnesota Wild | Hamilton Hammers | ||
| Confirmed | Brett Epp (G) | No team | Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Confirmed | Ben Hutton (D) | Vegas Golden Knights | New York Islanders | ||
| Confirmed | Matthew Wood (F) | Nashville Predators | Seattle Kraken |
NHL Team Comparison (Averages)
| # | Team | Players | Experience | Height | Weight | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Atlanta Flames | 26 | 5 007 | 5'11" | 181 lbs | 27.27 |
| 2. | Boston Bruins | 27 | 9 317 | 6'0" | 187 lbs | 28.63 |
| 3. | Buffalo Sabres | 30 | 5 703 | 6'0" | 181 lbs | 25.90 |
| 4. | California Golden Seals | 24 | 3 188 | 5'11" | 181 lbs | 25.29 |
| 5. | Chicago Blackhawks | 26 | 8 820 | 6'0" | 183 lbs | 27.58 |
| 6. | Detroit Red Wings | 29 | 7 514 | 5'11" | 181 lbs | 27.34 |
| 7. | Los Angeles Kings | 24 | 7 401 | 5'11" | 181 lbs | 27.33 |
| 8. | Minnesota North Stars | 27 | 10 531 | 5'11" | 179 lbs | 29.37 |
| 9. | Montréal Canadiens | 27 | 7 607 | 6'0" | 187 lbs | 25.93 |
| 10. | New York Islanders | 32 | 5 465 | 5'11" | 183 lbs | 25.91 |
| 11. | New York Rangers | 31 | 11 542 | 5'11" | 181 lbs | 28.23 |
| 12. | Philadelphia Flyers | 28 | 5 792 | 5'11" | 183 lbs | 26.04 |
| 13. | Pittsburgh Penguins | 27 | 5 770 | 5'11" | 176 lbs | 27.11 |
| 14. | St. Louis Blues | 31 | 5 289 | 6'0" | 185 lbs | 27.39 |
| 15. | Toronto Maple Leafs | 26 | 7 468 | 5'11" | 185 lbs | 26.69 |
| 16. | Vancouver Canucks | 26 | 4 047 | 5'10" | 181 lbs | 24.85 |
Where Are They Now?
Played in the league during season
| # | player | season | team | league | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Petr Straka (F) | 2026-2027 | VHK Vsetín | 1. liga | 19 | 17 | 13 | 30 | 15 |
| 2. |  Roby Järventie (F) | 2026-2027 | HC Ambrì-Piotta | NL | 18 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 8 |
| 3. | Colin Smith (F) | 2026-2027 | Hannover Scorpions | Oberliga | 14 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 10 |
| 4. | Michael Keränen (F) | 2026-2027 | Tölzer Löwen | Oberliga | 15 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 6 |
| 5. | Justin Bailey (F) | 2026-2027 | Barys Astana | KHL | 23 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 22 |
| 6. | Jayden Halbgewachs (F) | 2026-2027 | HC Sierre | SL | 13 | 7 | 17 | 24 | 0 |
| 7. |  Denis Malgin (F) | 2026-2027 | ZSC Lions | NL | 18 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 10 |
| 8. | David Tomasek (F) | 2026-2027 | HC Dynamo Pardubice | Extraliga | 17 | 7 | 16 | 23 | 16 |
| 9. | Danick Martel (F) | 2026-2027 | HK Spisska Nova Ves | Extraliga | 15 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 11 |
| 10. | Nick Swaney (F) | 2026-2027 | Graz99ers | ICEHL | 17 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 6 |
Regular Season
NHL All-Time Points
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1487 | 894 | 1963 | 2857 |
| 2. | Jaromír Jágr (F) | 1733 | 766 | 1155 | 1921 |
| 3. | Mark Messier (F) | 1756 | 694 | 1193 | 1887 |
| 4. | Gordie Howe (F) | 1767 | 801 | 1049 | 1850 |
| 5. | Ron Francis (F) | 1731 | 549 | 1249 | 1798 |
NHL All-Time Goals
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. |  Alexander Ovechkin (F) | 1587 | 930 | 761 | 1691 |
| 2. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1487 | 894 | 1963 | 2857 |
| 3. | Gordie Howe (F) | 1767 | 801 | 1049 | 1850 |
| 4. | Jaromír Jágr (F) | 1733 | 766 | 1155 | 1921 |
| 5. | Brett Hull (F) | 1269 | 741 | 650 | 1391 |
NHL All-Time Assists
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1487 | 894 | 1963 | 2857 |
| 2. | Ron Francis (F) | 1731 | 549 | 1249 | 1798 |
| 3. | Mark Messier (F) | 1756 | 694 | 1193 | 1887 |
| 4. | Raymond Bourque (D) | 1612 | 410 | 1169 | 1579 |
| 5. | Jaromír Jágr (F) | 1733 | 766 | 1155 | 1921 |
NHL All-Time Penalty Min.
| # | Player | GP | G | TP | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Tiger Williams (F) | 962 | 241 | 513 | 3966 |
| 2. | Dale Hunter (F) | 1409 | 323 | 1020 | 3565 |
| 3. | Tie Domi (F) | 1020 | 104 | 245 | 3515 |
| 4. | Marty McSorley (D) | 961 | 108 | 359 | 3381 |
| 5. | Bob Probert (F) | 935 | 163 | 384 | 3300 |
NHL All-Time Games Played
| # | Player | GP | G | A | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Patrick Marleau (F) | 1779 | 566 | 631 | 1197 |
| 2. | Gordie Howe (F) | 1767 | 801 | 1049 | 1850 |
| 3. | Mark Messier (F) | 1756 | 694 | 1193 | 1887 |
| 4. | Jaromír Jágr (F) | 1733 | 766 | 1155 | 1921 |
| 5. | Ron Francis (F) | 1731 | 549 | 1249 | 1798 |
NHL All-Time Points Per Game
| # | Player | GP | G | TP | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1487 | 894 | 2857 | 1.92 |
| 2. | Mario Lemieux (F) | 915 | 690 | 1723 | 1.88 |
| 3. | Newsy Lalonde (F) | 99 | 124 | 166 | 1.68 |
| 4. | Connor McDavid (F) | 811 | 419 | 1264 | 1.56 |
| 5. | Mike Bossy (F) | 752 | 573 | 1126 | 1.50 |
NHL All-Time Points Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1985-1986 | NHL | 80 | 52 | 163 | 215 | 2.69 | 46 |
| 2. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1981-1982 | NHL | 80 | 92 | 120 | 212 | 2.65 | 26 |
| 3. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1984-1985 | NHL | 80 | 73 | 135 | 208 | 2.60 | 52 |
| 4. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1983-1984 | NHL | 74 | 87 | 118 | 205 | 2.77 | 39 |
| 5. | Mario Lemieux (F) | 1988-1989 | NHL | 76 | 85 | 114 | 199 | 2.62 | 100 |
NHL All-Time Goals Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1981-1982 | NHL | 80 | 92 | 120 | 212 | 2.65 | 26 |
| 2. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1983-1984 | NHL | 74 | 87 | 118 | 205 | 2.77 | 39 |
| 3. | Brett Hull (F) | 1990-1991 | NHL | 78 | 86 | 45 | 131 | 1.68 | 22 |
| 4. | Mario Lemieux (F) | 1988-1989 | NHL | 76 | 85 | 114 | 199 | 2.62 | 100 |
| 5. | Phil Esposito (F) | 1970-1971 | NHL | 78 | 76 | 76 | 152 | 1.95 | 71 |
NHL All-Time Assists Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1985-1986 | NHL | 80 | 52 | 163 | 215 | 2.69 | 46 |
| 2. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1984-1985 | NHL | 80 | 73 | 135 | 208 | 2.60 | 52 |
| 3. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1982-1983 | NHL | 80 | 71 | 125 | 196 | 2.45 | 59 |
| 4. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1990-1991 | NHL | 78 | 41 | 122 | 163 | 2.09 | 16 |
| 5. | Wayne Gretzky (F) | 1986-1987 | NHL | 79 | 62 | 121 | 183 | 2.32 | 28 |
NHL All-Time Penalty Min. Per Season
| # | Player | Season | League | GP | G | A | TP | PPG | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Dave Schultz (F) | 1974-1975 | NHL | 76 | 9 | 17 | 26 | 0.34 | 472 |
| 2. | Paul Baxter (D) | 1981-1982 | NHL | 76 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 0.57 | 409 |
| 3. | Mike Peluso (F) | 1991-1992 | NHL | 63 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0.14 | 408 |
| 4. | Dave Schultz (F) | 1977-1978 | NHL | 74 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 0.49 | 405 |
| 5. | Marty McSorley (D) | 1992-1993 | NHL | 81 | 15 | 26 | 41 | 0.51 | 399 |
Player Nationalities Throughout History
- 5822 players
- 1560 players
459 players- 336 players
- 281 players
- 274 players
101 players- 46 players
41 players
31 players
20 players
17 players
11 players
10 players
9 players
9 players
6 players
6 players
5 players
3 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
2 players
1 player
1 player
1 player
1 player
List of NHL Champions
NHL Awards
- NHA Stanley Cup Champion
- NHL All-Rookie Team
- NHL All-Star Game
- NHL Best Defenseman (Norris Trophy)
- NHL Best Defenseman (Norris Trophy) Finalist
- NHL Best GAA
- NHL Best Goalie (Vezina Trophy)
- NHL Best Goalie (Vezina Trophy) Finalist
- NHL Best Plus/Minus
- NHL Best SVS%
- NHL Coach of the Year (Jack Adams Award)
- NHL Contribution to U.S. Hockey (Lester Patrick Trophy)
- NHL First All-Star Team
- NHL Foundation Player Award
- NHL General Manager of the Year
- NHL Gentleman Conduct (Lady Byng Trophy)
- NHL Gentleman Conduct (Lady Byng Trophy) Finalist
- NHL Leadership-Humanitarian Award (King Clancy Trophy)
- NHL Lowest GA (Jennings Trophy)
- NHL Mark Messier Leadership Award
- NHL Most Assists
- NHL Most Assists by Defenseman
- NHL Most Assists by Rookie
- NHL Most Goals (Maurice Richard Trophy)
- NHL Most Goals by Defenseman
- NHL Most Goals by Rookie
- NHL Most Penalized Player
- NHL Most Points (Art Ross Trophy)
- NHL Most Points by Defenseman
- NHL Most Points by Rookie
- NHL Most Valuable Player (Hart Trophy)
- NHL Most Valuable Player (Hart Trophy) Finalist
- NHL MVP Selected by NHLPA (Ted Lindsay Award)
- NHL Playoffs Most Assists
- NHL Playoffs Most Goals
- NHL Playoffs Most Points
- NHL Playoffs Most Points by Defenseman
- NHL Rookie of the Month
- NHL Rookie of the Year (Calder Trophy)
- NHL Rookie of the Year (Calder Trophy) Finalist
- NHL Second All-Star Team
- NHL Sportsmanship Award (Bill Masterton Trophy)
- NHL Sportsmanship Award (Bill Masterton Trophy) Finalist
- NHL Stanley Cup Champion
- NHL Stanley Cup Clinching Goal
- NHL Stanley Cup MVP (Conn Smythe Trophy)
- NHL Top Defensive Forward (Frank J. Selke Trophy)
- NHL Top Defensive Forward (Selke Trophy) Finalist
- NHL YoungStars Roster