1969-70 was a bit of a setback in the National Hockey
League’s new found offensive explosiveness. After setting a new mark for most
goals in a season with 58 in 1968-69, Bobby Hull pulled back drastically in
1969-70 with just 38 goals. Phil Esposito led the NHL with just 43 goals. It
would be the last time there wouldn’t be a 50 goal scorer in the league until
the lockout shortened 1994-95 season.
Phil Esposito – Boston Bruins
For Phil Esposito, it was the first of six consecutive
seasons leading the league in goals. In fact, with seven times, only Bobby Hull
has led in that department more times. Even the great Wayne Gretzky and Maurice
‘Rocket’ Richard only led the league five times each.
Garry Unger – Detroit Red Wings
Garry Unger of the Detroit Red Wings finished second with
42, just one behind Esposito. It was just the third year for Unger in a NHL
career that saw him play over 1,100 regular season games. Yet, it was Garry’s
career high for goals in a season. A bit of an unsung hero, Unger scored 413
regular season goals between 1967-68 and 1982-83 with the Toronto Maple Leafs,
Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Flames, Los Angeles Kings and
Edmonton Oilers.
Stan Mikita – Chicago Blackhawks
Stan Mikita finished third with 39 goals, one off his career
high set two years earlier. Mikita was dead centre in a National Hockey League
career that spanned from 1959-60 to 1979-80. Stan played nearly 1,400 regular
season games during his career and scored 541 goals.
Frank Mahovlich – Detroit Red Wings
Coming off a 49 goal season, Frank
Mahovlich of the Detroit Red Wings finished tied for fourth with 38 goals.
Frank scored a total of 533 goals in 1,181 regular season NHL games between
1957-58 and 1973-74 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Detroit Red Wings and
Montreal Canadiens.
Bobby Hull – Chicago Blackhawks
Although Bobby Hull’s goal production was down twenty from
the previous season, from 58 to 38, he was still able to place in the top five.
The goal total was quite respectable, given that Hull played just 61 of
Chicago’s 76 regular season games. In 1,063 regular season career NHL games,
Bobby scored 610 goals. Hull was a five time 50 goal scorer in a time when the
feat was a rarity.
As for the 1969-70 NHL season, the league was led by Boston
Bruins defenseman Bobby Orr. Orr became the first defenseman to lead the NHL in
points with 120, earning the Art Ross Trophy. He also won the Norris, Hart and
Conn Smythe to become the only NHL player to this day to win four major awards.
The Bruins met the St. Louis Blues in the finals and captured the Stanley Cup
with a four game sweep over the third year NHL expansion team.
