From New York to St. Louis and Back: The Rod Seiling Saga

Few hockey stories from the 1960s are as chaotic and entertaining as Rod Seiling’s unbelievable hour during the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft. The back of his 1969-70 O-Pee-Chee hockey card hints at the madness: “In 1967, Seiling was dealt from New York to St. Louis to New York in less than 1 hour.” It wasn’t exactly a trade the first time, but the card’s spirit wasn’t wrong, his rights did a full round-trip.

During the expansion draft, the St. Louis Blues selected Seiling from the New York Rangers with the 36th pick. Moments later, before he even had time to think about packing a bag, St. Louis shipped him right back to the Rangers in a multi-player deal involving Tim Ecclestone, Bob Plager, Gary Sabourin, and Gord Kannegiesser. For Seiling, it meant his tenure as a Blues player lasted only minutes, maybe even seconds.

Seiling had originally joined the Rangers in February 1964 as part of a blockbuster Toronto–New York trade that sent him, Arnie Brown, Bill Collins, Dick Duff, and Bob Nevin to Manhattan in exchange for Andy Bathgate and Don McKenney. He became a steady presence on the Rangers blue line until the 1974-75 season, when he was waived four games in and claimed by the Washington Capitals.

That’s where the story takes another twist. Washington traded Seiling almost immediately, after he played just one game, for none other than Tim Ecclestone, one of the very players St. Louis had once moved to reacquire Seiling in 1967. The deal sent Seiling back to his original NHL home, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

After two seasons in Toronto, Seiling finally did what the 1967 expansion draft almost made happen: he joined the St. Louis Blues, where he spent two solid seasons and closed the loop on a hockey journey nearly a decade in the making.

About Rod Seiling

Rod Seiling played 979 regular season and 77 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1962-63 and 1978-79 with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues and Atlanta Flames. The low-scoring defenseman topped out with a nine goal season in 1972-73 with the Rangers.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Rod Seiling

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Rod Seiling was originally drafted by which NHL team?

Toronto Maple Leafs
New York Rangers
Detroit Red Wings
Montreal Canadiens

2. In the 1967 NHL Expansion Draft, which team selected Rod Seiling?

Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Which team claimed Rod Seiling on waivers early in the 1974-75 season?

Vancouver Canucks
Washington Capitals
Kansas City Scouts
California Golden Seals

4. Which player was involved in BOTH Seiling’s 1967 St. Louis transaction and his later move from the Capitals?

Bob Plager
Gary Sabourin
Tim Ecclestone
Gord Kannegiesser

5. Rod Seiling finally joined and played two seasons with which team late in his career?

St. Louis Blues
Chicago Blackhawks
Buffalo Sabres
Atlanta Flames

Bill Clement Leads Atlanta Flames Past Rangers on New Year’s Eve 1976

On December 31, 1976, the Atlanta Flames rang in the New Year in style at Madison Square Garden with a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers.

The night belonged to Bill Clement, who had a hand in three of the four Flames goals. After a scoreless first period, the Rangers opened the scoring early in the second when Wayne Dillon beat Phil Myre just 59 seconds in. But Clement responded midway through the frame, scoring a shorthanded goal while Bobby Simpson was in the penalty box.

The Rangers regained the lead early in the third on a Mike McEwen marker, but the Flames stormed back with three unanswered goals. Bobby Simpson, Tom Lysiak, and Ken Houston all found the back of the net, with Clement assisting on the Simpson and Houston tallies. Tim Ecclestone added three assists of his own to match Clement’s three-point performance.

The Flames fired 45 shots on Gilles Gratton, with Guy Chouinard leading the way with eight and Lysiak adding seven. On the Rangers’ side, Phil Esposito had a frustrating night with seven shots, no points, and a -2 rating. In the final seconds, tempers flared as Esposito and Pat Quinn nearly tangled, resulting in roughing penalties.

About Bill Clement

Bill Clement played 719 regular season and 50 playoff games in the National Hockey League between 1971-72 and 1981-82 with the Philadelphia Flyers, Washington Capitals, Atlanta Flames and Calgary Flames. He was a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Flyers.

Clement was a second round pick by the Flyers at the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft after three years of junior with the Ottawa 67's. Despite being a defensive forward, Bill stands as eighth overall in total points with the Atlanta Flames.

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NHL Hockey Trivia: Bill Clement

Much more NHL hockey trivia can be found at our website: World's Best Hockey Trivia

1. Bill Clement was originally drafted by which NHL team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Atlanta Flames
Washington Capitals
New York Rangers

2. Clement won two Stanley Cups early in his career. In which seasons did he capture them with the Flyers?

1972 & 1973
1973 & 1974
1974 & 1975
1975 & 1976

3. Bill Clement was part of a major trade that sent him from the Flyers to the Washington Capitals in 1975. Which future Hall of Famer went the other way?

Bernie Parent
Mel Bridgman
Bill Barber
Bill Clement was traded for the draft pick that became Mel Bridgman

4. Clement enjoyed his most productive offensive seasons with which team?

Philadelphia Flyers
Washington Capitals
Atlanta Flames
Colorado Rockies

5. After retiring from the NHL, Clement became well known as:

An NHL coach
A broadcaster and analyst
An NHL referee
A players’ agent