This is a list of players who have played at least one game for the California Golden Seals franchise of the National Hockey League (NHL). This list does not include players for the Cleveland Barons or the Minnesota North Stars and the Dallas Stars of the NHL.
|
|
|
The "Seasons" column lists the first year of the season of the player's first game and the last year of the season of the player's last game. For example, a player who played one game in the 2000–2001 season would be listed as playing with the team from 2000–2001, regardless of what calendar year the game occurred within.
Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Position | Years | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
Frederick Ahern Jr | CSE | R | 1974–1976 | 47 | 19 | 9 | 28 | 43 | — | — | — | — | — |
Paul Andrea | CSE | R | 1970–1971 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ken Baird | CSE | D | 1971–1972 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Baun | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 67 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 81 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ron Boehm | OAK | L | 1967–1968 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ivan Boldirev | CSE | C | 1971–1974 | 191 | 52 | 77 | 129 | 134 | — | — | — | — | — |
Barry Boughner | BOTH | L | 1969–1971 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wally Boyer | OAK | C | 1967–1968 | 74 | 13 | 20 | 33 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
Lyle Bradley | CSE | C | 1973–1974 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
John Brenneman | OAK | L | 1967–1969 | 52 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
Charlie Burns | OAK | C | 1967–1968 | 73 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
Larry Cahan | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 74 | 9 | 15 | 24 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wayne Carleton | CSE | L | 1971–1972 | 76 | 17 | 14 | 31 | 45 | — | — | — | — | — |
Alain Caron | OAK | R | 1967–1968 | 58 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — |
Michael Christie | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 112 | 3 | 32 | 35 | 228 | — | — | — | — | — |
Terry Clancy | OAK | R | 1967–1968 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Coalter | CSE | R | 1973–1974 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Croteau | CSE | R | 1970–1974 | 270 | 47 | 76 | 123 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — |
Barry Cummins | CSE | D | 1973–1974 | 36 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — |
Jean Cusson | OAK | L | 1967–1968 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Dillabough | OAK | C | 1968–1970 | 100 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 20 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
Kent Douglas | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 40 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gerry Ehman | BOTH | R | 1967–1971 | 297 | 69 | 86 | 155 | 56 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Aut Erickson | OAK | D | 1967–1970 | 66 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
Tony Featherstone | BOTH | R | 1969–1971 | 76 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Norman Ferguson | BOTH | R | 1968–1972 | 279 | 73 | 66 | 139 | 72 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Leonard Frig | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 142 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 182 | — | — | — | — | — |
Dave Gardner | CSE | C | 1974–1976 | 138 | 32 | 52 | 84 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
Stan Gilbertson | CSE | L | 1971–1975 | 235 | 41 | 47 | 88 | 107 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Girard | CSE | L | 1975–1976 | 80 | 16 | 26 | 42 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — |
Hilliard Graves | CSE | R | 1970–1974 | 153 | 38 | 43 | 81 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bruce Greig | CSE | L | 1973–1975 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
Del Hall | CSE | C | 1971–1974 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ted Hampson | BOTH | C | 1967–1971 | 246 | 61 | 123 | 184 | 37 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 2 |
Richard Hampton | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 151 | 22 | 54 | 76 | 93 | — | — | — | — | — |
Joe Hardy | BOTH | C | 1969–1971 | 63 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 51 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Billy Harris | OAK | C | 1967–1969 | 81 | 12 | 21 | 33 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ron Harris | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 54 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
Dennis Hextall | CSE | C | 1970–1971 | 78 | 21 | 31 | 52 | 217 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bill Hicke | BOTH | R | 1967–1971 | 262 | 79 | 101 | 180 | 155 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
Ernest Hicke | CSE | L | 1970–1972 | 146 | 33 | 37 | 70 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Holt | CSE | L | 1973–1976 | 50 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — |
Harry Howell (1979) | BOTH | D | 1969–1971 | 83 | 4 | 25 | 29 | 66 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Dave Hrechkosy | CSE | L | 1973–1976 | 112 | 38 | 19 | 57 | 39 | — | — | — | — | — |
Frank Hughes | CSE | L | 1971–1972 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ron Huston | CSE | C | 1973–1975 | 79 | 15 | 31 | 46 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
Earl Ingarfield | BOTH | C | 1968–1971 | 129 | 34 | 47 | 81 | 22 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 6 |
Tim Jacobs | CSE | D | 1975–1976 | 46 | 0 | 10 | 10 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Jarrett | BOTH | L | 1968–1972 | 268 | 54 | 71 | 125 | 111 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
Joey Johnston | CSE | L | 1971–1975 | 288 | 84 | 101 | 185 | 308 | — | — | — | — | — |
Marshall Johnston | CSE | D | 1971–1974 | 202 | 14 | 47 | 61 | 42 | — | — | — | — | — |
Jim Jones | CSE | D | 1971–1972 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Rick Kessell | CSE | C | 1973–1974 | 51 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wayne King | CSE | C | 1973–1976 | 73 | 5 | 18 | 23 | 34 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ralph Klassen | CSE | C | 1975–1976 | 71 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — |
Francois Lacombe | OAK | D | 1968–1970 | 74 | 2 | 16 | 18 | 50 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Pete Laframboise | CSE | L | 1971–1974 | 147 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 40 | — | — | — | — | — |
Mike Laughton | BOTH | C | 1967–1971 | 189 | 39 | 48 | 87 | 101 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
Brian Lavender | CSE | L | 1974–1975 | 65 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
Reginald Leach | CSE | R | 1971–1974 | 171 | 51 | 43 | 94 | 86 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Lemieux | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Reginald MacAdam | CSE | R | 1974–1976 | 160 | 50 | 56 | 106 | 104 | — | — | — | — | — |
Darryl Maggs | CSE | D | 1972–1973 | 54 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 46 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bert Marshall | BOTH | D | 1967–1973 | 313 | 8 | 60 | 68 | 395 | 11 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 32 |
Dennis Maruk | CSE | C | 1975–1976 | 80 | 30 | 32 | 62 | 44 | — | — | — | — | — |
Dick Mattiussi | BOTH | D | 1968–1971 | 156 | 8 | 27 | 35 | 92 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Ted McAneeley | CSE | D | 1972–1975 | 158 | 8 | 35 | 43 | 141 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ray McKay | CSE | D | 1973–1974 | 72 | 2 | 12 | 14 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — |
Walter McKechnie | CSE | C | 1971–1974 | 197 | 50 | 87 | 137 | 112 | — | — | — | — | — |
Brent Meeke | CSE | D | 1972–1976 | 26 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Howie Menard | OAK | C | 1969–1970 | 38 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wayne Merrick | CSE | C | 1975–1976 | 56 | 25 | 27 | 52 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — |
Hartland Monahan | CSE | R | 1973–1974 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Morris Mott | CSE | R | 1972–1975 | 199 | 18 | 32 | 50 | 49 | — | — | — | — | — |
Jim Moxey | CSE | R | 1974–1976 | 91 | 15 | 20 | 35 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — |
Wayne Muloin | BOTH | D | 1969–1971 | 137 | 3 | 20 | 23 | 85 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Robert Murdoch | CSE | R | 1975–1976 | 78 | 22 | 27 | 49 | 53 | — | — | — | — | — |
Terry Murray | CSE | D | 1972–1975 | 90 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 60 | — | — | — | — | — |
Jim Neilson | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 98 | 4 | 23 | 27 | 76 | — | — | — | — | — |
Neil Nicholson | OAK | D | 1969–1970 | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Don O'Donoghue | BOTH | R | 1969–1972 | 125 | 18 | 17 | 35 | 35 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Gerry Odrowski | OAK | D | 1967–1969 | 116 | 9 | 7 | 16 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Jim Pappin | CSE | R | 1975–1976 | 32 | 6 | 13 | 19 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Larry Patey | CSE | C | 1973–1976 | 98 | 29 | 24 | 53 | 91 | — | — | — | — | — |
Craig Patrick | CSE | R | 1971–1975 | 203 | 40 | 46 | 86 | 35 | — | — | — | — | — |
Glenn Patrick | CSE | D | 1974–1975 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Brian Perry | OAK | C | 1968–1970 | 95 | 16 | 29 | 45 | 24 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
George Pesut | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 92 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 130 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gerry Pinder | CSE | L | 1971–1972 | 74 | 23 | 31 | 54 | 59 | — | — | — | — | — |
Larry Popein | OAK | C | 1967–1968 | 47 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Tracy Pratt | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 34 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 90 | — | — | — | — | — |
Thomas Price | CSE | D | 1974–1976 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Richard Redmond | CSE | D | 1970–1973 | 109 | 15 | 52 | 67 | 110 | — | — | — | — | — |
Doug Roberts | BOTH | R | 1968–1971 | 230 | 11 | 57 | 68 | 280 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 40 |
Len Ronson | OAK | L | 1968–1969 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Sabourin | CSE | R | 1975–1976 | 76 | 21 | 28 | 49 | 33 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ron Serafini | CSE | D | 1973–1974 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Paul Shakes | CSE | D | 1973–1974 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bobby Sheehan | CSE | C | 1971–1972 | 78 | 20 | 26 | 46 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
Paul Shmyr | CSE | D | 1971–1972 | 69 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 156 | — | — | — | — | — |
Charles Simmer | CSE | L | 1974–1976 | 56 | 9 | 14 | 23 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — |
Al Simmons | CSE | D | 1971–1972 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gregory Smith | CSE | D | 1975–1976 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
Richard Smith | CSE | D | 1971–1973 | 81 | 10 | 28 | 38 | 103 | — | — | — | — | — |
Frank Spring | CSE | R | 1974–1976 | 29 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
Ronald Stackhouse | CSE | D | 1970–1972 | 83 | 9 | 27 | 36 | 79 | — | — | — | — | — |
John Stewart | CSE | L | 1974–1975 | 76 | 19 | 19 | 38 | 55 | — | — | — | — | — |
Robert Stewart | CSE | D | 1971–1976 | 269 | 16 | 53 | 69 | 499 | — | — | — | — | — |
George Swarbrick | OAK | R | 1967–1969 | 99 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 137 | — | — | — | — | — |
Joe Szura | OAK | C | 1967–1969 | 90 | 10 | 15 | 25 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
Tom Thurlby | OAK | D | 1967–1968 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
Gene Ubriaco | OAK | L | 1968–1970 | 42 | 5 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Carol Vadnais | BOTH | D | 1968–1972 | 246 | 63 | 83 | 146 | 560 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 25 |
Pete Vipond | CSE | L | 1972–1973 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Bryan Watson | OAK | D | 1968–1969 | 50 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 97 | — | — | — | — | — |
Thomas Webster | CSE | R | 1971–1972 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
Stanley Weir | CSE | C | 1972–1975 | 216 | 42 | 58 | 100 | 38 | — | — | — | — | — |
Butch Williams | CSE | R | 1974–1976 | 77 | 11 | 25 | 36 | 125 | — | — | — | — | — |
Tommy Williams | CSE | R | 1970–1972 | 50 | 10 | 19 | 29 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — |
Larry Wright | CSE | C | 1974–1975 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
Regular Season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Player | Team | Years | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA | SV% | GP | W | L | SO | GAA | SV% |
Lyle Carter | CSE | 1971–1972 | 15 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4.16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Bob Champoux | CSE | 1973–1974 | 17 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 5.20 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Marv Edwards | CSE | 1972–1974 | 35 | 5 | 24 | 3 | 1 | 4.17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Charlie Hodge | OAK | 1967–1970 | 86 | 20 | 40 | 16 | 3 | 3.09 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Kurt | CSE | 1971–1972 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 4.30 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gilles Meloche | CSE | 1971–1976 | 250 | 58 | 140 | 48 | 8 | 3.83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Simmons | CSE | 1974–1976 | 74 | 25 | 40 | 8 | 4 | 3.49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Gary Smith | BOTH | 1967–1971 | 211 | 61 | 119 | 27 | 9 | 3.41 | — | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | 3.23 | — |
Bob Sneddon | CSE | 1970–1971 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5.60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Ted Tucker | CSE | 1973–1974 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Chris Worthy | BOTH | 1968–1971 | 26 | 5 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 4.43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League (NHL). Since the 2010–11 season, every team in the league has an affiliation agreement with one NHL team. When NHL teams do not have an AHL affiliate, players are assigned to AHL teams affiliated with other NHL teams. Twenty-six AHL teams are located in the United States and the remaining six are in Canada. The league offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and its current president is Scott Howson.
The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for most of its history were green, yellow, gold and white. The North Stars played 2,062 regular season games and made the NHL playoffs 17 times, including two Stanley Cup Finals appearances, but were unable to win the Stanley Cup. After the 1992–93 season, the franchise moved to Dallas, and the team was renamed the Dallas Stars.
The California Golden Seals were a professional ice hockey club that competed in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1967 to 1976. Based in Oakland, California, they played their home games at the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Arena. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of the 1967 NHL expansion. Initially named the California Seals, the team was renamed the Oakland Seals during the 1967–68 season and then the Bay Area Seals in 1970 before becoming the California Golden Seals the same year.
The San Francisco Seals were a minor league hockey team which played in the Western Hockey League from 1961 to 1967.
Gordon Gund is an American businessman and professional sports owner. He is the CEO of Gund Investment Corporation. He is the former co-owner of the San Jose Sharks from 1992–2002, former principal owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1983–2005, and former principal owner of the Cleveland Rockers from 1997–2003. Gund lost his sight to retinitis pigmentosa and was a co-founder of Foundation Fighting Blindness.
The Cleveland Barons were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1976 to 1978. They were a relocation of the California Golden Seals franchise that had played in Oakland since 1967. After just two seasons, the team merged with the Minnesota North Stars. As a result, the NHL operated with 17 teams during the 1978–79 season.
The 1976–77 NHL season was the 60th season of the National Hockey League. The Kansas City Scouts moved to Denver, Colorado, and became the Colorado Rockies and the California Golden Seals moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and became the Cleveland Barons. The Montreal Canadiens once again dominated the playoffs as, for the second straight year, they swept their opponent four games to none in the final series for the Stanley Cup.
The 1978–79 NHL season was the 62nd season of the National Hockey League. The Montreal Canadiens beat the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup finals four games to one for their fourth consecutive Cup; two "Original Six" teams would not meet again in the Finals for the next 34 years, when Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Boston Bruins in the 2013 Finals. The Bruins faced the Canadiens in the 1979 semifinals, marking the last appearance by three Original Six teams in the final four for the next 35 years, when the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Rangers reached the semifinals of the 2014 playoffs.
Dennis John Maruk is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player of Ukrainian descent. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1975 to 1989, scoring a career-high 60 goals for the Washington Capitals in 1981–82.
James Joseph Pappin was a Canadian professional ice hockey right winger who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Chicago Black Hawks, California Golden Seals, and Cleveland Barons from 1963 to 1977. After retiring he worked as a scout for the Black Hawks, St. Louis Blues, and Anaheim Ducks, and briefly served as head coach of the Milwaukee Admirals.
William John Trevor "Jack" Evans was a Welsh-born Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and coach who played 14 seasons in the National Hockey League for the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks between 1949 and 1963. With Chicago he won the Stanley Cup in 1961. After his playing career he worked as a coach, and coached the California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, and Hartford Whalers between 1975 and 1988.
Reginald Alan MacAdam is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who spent 12 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) between 1973 and 1985, and was twice selected to play in the NHL All-Star Game. He is best known for his time with the Minnesota North Stars, where he was one of the franchise's top players in the early 1980s. Most recently MacAdam has served as a scout for the Buffalo Sabres.
Gilles Emile Meloche is a Canadian professional ice hockey coach, scout and former player. Meloche played as a goaltender in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Chicago Black Hawks, California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Minnesota North Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins. He is currently a special assignment scout for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Until 2013 he was the team's longtime goaltending coach, during which time the team won three Stanley Cups. Meloche was born in Montreal, Quebec.
Ralph Leo Klassen was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 497 games in the National Hockey League. In Klassen's ten-year career, he played for the California Golden Seals, Cleveland Barons, Colorado Rockies, and St. Louis Blues.
Frederick Austin Glover was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He played 92 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Black Hawks between 1949 and 1952, though most of his career, which lasted from 1947 to 1968, was with the Cleveland Barons of the American Hockey League (AHL). After his playing career he coached the Barons for several years, and coached in the NHL with the Oakland Seals/California Golden Seals and Los Angeles Kings between 1968 and 1974, also serving as general manager of the Golden Seals on two occasions during that time. He was the brother of Howie Glover, who also played in the NHL.
The 1967 National Hockey League (NHL) expansion added six new franchises for the 1967–68 season, doubling the size of the league to 12 teams. It was the largest expansion undertaken at one time by an established major sports league and the first change in the composition of the NHL since 1942, ending the era of the Original Six.
The 1978 NHL Dispersal Draft was held on June 15, 1978. It was the result of the merger of two National Hockey League (NHL) teams, the Cleveland Barons and the Minnesota North Stars. The NHL granted majority ownership of the North Stars to Barons owners Gordon Gund and George Gund III, after their bid to buy the Barons' home arena failed, and as the League feared the ownership group of the North Stars, another team performing poorly amid waning fan interest, would cease that team’s operations. To prevent the North Stars from folding, the NHL allowed the Gunds to merge them with the Barons; the Gunds would be majority owners of the resulting team, which stayed in Minnesota and used the North Stars' name.