Hi everyone! This week, I’ve chosen to go back to a happier time in Seals history: the early months of the 1971-72 season. In this week’s article from the November 28th Santa Rosa Press Democrat the Seals’ recipe for success is completely outlined: how they jettisoned the older, less productive players, took chances on rookies and prospects, made a couple of smart trades, and held on to all-star Carol Vadnais. It was a very smart strategy, and had the team not been decimated by the invading World Hockey Association, the strategy may have proved fruitful in the long term. And sure, Vadnais was eventually traded to Boston, but the deal netted the Seals a decent return: Reggie Leach, Bob Stewart, and Rick Smith.

We will never know if Garry Young’s plan would have ultimately been successful. On one hand, we can speculate that the Seals were just a few years away from a Stanley Cup? On the other hand, some would argue that a championship was unlikely, given that they would have had to get through Boston, Philadelphia, and Montreal to do so. Maybe a division championship would have been a more realistic possibility, or maybe just one really good run to the semi-finals or even the Cup finals sometime in the following decade? I’d be curious to know what everyone thought. Feel free to send an email with your thoughts on the matter.

Until next time, stay gold!