1957–58 NHL season

Did You Know?

• Hockey Night in Canada on CBC Television televised Saturday night regular season games and selected Stanley Cup playoff games, but games were not broadcast in their entirety until the 1968–69 season.
• In the U.S., this was the second season of a four-year deal with CBS to televise Saturday afternoon regular season games from November to March.

League business

In September, Senator Hartland Molson purchased 60% stock from the Canadian Arena Company and the Montreal Canadiens from Senator Donat Raymond. Doug Harvey and Ted Lindsay led the drive to form the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) on February 11, 1957, and sued the NHL over player pensions, salaries during training camp, meal allowances, remuneration for exhibition games, and a no-trade clause after six years of service. Lindsay lost his captaincy of the Detroit Red Wings and was traded to Chicago on July 23, 1957, in an effort to intimidate the players.

After the NHL declined to negotiate over benefits and would not open the books on the pension plan, the players' association filed an antitrust lawsuit on October 10, 1957, alleging monopolization of professional hockey since 1926. On November 6, 1957, the Toronto Maple Leafs players voted unanimously to certify the union. The NHL fought back by trading Lindsay to Chicago and spreading false stories through Jack Adams, who produced a fake contract showing an inflated salary for Lindsay. The Red Wings players disassociated themselves from the NHLPA on November 13, 1957.

Regular season

The Montreal Canadiens regained first place overall, while the previous season's leader, the Detroit Red Wings, slipped to third. Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first NHL player to score 500 career goals, Jacques Plante won his third straight Vezina Trophy, and Doug Harvey his fourth straight Norris Trophy. Glenn Hall was traded along with Ted Lindsay to the Chicago Black Hawks, and Terry Sawchuk was brought back to Detroit in a deal sending Larry Hillman and Johnny Bucyk to Boston.

Chicago nearly made the playoffs, and Hall's goaltending, including seven shutouts, made him a Hart Trophy contender. On October 19, 1957, Richard scored his 500th career goal in a 3–1 win over Chicago, dedicating it to his former coach Dick Irvin, who had died on May 15, 1957. Marcel Paille sparkled when called up from Providence for the ailing Gump Worsley, though Worsley was eventually recalled and finished with a 2.32 goals-against average and four shutouts, helping the Rangers finish second for their highest finish since 1941–42.

Bobby Hull and Frank Mahovlich battled for the Calder Memorial Trophy, with Mahovlich prevailing, though the Maple Leafs finished last. Willie O'Ree became the first player of African descent to play in the league, suiting up for the Boston Bruins on January 18, 1958, against the Canadiens in Montreal.