High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1967–68 Oakland Seals season was their first season in the NHL. It began auspiciously, with the firing General Manager Rudy Pilous before the expansion draft. The Seals started their inaugural season with Hall of Famer Bert Olmstead as both coach and general manager, assisted by Gordie Fashoway. The team began the season as the California Seals, but the name was changed to Oakland Seals only a month into the season.