In February 1966, the NHL selected San Francisco-Oakland as one of the six expansion markets, along with Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Minneapolis–St. Paul and St. Louis. Rather than build a brand new expansion club, Barend (Barry) van Gerbig purchased the team from Mel Swig, with intent of bringing the club into the NHL as the expansion team. In the process he became the Seals' new owner and prospective governor for the team's entry into the NHL. By then, Poile had turned over the coaching reins to player-coach Charlie Burns; the Seals reached the 1966 WHL playoffs and were one game away from their third finals appearance, but lost the last two games of their first-round playoff series against the eventual WHL champion Victoria Maple Leafs, which prevailed 4 games to 3.