1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season
1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers | |
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Division | 2nd Patrick |
Conference | 2nd Campbell |
1978–79 record | 40–25–15 |
Home record | 26–10–4 |
Road record | 14–15–11 |
Goals for | 281 (8th) |
Goals against | 248 (3rd) |
Team information | |
General Manager | Keith Allen |
Coach | Bob McCammon (to Jan 30) Pat Quinn (from Jan 30) |
Captain | Bobby Clarke |
Alternate captains | None |
Arena | Spectrum |
Average attendance | 17,077[1] |
Minor league affiliations | Maine Mariners (AHL)[2] Milwaukee Admirals (IHL)[3] Jersey Aces (NEHL)[3] |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Bill Barber (34) Reggie Leach (34) |
Assists | Bobby Clarke (57) |
Points | Bill Barber (87) |
Penalties in minutes | Behn Wilson (197) |
Plus/minus | Blake Dunlop (+27) |
Wins | Wayne Stephenson (20) |
Goals against average | Robbie Moore (1.77) |
<1977–78 | 1979–80> |
The 1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 12th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Contents
Off-season
Head coach Fred Shero, who had one more year left on his contract, submitted a letter of resignation on May 22, 1978,[4] stating that the Flyers needed a change whether they realized it or not. Flyers management had previously heard rumors about Shero wanting to leave Philadelphia and re-join the New York Rangers organization, and refused to accept his letter of resignation.[5] Shero then signed a $250,000, five-year contract with the Rangers to be their new head coach and general manager, believing he no longer had a contractual agreement to the Flyers.[6] A few weeks after signing Shero, the Rangers gave the Flyers their first-round pick (7th overall) in the 1978 draft and cash as compensation, allowing the Rangers to avoid tampering charges.[5] Bob McCammon, who had just coached the Flyers' first year American Hockey League Maine Mariners farm club to a Calder Cup title, was named Shero's replacement on July 6.[7]
The Flyers acquired the 6th overall pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins for three veterans from their Stanley Cup championship teams — Tom Bladon, Orest Kindrachuk and Ross Lonsberry — on the eve of the draft. The trade gave the Flyers three first-round picks and they selected defenseman Behn Wilson and forwards Ken Linseman and Dan Lucas.
Two other longtime Flyers also left the team during the off-season. Gary Dornhoefer retired and Joe Watson was traded to the Colorado Rockies.
Regular season
After an eight-game winless streak in January that saw the team drop to last place in the division, McCammon and assistant coach Terry Crisp were fired.[8] Replacing him was Shero's previous assistant coach Pat Quinn, who had replaced McCammon as head coach in Maine.[8] While McCammon returned to Maine and coached the Mariners to a second consecutive Calder Cup title, the Flyers rallied under Quinn and finished in 2nd place.
On February 17, 1979, Bernie Parent suffered a career-ending eye injury in a game against the New York Rangers.[9] An errant stick entered the right eye hole of his mask, causing permanent damage to his vision.[9] After hospitalization, including the complete loss of sight for two weeks, Parent recovered and eventually regained sight, although not at the level required to resume his playing career.[9]
Season standings
GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | PTS | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Islanders | 80 | 51 | 15 | 14 | 358 | 214 | 116 |
Philadelphia Flyers | 80 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 281 | 248 | 95 |
New York Rangers | 80 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 316 | 292 | 91 |
Atlanta Flames | 80 | 41 | 31 | 8 | 327 | 280 | 90 |
Playoffs
Matched-up against the Vancouver Canucks in the preliminary round, the Flyers won the series in three games. The Flyers' season came to an end against Shero's Rangers in a five-game quarterfinal loss.
Schedule and results
Regular season
1978–79 regular season | ||||||
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October: 3–4–2, 8 Points (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–1–2)
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November: 9–4–2, 20 Points (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 5–3–1)
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December: 7–5–2, 16 Points (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 1–4–2)
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January: 3–4–5, 11 Points (Home: 2–1–3; Road: 1–3–2)
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February: 5–2–2, 12 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 2–0–2)
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March: 11–4–2, 24 Points (Home: 7–1–0; Road: 4–3–2)
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April: 2–2–0, 4 Points (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–1–0)
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Legend: Win (2 points) Loss (0 points) Tie (1 point) |
Playoffs
1979 Stanley Cup playoffs | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Preliminary Round vs. Vancouver Canucks - Flyers win 2–1
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Quarterfinals vs. New York Rangers - Rangers win 4–1
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Legend: Win Loss |
Player statistics
Skaters
- Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
= Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | Age | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
7 | Bill Barber | 26 | LW | 79 | 34 | 46 | 80 | 19 | 22 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 |
16 | Bobby Clarke | 29 | C | 80 | 16 | 57 | 73 | 12 | 68 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
10 | Mel Bridgman | 23 | C | 76 | 24 | 35 | 59 | 14 | 184 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 17 |
19 | Rick MacLeish | 29 | LW | 71 | 26 | 32 | 58 | 4 | 47 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
27 | Reggie Leach | 28 | RW | 76 | 34 | 20 | 54 | −3 | 20 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
3 | Behn Wilson | 20 | D | 80 | 13 | 36 | 49 | 13 | 197 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
32 | Blake Dunlop | 25 | C | 66 | 20 | 28 | 48 | 27 | 16 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
2 | Bob Dailey | 25 | D | 70 | 9 | 30 | 39 | 21 | 63 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 |
9 | Bob Kelly | 28 | LW | 77 | 7 | 31 | 38 | 15 | 132 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
17 | Paul Holmgren | 23 | RW | 57 | 19 | 10 | 29 | 2 | 168 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 22 |
26 | Ken Linseman | 20 | C | 30 | 5 | 20 | 25 | 16 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 22 |
20 | Jimmy Watson | 26 | D | 77 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 11 | 52 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
5 | Rick Lapointe | 23 | D | 77 | 3 | 18 | 21 | 15 | 53 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 14 |
22 | Tom Gorence | 21 | RW | 42 | 13 | 6 | 19 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
29 | Barry Dean | 23 | LW | 30 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −1 | 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | Don Saleski![]() |
29 | RW | 35 | 11 | 5 | 16 | 3 | 14 | — | — | — | — | — |
28, 43 | Dennis Ververgaert![]() |
25 | RW | 37 | 9 | 7 | 16 | −4 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
15, 37 | Al Hill | 23 | LW | 31 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 5 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
8 | Dave Hoyda | 21 | LW | 67 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 2 | 138 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
6 | Andre Dupont | 29 | D | 77 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 21 | 135 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
23 | Paul Evans | 24 | C | 44 | 6 | 5 | 11 | −3 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — |
18 | Yves Preston | 22 | LW | 9 | 3 | 1 | 4 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
31, 38 | Frank Bathe | 24 | D | 21 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 76 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
28 | Drew Callander![]() |
22 | C | 15 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −1 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
25 | Kevin McCarthy![]() |
21 | D | 22 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 21 | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | Bernie Parent | 33 | G | 36 | 0 | 2 | 2 | N/A | 8 | — | — | — | — | — |
15 | Danny Lucas | 20 | LW | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
35 | Wayne Stephenson | 34 | G | 40 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
39 | Robbie Moore![]() |
24 | G | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | N/A | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
24 | Terry Murray | 28 | D | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
33 | Pete Peeters | 21 | G | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 6 | — | — | — | — | — |
30 | Rick St. Croix | 24 | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | N/A | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
44 | Glen Cochrane | 21 | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — |
25 | Norm Barnes | 25 | D | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goaltenders
= Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
Regular season | Playoffs | ||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | Player | Age | GP | W | L | T | SO | GA | SV% | GAA | MIN | GP | W | L | SO | GA | SV% | GAA | MIN |
35 | Wayne Stephenson | 34 | 40 | 20 | 10 | 5 | 2 | 122 | .871 | 3.35 | 2187 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | .843 | 4.51 | 213 |
1 | Bernie Parent | 33 | 36 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 89 | .893 | 2.70 | 1979 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
39 | Robbie Moore![]() |
24 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 | .929 | 1.77 | 237 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 18 | .838 | 4.03 | 268 |
33 | Pete Peeters | 21 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | .853 | 3.43 | 280 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
30 | Rick St. Croix | 24 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | .889 | 3.08 | 117 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Awards and records
Awards
Award or honor | Recipient | Notes | Ref |
---|---|---|---|
NHL Second All-Star Team | Bill Barber (Left Wing) | [10] | |
Selected to Challenge Cup | Bill Barber | Played in all 3 games | [11] |
Bobby Clarke | Played in all 3 games |
Award | Recipient |
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Barry Ashbee Trophy | Bob Dailey |
Class Guy Award | Bernie Parent |
Records
Record | Total | Player |
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Points by a rookie defenseman | 49 | Behn Wilson |
Record | Player | Total | Date and opponent |
---|---|---|---|
Penalties in minutes | Frank Bathe | 55 | March 11, 1979 vs. Los Angeles Kings |
Record | Total | Date and opponent |
---|---|---|
Fastest three goals | 35 seconds apart | March 1, 1979 vs. Boston Bruins (goals scored by Behn Wilson, Blake Dunlop, and Al Hill) |
Transactions
The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 26, 1978, the day after the deciding game of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 21, 1979, the day of the deciding game of the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals.[13]
Trades
Date | Details | Ref | |
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June 2, 1978[a] | To Philadelphia Flyers
1st-round pick in 1978 cash |
To New York Rangers
Fred Shero |
[14] |
June 14, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
1st-round pick in 1978 future considerations[b] |
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Tom Bladon Orest Kindrachuk Ross Lonsberry |
[15] |
June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
2nd-round pick in 1979 |
To Colorado Rockies
2nd-round pick in 1978 |
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June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
10th-round pick in 1978 11th-round pick in 1978 |
To Buffalo Sabres
cash |
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June 15, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
12th-round pick in 1978 |
To Chicago Black Hawks
cash |
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August 31, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
cash |
To Colorado Rockies
Joe Watson |
[16] |
December 29, 1978 | To Philadelphia Flyers
Dennis Ververgaert |
To Vancouver Canucks
Drew Callander Kevin McCarthy |
[17] |
March 3, 1979 | To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations |
To Colorado Rockies
Don Saleski |
[18] |
- Trade notes
- a The Flyers received the draft pick and cash as compensation for the Rangers hiring Shero as general manager and head coach.[14]
- b The Flyers later received the Penguins' 1978 8th-round pick.
Signings
Free agency
The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
Date | Player | Previous team (league) | Contract details | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
September 1978 | M. F. Schurman | Spokane Flyers (WIHL) | [19] | |
October 9, 1978 | Yves Preston | Milwaukee Admirals (IHL) | [20] | |
November 7, 1978 | Robbie Moore | Western Ontario Mustangs (OUAA) | [21] | |
November 20, 1978 | Reid Bailey | Port Huron Flags (IHL) | [22] |
NHL Waiver Draft
The 1978 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 9, 1978.[23] Each NHL team placed 18 skaters, 2 goaltenders, and up to 2 additional players with no more than 2 years of pro experience on a protected list from which the other teams could not select.[23] First-year professional players were exempt.[23] The Flyers were not involved in any selections during the draft.[23]
Departures
The following players left the team via free agency, release, or retirement. Players who were under contract and left the team during the season are marked with an asterisk (*).
Date | Player | New team (league) | Via | Ref |
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N/A | Gary Dornhoefer | — | Retirement | [24] |
July 19, 1978 | Brian Burke | — | Retirement | |
July 22, 1978 | Mike Korney | St. Louis Blues | Free agency | [25] |
Draft picks
Philadelphia's picks at the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec on June 15, 1978.[26]
Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | Team (league) | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | W | L | T | GAA | Notes |
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1 | 6 | Behn Wilson | Defense | ![]() |
Kingston Canadians (OHA) | 601 | 98 | 260 | 358 | 1480 | &
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1 | 7 | Ken Linseman | Forward | ![]() |
Birmingham Bulls (WHA) | 860 | 256 | 551 | 807 | 1727 | &
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1 | 14 | Dan Lucas | Wing | ![]() |
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | &
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2 | 33 | Mike Simurda | Right Wing | ![]() |
Kingston Canadians (OHA) | &
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3 | 37 | Gord Salt | Right Wing | ![]() |
Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) | &
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3 | 50 | Glen Cochrane | Defense | ![]() |
Victoria Cougars (WCHL) | 411 | 17 | 72 | 89 | 1556 | &
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4 | 67 | Russ Wilderman | Center | ![]() |
Seattle Breakers (WCHL) | &
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5 | 83 | Brad Tamblyn | Defense | ![]() |
Toronto Marlboros (OHA) | &
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6 | 100 | Mark Taylor | Forward | ![]() |
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA) | 209 | 42 | 68 | 110 | 73 | &
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7 | 117 | Mike Ewanouski | Right Wing | ![]() |
Boston College Eagles (HE) | &
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8 | 126 | Jerry Price | Goaltender | ![]() |
Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL) | &
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8 | 134 | Darre Switzer | Left Wing | ![]() |
Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) | &
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9 | 151 | Greg Francis | Defense | ![]() |
St. Lawrence Saints (ECAC) | &
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10 | 167 | Rick Berard | Defense | ![]() |
Saint Mary's Huskies (CIAU) | &
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10 | 168 | Don Lucia | Defense | ![]() |
Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA) | &
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11 | 182 | Mike Berge | Forward | ![]() |
North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA) | &
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11 | 183 | Ken Moore | Goaltender | ![]() |
Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC) | &
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12 | 195 | Jim Olson | Right Wing | ![]() |
St. Paul Vulcans (USHL) | &
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12 | 198 | Anton Stastny | Forward | ![]() |
Bratislava (CFIHL) | 650 | 252 | 384 | 636 | 150 | &
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[f] |
- Draft notes[27]
- a The Flyers acquired the 6th overall pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins along with future considerations (Penguins' eighth-round pick, 126th overall) for Tom Bladon, Ross Lonsberry and Orest Kindrachuk on June 14, 1978.
- b The Flyers received the 7th overall pick from the New York Rangers in exchange for the right to hire head coach Fred Shero on June 2, 1978.
- The Flyers traded the second-round pick, 27th overall, acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in the Dave Schultz trade to the Colorado Rockies for the Rockies' 1979 second-round pick on June 15, 1978.
- c The Flyers traded Harvey Bennett to the Minnesota North Stars for Blake Dunlop and the North Stars' third-round pick, 37th overall, on October 28, 1977.
- d The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' tenth and eleventh-round picks on June 15, 1978.
- e The Flyers traded cash to the Chicago Black Hawks for the Black Hawks' twelfth-round pick, 195th overall, on June 15, 1978.
- f Draft pick was ruled invalid after it was determined Stastny was too young to be drafted.[28]
Farm teams
The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL,[2][29] the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL,[3] and the Jersey Aces of the NEHL.[3]
References
- General
- hockeyDB.com: Roster and player statistics · Results and Schedule
- hockey-reference.com: Roster and Statistics · Schedule and Results
- Flyers History: Season Overview · Game Scores & Results · Playoff Results
- Specific
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