1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season

The 1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 12th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers
Division2nd Patrick
Conference2nd Campbell
1978–79 record40–25–15
Home record26–10–4
Road record14–15–11
Goals for281 (8th)
Goals against248 (3rd)
Team information
PresidentJoe Scott
General managerKeith Allen
CoachBob McCammon (fired)[lower-alpha 1]
Pat Quinn[lower-alpha 1]
CaptainBobby Clarke
Alternate captainsNone[lower-alpha 2]
ArenaSpectrum
Average attendance17,077[2]
Minor league affiliate(s)Maine Mariners
Milwaukee Admirals
Jersey Aces
Team leaders
GoalsBill Barber (34)
Reggie Leach (34)
AssistsBobby Clarke (57)
PointsBill Barber (87)
Penalty minutesBehn Wilson (197)
Plus/minusBlake Dunlop (+27)
WinsWayne Stephenson (20)
Goals against averageRobbie Moore (1.77)

Off-season

Head coach Fred Shero, who had one more year left on his contract, submitted a letter of resignation on May 22, 1978,[3] 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.[4] 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.[5] 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.[4] 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.[6]

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.[1] Replacing him was Shero's previous assistant coach Pat Quinn, who had replaced McCammon as head coach in Maine.[1] 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.[7] An errant stick entered the right eye hole of his mask, causing permanent damage to his vision.[7] 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.[7]

Season standings

Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Islanders80511514358214116
Philadelphia Flyers8040251528124895
New York Rangers8040291131629291
Atlanta Flames804131832728090

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
October: 3–4–2, 8 Points (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 1–1–2)
GameOctoberOpponentScoreRecordPoints
112@ New York Rangers3–30–0–11
214@ Detroit Red Wings3–11–0–13
315Montreal Canadiens2–31–1–13
419Pittsburgh Penguins3–12–1–15
521@ Toronto Maple Leafs0–22–2–15
622Atlanta Flames2–52–3–15
724@ New York Islanders4–42–3–26
826Toronto Maple Leafs5–03–3–28
929Vancouver Canucks2–53–4–28
November: 9–4–2, 20 Points (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 5–3–1)
GameNovemberOpponentScoreRecordPoints
101@ Atlanta Flames0–33–5–28
112Buffalo Sabres3–33–5–39
124@ Boston Bruins7–34–5–311
135Colorado Rockies6–45–5–313
148@ Los Angeles Kings5–36–5–315
1510@ Colorado Rockies2–26–5–416
1612@ Vancouver Canucks4–07–5–418
1716Chicago Black Hawks3–47–6–418
1818@ New York Islanders2–87–7–418
1919Detroit Red Wings4–38–7–420
2022@ Buffalo Sabres3–29–7–422
2124Minnesota North Stars4–310–7–424
2225@ Pittsburgh Penguins3–111–7–426
2328@ Montreal Canadiens0–311–8–426
2430St. Louis Blues3–012–8–428
December: 7–5–2, 16 Points (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 1–4–2)
GameDecemberOpponentScoreRecordPoints
252@ Boston Bruins3–512–9–428
263Toronto Maple Leafs7–213–9–430
277New York Rangers2–513–10–430
289Boston Bruins9–214–10–432
2910@ New York Rangers4–015–10–434
3014Pittsburgh Penguins2–116–10–436
3116@ Atlanta Flames2–716–11–436
3217St. Louis Blues4–117–11–438
3319@ Washington Capitals4–417–11–539
3421Washington Capitals5–218–11–541
3523@ Chicago Black Hawks2–518–12–541
3626@ Detroit Red Wings2–218–12–642
3728New York Rangers6–519–12–644
3830@ St. Louis Blues3–619–13–644
January: 3–4–5, 11 Points (Home: 2–1–3; Road: 1–3–2)
GameJanuaryOpponentScoreRecordPoints
394New York Islanders3–220–13–646
406@ New York Islanders1–520–14–646
417Los Angeles Kings3–021–14–648
429@ Washington Capitals5–222–14–650
4311Detroit Red Wings3–322–14–751
4414New York Islanders1–122–14–852
4516@ Atlanta Flames0–522–15–852
4618Buffalo Sabres4–422–15–953
4720@ Montreal Canadiens5–522–15–1054
4821@ New York Rangers5–522–15–1155
4927@ Minnesota North Stars1–322–16–1155
5029Montreal Canadiens3–722–17–1155
February: 5–2–2, 12 Points (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 2–0–2)
GameFebruaryOpponentScoreRecordPoints
511New York Islanders1–422–18–1155
524Atlanta Flames7–423–18–1157
5314@ Toronto Maple Leafs2–223–18–1258
5415Boston Bruins5–324–18–1260
5517New York Rangers2–424–19–1260
5618Minnesota North Stars3–225–19–1262
5720@ Vancouver Canucks3–325–19–1363
5823@ Colorado Rockies5–326–19–1365
5924@ Los Angeles Kings4–327–19–1367
March: 11–4–2, 24 Points (Home: 7–1–0; Road: 4–3–2)
GameMarchOpponentScoreRecordPoints
601@ Boston Bruins4–427–19–1468
613@ Toronto Maple Leafs3–427–20–1468
624@ Buffalo Sabres6–128–20–1470
636Colorado Rockies5–029–20–1472
648Chicago Black Hawks1–529–21–1472
6510@ Pittsburgh Penguins2–329–22–1472
6611Los Angeles Kings6–330–22–1474
6714@ Chicago Black Hawks4–031–22–1476
6815Atlanta Flames5–432–22–1478
6917Buffalo Sabres5–333–22–1480
7018St. Louis Blues5–334–22–1482
7121@ Minnesota North Stars3–734–23–1482
7223@ Atlanta Flames4–135–23–1484
7325Washington Capitals7–436–23–1486
7427@ New York Rangers4–436–23–1587
7529Vancouver Canucks5–037–23–1589
7631@ St. Louis Blues4–238–23–1591
April: 2–2–0, 4 Points (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 0–1–0)
GameAprilOpponentScoreRecordPoints
771New York Rangers7–339–23–1593
785New York Islanders1–339–24–1593
797@ New York Islanders2–939–25–1593
808Atlanta Flames4–240–25–1595
Legend:

  Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1979 Stanley Cup playoffs
Preliminary Round vs. Vancouver Canucks – Flyers win 2–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeries
1April 10Vancouver Canucks2–3Canucks lead 1–0
2April 12@ Vancouver Canucks6–4Series tied 1–1
3April 14Vancouver Canucks7–2Flyers win 2–1
Quarter-finals vs. New York Rangers – Rangers win 4–1
GameDateOpponentScoreSeries
1April 16New York Rangers3–2 OTFlyers lead 1–0
2April 18New York Rangers1–7Series tied 1–1
3April 20@ New York Rangers1–5Rangers lead 2–1
4April 22@ New York Rangers0–6Rangers lead 3–1
5April 24New York Rangers3–8Rangers win 4–1
Legend:

  Win   Loss

Player statistics

Scoring

  • 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
7Bill Barber26LW7934468019228347−110
16Bobby Clarke29C8016577312688246−88
10Mel Bridgman23C76243559141848123−717
19Rick MacLeish29LW712632584477011−50
27Reggie Leach28RW76342054−3208516−90
3Behn Wilson20D80133649131975101−68
32Blake Dunlop25C6620284827168112−54
2Bob Dailey25D709303921638123014
9Bob Kelly28LW7773138151328112−510
17Paul Holmgren23RW5719102921688156622
26Ken Linseman20C305202516238268122
20Jimmy Watson26D779132211528022−52
5Rick Lapointe23D773182115537011−414
22Tom Gorence21RW421361916107314−50
29Barry Dean23LW3041317−120
11Don Saleski29RW3511516314
28, 43Dennis Ververgaert25RW379716−463022−12
15, 37Al Hill23LW31511165287101−22
8Dave Hoyda21LW67313162138300000
6Andre Dupont29D773912211358000−617
23Paul Evans24C446511−312
18Yves Preston22LW9314−20
31, 38Frank Bathe24D211349766101412
28Drew Callander22C15213−15
25Kevin McCarthy21D22123221
1Bernie Parent33G36022N/A8
15Danny Lucas20LW6101−20
35Wayne Stephenson34G40011N/A24000N/A5
39Robbie Moore24G5011N/A05011N/A2
24Terry Murray28D500005
33Pete Peeters21G5000N/A6
30Rick St. Croix24G2000N/A0
44Glen Cochrane21D1000−20
25Norm Barnes25D2000−20

Goaltending

  • = 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 GS W L T SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI GP GS W L SA GA GAA SV% SO TOI
35Wayne Stephenson344036201059461223.36.87122,181:40430390164.63.8220207:33
1Bernie Parent33363616127834892.71.89341,970:45
33Pete Peeters2154121109163.47.8530276:41
39Robbie Moore24533019671.77.9272237:185532123184.06.8540266:12
30Rick St. Croix24210115363.08.8870117:00

Awards and records

Awards

Type Award/honor Recipient Ref
League (annual) NHL Second All-Star Team Bill Barber (Left Wing) [8]
League (in-season) Challenge Cup selection Bill Barber [9]
Bobby Clarke
Team Barry Ashbee Trophy Bob Dailey [10]
Class Guy Award Bernie Parent [10]

Individual

Franchise player records set during the 1978–79 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Penalties in minutes Game 55 Frank Bathe 3/11/1979 Los Angeles Kings [11]
Points by a rookie defenseman Season 49 Behn Wilson [12]

Team

Franchise team records set during the 1978–79 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Fastest three goals Game 0:35 3/1/1979 Boston Bruins Behn Wilson [13]
Blake Dunlop
Al Hill
Goals against Period 6[lower-alpha 3] 4/24/1979 New York Rangers [14]

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.[15]

Trades

Date Details Ref
June 2, 1978[lower-alpha 4] To Philadelphia Flyers
1st-round pick in 1978
cash
To New York Rangers
Fred Shero
[16]
June 14, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
1st-round pick in 1978
future considerations[lower-alpha 5]
To Pittsburgh Penguins
Tom Bladon
Orest Kindrachuk
Ross Lonsberry
[17]
June 15, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
2nd-round pick in 1979
To Colorado Rockies
2nd-round pick in 1978
June 15, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
10th-round pick in 1978
11th-round pick in 1978
To Buffalo Sabres
cash
June 15, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
12th-round pick in 1978
To Chicago Black Hawks
cash
August 31, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
cash
To Colorado Rockies
Joe Watson
[18]
December 29, 1978 To Philadelphia Flyers
Dennis Ververgaert
To Vancouver Canucks
Drew Callander
Kevin McCarthy
[19]
March 3, 1979 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations
To Colorado Rockies
Don Saleski
[20]

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

Date Player Previous team (league) Term Ref
September 1978M. F. SchurmanSpokane Flyers (WIHL)[21]
October 9, 1978Yves PrestonMilwaukee Admirals (IHL)[22]
November 7, 1978Robbie MooreUniversity of Western Ontario (OUAA)[23]
November 20, 1978Reid BaileyPort Huron Flags (IHL)[24]

Waivers

The Flyers were not involved in any waivers transactions. The 1978 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 9, 1978.[25] The Flyers protected the following players: goaltenders Bernie Parent and Wayne Stephenson, defensemen Bob Dailey, Andre Dupont, Rick Lapointe, Kevin McCarthy, Terry Murray, and Jimmy Watson, and forwards Bill Barber, Mel Bridgman, Drew Callander, Bobby Clarke, Barry Dean, Blake Dunlop, Paul Holmgren, Dave Hoyda, Bob Kelly, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, and Don Saleski.[26]

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
N/AGary DornhoeferRetirement[27]
July 19, 1978Brian BurkeRetirement
July 22, 1978Mike KorneySt. Louis BluesFree agency[28]

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.[29]

Round Pick Player Position Nationality Team (league) Notes
1 6 Behn Wilson Defense  Canada Kingston Canadians (OHA) [lower-alpha 6]
1 7 Ken Linseman Forward  Canada Birmingham Bulls (WHA) [lower-alpha 7]
1 14 Dan Lucas Wing  Canada Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)
2 33 Mike Simurda Right Wing  Canada Kingston Canadians (OHA)
3 37 Gord Salt Right Wing  Canada Michigan Tech University (WCHA) [lower-alpha 8]
3 50 Glen Cochrane Defense  Canada Victoria Cougars (WCHL)
4 67 Russ Wilderman Center  Canada Seattle Breakers (WCHL)
5 83 Brad Tamblyn Defense  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
6 100 Mark Taylor Forward  Canada University of North Dakota (WCHA)
7 117 Mike Ewanouski Right Wing  United States Boston College (HE)
8 126 Jerry Price Goaltender  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL) [lower-alpha 6]
8 134 Darre Switzer Left Wing  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)
9 151 Greg Francis Defense  Canada St. Lawrence University (ECAC)
10 167 Rick Berard Defense  Canada Saint Mary's University (CIAU) [lower-alpha 9]
10 168 Don Lucia Defense  United States University of Notre Dame (CCHA)
11 182 Mike Berge Forward  United States University of North Dakota (WCHA) [lower-alpha 9]
11 183 Ken Moore Goaltender  United States Clarkson University (ECAC)
12 195 Jim Olson Right Wing  United States St. Paul Vulcans (USHL) [lower-alpha 10]
12 198 Anton Stastny Forward  Czechoslovakia Slovan ChZJD Bratislava (CFIHL) [lower-alpha 11]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL,[32][33] the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL,[34] and the Jersey Aces of the NEHL.[34]

Notes

  1. McCammon was fired on January 30 and replaced by Quinn. Crisp was also fired.[1]
  2. The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
  3. Tied during 1988–89 season.
  4. The Flyers received the draft pick and cash as compensation for the Rangers hiring Shero as general manager and head coach.[16]
  5. The Flyers later received the Penguins' 1978 8th-round pick.
  6. 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.[30]
  7. 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.[30]
  8. 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.[30]
  9. The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' tenth and eleventh-round picks on June 15, 1978.[30]
  10. The Flyers traded cash to the Chicago Black Hawks for the Black Hawks' twelfth-round pick, 195th overall, on June 15, 1978.[30]
  11. Draft pick was ruled invalid after it was determined Stastny was too young to be drafted.[31]

References

General
  • "Philadelphia Flyers 1978–79 roster and statistics". The Internet Hockey Database. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  • "1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  • "Flyers History - Season Overview : 1978–79". Flyers History. FlyersAlumni.net. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
Specific
  1. "Flyers Ax Coach McCammon, Name Quinn as Replacement". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 31, 1979. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  2. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  3. Juliano, Joe (November 25, 1990). "Fred Shero, Ex-flyers Coach, Dead". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved December 8, 2014. he announced his resignation on May 22, 1978
  4. Karabell, Eric (2008), The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments: The 100 Most Controversial, debatable questions for die-hard fans, Sourcebooks Inc., pp. 235, ISBN 978-1-4022-1412-7
  5. Kirshenbaum, Jerry (1978-11-20). "A Revival Is A Smash Off Broadway". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  6. "Flyers hire McCammon". AP. The Free Lance–Star. July 7, 1978. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  7. "Parent's eye injury forces his retirement". AP. Lakeland Ledger. June 1, 1979. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
  8. 2014–15 NHL Official Guide & Record Book, p. 230–32
  9. "Legends of Hockey – Time Capsule – Pro Classics: Challenge Cup 1979 NHL All-Star Team Roster". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  10. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  11. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 264
  12. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  13. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 262
  14. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 349
  15. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  16. "Rangers hire Shero for reported $200,000". AP. Chicago Tribune. June 2, 1978. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  17. "Flyers Trade Three Veterans to Penguins". AP. Kane Republican. June 15, 1978. Retrieved December 14, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  18. "Joe Watson – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  19. "Dennis Ververgaert – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  20. "Donald Saleski – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  21. "Maynard Schurman – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  22. "Yves Preston – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  23. "Robert Moore – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  24. "Reid Bailey – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  25. Parsons, Mark (November 8, 2013). "1978 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  26. "Winnipeg Free Press, Oct 7, 1978, p.189". October 7, 1978. Retrieved April 4, 2019 via newspaperarchive.com.
  27. Gary Dornhoefer biography at Legends of Hockey (archived), retrieved December 14, 2014
  28. "Mike Korney – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 14, 2014.
  29. "1978 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  30. "1978 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  31. "1978 NHL Amateur Draft – Anton Stastny". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  32. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  33. "AHL Season Overview: 1978–79". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  34. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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