1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season

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

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

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

Playoffs

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	Barber, BillBill Barber	26	LW	79	34	46	80	19	22	8	3	4	7	10
16	Clarke, BobbyBobby Clarke	29	C	80	16	57	73	12	68	8	2	4	6	8
10	Bridgman, MelMel Bridgman	23	C	76	24	35	59	14	184	8	1	2	3	17
19	MacLeish, RickRick MacLeish	29	LW	71	26	32	58	4	47	7	0	1	1	0
27	Leach, ReggieReggie Leach	28	RW	76	34	20	54	−3	20	8	5	1	6	0
3	Wilson, BehnBehn Wilson	20	D	80	13	36	49	13	197	5	1	0	1	8
32	Dunlop, BlakeBlake Dunlop	25	C	66	20	28	48	27	16	8	1	1	2	4
2	Dailey, BobBob Dailey	25	D	70	9	30	39	21	63	8	1	2	3	14
9	Kelly, BobBob Kelly	28	LW	77	7	31	38	15	132	8	1	1	2	10
17	Holmgren, PaulPaul Holmgren	23	RW	57	19	10	29	2	168	8	1	5	6	22
26	Linseman, KenKen Linseman	20	C	30	5	20	25	16	23	8	2	6	8	22
20	Watson, JimmyJimmy Watson	26	D	77	9	13	22	11	52	8	0	2	2	2
5	Lapointe, RickRick Lapointe	23	D	77	3	18	21	15	53	7	0	1	1	14
22	Gorence, TomTom Gorence	21	RW	42	13	6	19	16	10	7	3	1	4	0
29	Dean, BarryBarry Dean	23	LW	30	4	13	17	−1	20	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
11	Saleski, DonDon Saleski	29	RW	35	11	5	16	3	14	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
28 !28, 43	Ververgaert, DennisDennis Ververgaert	25	RW	37	9	7	16	−4	6	3	0	2	2	2
15 !15, 37	Hill, AlAl Hill	23	LW	31	5	11	16	5	28	7	1	0	1	2
8	Hoyda, DaveDave Hoyda	21	LW	67	03 !3	13	16	2	138	3	0	0	0	0
6	Dupont, AndreAndre Dupont	29	D	77	3	9	12	21	135	8	0	0	0	17
23	Evans, PaulPaul Evans	24	C	44	6	5	11	−3	12	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
18	Preston, YvesYves Preston	22	LW	9	3	1	4	−2	0	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
31 !31, 38	Bathe, FrankFrank Bathe	24	D	21	1	3	4	9	76	6	1	0	1	12
28	Callander, DrewDrew Callander	22	C	15	2	1	3	−1	5	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
25	McCarthy, KevinKevin McCarthy	21	D	22	1	2	3	2	21	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
1	Parent, BernieBernie Parent	33	G	36	0	2	2	-98 !N/A	8	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
15	Lucas, DannyDanny Lucas	20	LW	6	1	0	1	−2	0	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
35	Stephenson, WayneWayne Stephenson	34	G	40	0	1	1	-98 !N/A	2	4	0	0	0	5
39	Moore, RobbieRobbie Moore	24	G	5	0	1	1	-98 !N/A	0	5	0	1	1	2
24	Murray, TerryTerry Murray	28	D	5	0	0	0	0	5	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
33	Peeters, PetePete Peeters	21	G	5	0	0	0	-98 !N/A	6	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
30	St. Croix, RickRick St. Croix	24	G	2	0	0	0	-98 !N/A	0	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
44	Cochrane, GlenGlen Cochrane	21	D	1	0	0	0	−2	0	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
25	Barnes, NormNorm Barnes	25	D	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-99 !—	-1 !—	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	Stephenson, WayneWayne Stephenson	34	40	20	10	5	2	122	.871	3.35	2187	4	0	3	0	16	.843	4.51	213
1	Parent, BernieBernie Parent	33	36	16	12	7	4	89	.893	2.70	1979	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
39	Moore, RobbieRobbie Moore	24	5	3	0	1	2	7	.929	1.77	237	5	3	2	0	18	.838	4.03	268
33	Peeters, PetePete Peeters	21	5	1	2	1	0	16	.853	3.43	280	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—
30	St. Croix, RickRick St. Croix	24	2	0	1	1	0	6	.889	3.08	117	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—	-1 !—

Awards and records

Awards

Records

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

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.

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 (*).

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]

Players drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978 and their NHL career regular season statistics

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Team (league)	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	W	L	T	GAA	Notes
1	6	Wilson, BehnBehn Wilson	Defense	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OHA)	601	98	260	358	1480	& —	& —	& —	& —	[a]
1	7	Linseman, KenKen Linseman	Forward	Canada	Birmingham Bulls (WHA)	860	256	551	807	1727	& —	& —	& —	& —	[b]
1	14	Lucas, DanDan Lucas	Wing	Canada	Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)	6	1	0.1 !0	1	0.1 !0	& —	& —	& —	& —
2	33	Simurda, MikeMike Simurda	Right Wing	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OHA)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
3	37	Salt, GordGord Salt	Right Wing	Canada	Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	[c]
3	50	Cochrane, GlenGlen Cochrane	Defense	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WCHL)	411	17	72	89	1556	& —	& —	& —	& —
4	67	Wilderman, RussRuss Wilderman	Center	Canada	Seattle Breakers (WCHL)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
5	83	Tamblyn, BradBrad Tamblyn	Defense	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHA)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
6	100	Taylor, MarkMark Taylor	Forward	Canada	North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA)	209	42	68	110	73	& —	& —	& —	& —
7	117	Ewanouski, MikeMike Ewanouski	Right Wing	United States	Boston College Eagles (HE)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
8	126	Price, JerryJerry Price	Goaltender	Canada	Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	[a]
8	134	Switzer, DarreDarre Switzer	Left Wing	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
9	151	Francis, GregGreg Francis	Defense	Canada	St. Lawrence Saints (ECAC)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
10	167	Berard, RickRick Berard	Defense	Canada	Saint Mary's Huskies (CIAU)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	[d]
10	168	Lucia, DonDon Lucia	Defense	United States	Notre Dame Fighting Irish (CCHA)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
11	182	Berge, MikeMike Berge	Forward	United States	North Dakota Fighting Sioux (WCHA)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	[d]
11	183	Moore, KenKen Moore	Goaltender	United States	Clarkson Golden Knights (ECAC)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —
12	195	Olson, JimJim Olson	Right Wing	United States	St. Paul Vulcans (USHL)	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	& —	[e]
12	198	Stastny, AntonAnton Stastny	Forward	Slovakia	Bratislava (CFIHL)	650	252	384	636	150	& —	& —	& —	& —	[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