The 1978–79

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

season was the team's 12th

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

in the NHL. In the off season, the North Stars were on the verge of folding, and were merged with the Cleveland Barons, another team on the brink of collapse. The merged franchise continued as the Minnesota North Stars, with the old logo and colors. The changes for the franchise were new ownership and new management. Former Cleveland Barons General Manager Harry Howell assumed the coaching duties from

Lou Nanne Louis Vincent Anthony Nanne (born June 2, 1941) is a Canadian-born American former National Hockey League defenceman and general manager. He played in the National Hockey League with the Minnesota North Stars between 1968 and 1978 and then serve ...

, who was named general manager. Former Barons owner

George Gund III George Gund III (May 7, 1937 – January 15, 2013) was an American businessman and sports entrepreneur. Biography Gund III was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 7, 1937, to Jessica Roesler and George Gund II, a powerful banker in Cleveland. A ...

became a co-owner of the North Stars. Howell's tenure as head coach would last just eleven games before he was replaced by

Glen Sonmor Glen Robert Sonmor (April 22, 1929 – December 14, 2015) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, scout and coach. He played 28 games in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers from 1953 to 1955, though most of his career was ...

. While the merger allowed the North Stars to ice a stronger team, it also saw the North Stars take the Barons' place in the tough Adams Division. The North Stars finished with 68 points, which was a substantial improvement over either the Barons' or North Stars' performance the previous season. Had the North Stars still been in the Smythe Division, that would have been good enough for second place and a playoff berth, but it was not enough to lift the team out of last place in the Adams. Minnesota missed the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years. One of the highlights was Bobby Smith winning the Calder Trophy.

Offseason

NHL Draft

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 11, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1978–79) , , 0–1–0 , - , 2, , L, , October 14, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1978–79) , , 0–2–0 , - , 3, , W, , October 18, 1978, , 7–2 , , align="left",

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1978–79) , , 1–2–0 , - , 4, , L, , October 19, 1978, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1978–79) , , 1–3–0 , - , 5, , T, , October 21, 1978, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

( 1978–79) , , 1–3–1 , - , 6, , T, , October 25, 1978, , 2–2 , , align="left",

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1978–79) , , 1–3–2 , - , 7, , L, , October 28, 1978, , 0–1 , , align="left",

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

( 1978–79) , , 1–4–2 , - , - , 8, , W, , November 1, 1978, , 9–1 , , align="left",

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1978–79) , , 2–4–2 , - , 9, , W, , November 4, 1978, , 2–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 3–4–2 , - , 10, , L, , November 5, 1978, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 3–5–2 , - , 11, , L, , November 7, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1978–79) , , 3–6–2 , - , 12, , W, , November 8, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1978–79) , , 4–6–2 , - , 13, , W, , November 10, 1978, , 3–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 5–6–2 , - , 14, , L, , November 11, 1978, , 1–8 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1978–79) , , 5–7–2 , - , 15, , L, , November 15, 1978, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

( 1978–79) , , 5–8–2 , - , 16, , L, , November 18, 1978, , 2–7 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 5–9–2 , - , 17, , L, , November 19, 1978, , 2–9 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 5–10–2 , - , 18, , L, , November 22, 1978, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 5–11–2 , - , 19, , L, , November 24, 1978, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1978–79) , , 5–12–2 , - , 20, , L, , November 25, 1978, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 5–13–2 , - , 21, , L, , November 29, 1978, , 3–5 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1978–79) , , 5–14–2 , - , - , 22, , W, , December 1, 1978, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

( 1978–79) , , 6–14–2 , - , 23, , W, , December 2, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 7–14–2 , - , 24, , W, , December 6, 1978, , 4–0 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 8–14–2 , - , 25, , W, , December 9, 1978, , 3–0 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 9–14–2 , - , 26, , T, , December 10, 1978, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 9–14–3 , - , 27, , L, , December 13, 1978, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 9–15–3 , - , 28, , W, , December 15, 1978, , 6–1 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 10–15–3 , - , 29, , L, , December 16, 1978, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 10–16–3 , - , 30, , W, , December 19, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 11–16–3 , - , 31, , L, , December 20, 1978, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 11–17–3 , - , 32, , W, , December 23, 1978, , 5–3 , , align="left",

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1978–79) , , 12–17–3 , - , 33, , W, , December 26, 1978, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 13–17–3 , - , 34, , W, , December 27, 1978, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 14–17–3 , - , 35, , L, , December 30, 1978, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 14–18–3 , - , - , 36, , T, , January 3, 1979, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 14–18–4 , - , 37, , L, , January 6, 1979, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 14–19–4 , - , 38, , L, , January 8, 1979, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 14–20–4 , - , 39, , T, , January 10, 1979, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 14–20–5 , - , 40, , L, , January 11, 1979, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 14–21–5 , - , 41, , W, , January 13, 1979, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 15–21–5 , - , 42, , W, , January 15, 1979, , 8–1 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 16–21–5 , - , 43, , L, , January 16, 1979, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 16–22–5 , - , 44, , L, , January 19, 1979, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 16–23–5 , - , 45, , T, , January 20, 1979, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 16–23–6 , - , 46, , T, , January 24, 1979, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 16–23–7 , - , 47, , W, , January 27, 1979, , 3–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 17–23–7 , - , 48, , W, , January 28, 1979, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 18–23–7 , - , 49, , W, , January 30, 1979, , 5–4 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 19–23–7 , - , - , 50, , W, , February 1, 1979, , 6–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 20–23–7 , - , 51, , L, , February 3, 1979, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 20–24–7 , - , 52, , W, , February 4, 1979, , 6–4 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 21–24–7 , - , 53, , W, , February 14, 1979, , 8–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 22–24–7 , - , 54, , L, , February 15, 1979, , 5–6 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 22–25–7 , - , 55, , T, , February 17, 1979, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 22–25–8 , - , 56, , L, , February 18, 1979, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 22–26–8 , - , 57, , W, , February 21, 1979, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 23–26–8 , - , 58, , T, , February 23, 1979, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 23–26–9 , - , 59, , L, , February 24, 1979, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 23–27–9 , - , 60, , T, , February 28, 1979, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 23–27–10 , - , - , 61, , T, , March 1, 1979, , 5–5 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 23–27–11 , - , 62, , L, , March 3, 1979, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 23–28–11 , - , 63, , L, , March 4, 1979, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 23–29–11 , - , 64, , W, , March 7, 1979, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 24–29–11 , - , 65, , L, , March 10, 1979, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 24–30–11 , - , 66, , L, , March 11, 1979, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 24–31–11 , - , 67, , W, , March 14, 1979, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 25–31–11 , - , 68, , L, , March 17, 1979, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 25–32–11 , - , 69, , L, , March 18, 1979, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 25–33–11 , - , 70, , W, , March 21, 1979, , 7–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 26–33–11 , - , 71, , W, , March 24, 1979, , 3–1 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 27–33–11 , - , 72, , L, , March 25, 1979, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 27–34–11 , - , 73, , L, , March 27, 1979, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 27–35–11 , - , 74, , L, , March 29, 1979, , 4–7 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 27–36–11 , - , 75, , L, , March 31, 1979, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 27–37–11 , - , - , 76, , L, , April 1, 1979, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 27–38–11 , - , 77, , W, , April 3, 1979, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1978–79) , , 28–38–11 , - , 78, , L, , April 4, 1979, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 28–39–11 , - , 79, , T, , April 6, 1979, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 28–39–12 , - , 80, , L, , April 7, 1979, , 1–7 , , align="left", @

( 1978–79) , , 28–40–12 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes''

Goaltenders

''Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average''

Awards and records

Transactions

References

North Stars on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1978-79 Minnesota North Stars season Minnesota North Stars seasons