The 1978–79 NHL season was the
62nd 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 ...
of the
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
. The
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 ...
beat the
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 ...
in the
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
finals four games to one for their fourth consecutive Cup; two "
Original Six" teams would not meet again in the Finals for the next 34 years, when the
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks (spelled Black Hawks until 1986, and known colloquially as the Hawks) are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago. The Blackhawks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (N ...
defeated the
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 ...
in the
2013 Finals. The Bruins faced the Canadiens in the 1979 semifinals, marking the last appearance by three Original Six teams in the final four for the next 35 years, when the Blackhawks, Canadiens and Rangers reached the semifinals of the
2014 playoffs.
The
Cleveland Barons merged with the
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 ...
(continuing as the North Stars), reducing the NHL membership to 17 teams, the last time that a league in the "big four"
major professional sports league contracted.
League business
This season saw the first reduction in the total number of teams since the
Brooklyn Americans folded following the
1941–42 season. Fearing that two teams were on the verge of folding, the league approved the merger of the financially unstable
Cleveland Barons and
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 ...
franchises, reducing the number of teams to 17. The merged team continued as the Minnesota North Stars but assumed the Barons' place in the Adams Division.
This reduction would only be temporary, however, as negotiations continued toward an agreement with the
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...
that would see it fold following this season, with four of its teams joining the NHL as expansion franchises for
1979–80.
A
dispersal draft was then held on June 15, 1978. The merged North Stars was allowed to protect 14 players, then the five other worst teams in the previous 1977–78 season would each have the option to pick one of the unprotected players.
The
1978 NHL amateur draft was also held on June 15, at the
Queen Elizabeth Hotel in
Montreal
Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
,
Quebec
Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...
.
Bobby Smith was selected first overall by the North Stars.
For the first time since the
NHL All-Star Game
The National Hockey League All-Star Game () is an exhibition ice hockey tournament that is traditionally held during the regular season of the National Hockey League (NHL), with many of the League's star players playing against each other. The ga ...
became an annual tradition, it was not played. In its stead was the
1979 Challenge Cup, which saw
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
players come over to North America to play against NHL players. The Soviets won the series two games to one.
Regular season
For the past three seasons, the Montreal Canadiens had dominated the regular season, but times were changing. The
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 ...
had been steadily improving over the past few seasons and this season saw them beat out the Canadiens by one point for the best record in the league.
This was the last season until the
2005–06 season that the St. Louis Blues missed the playoffs.
Final standings
''GP = Games Played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, PIM = Penalties In Minutes''
''Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold''
Prince of Wales Conference
Clarence Campbell Conference
Playoffs
Playoff seeds
The top two teams in each division made the playoffs, along with the four next-best regular-season records from teams in the entire league finishing third or lower. All 12 clubs then were
seeded 1–12 based on regular season points, regardless of conference or division.
''Note: Only teams that qualified for the playoffs are listed here.''
#
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 ...
, Patrick Division champions, Clarence Campbell Conference regular season champions – 116 points
#
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 ...
, Norris Division champions, Prince of Wales Conference regular season champions – 115 points
#
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 ...
, Adams Division champions – 100 points
#
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 ...
– 95 points
#
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 ...
– 91 points
#
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 ...
– 90 points
#
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 ...
– 88 points
#
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 ...
– 85 points
#
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 ...
– 81 points
#
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. ...
– 80 points
#
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 ...
, Smythe Division champions – 73 points
#
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 ...
– 63 points
Playoff bracket
The NHL used "re-seeding" instead of a fixed bracket playoff system: in each round, the highest remaining seed was matched against the lowest remaining seed, the second-highest remaining seed played the second-lowest remaining seed, and so forth.
Regardless of playoff seed, all four division winners received a
bye to the Quarterfinals. Each series in the Preliminary Round was played in a
best-of-three format while each series in the other three rounds were played in a
best-of-seven format (scores in the bracket indicate the number of games won in each series).
Awards
All-Star teams
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
''GP = Games Played, G =
Goals, A =
Assists, Pts = Points, PIM =
Penalties In Minutes''
Source: NHL.
Leading goaltenders
''Note: GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals against average; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts''
Other statistics
;
Plus-minus
* Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders
Coaches
Patrick Division
*Atlanta Flames:
Fred Creighton
*New York Islanders:
Al Arbour
*New York Rangers:
Fred Shero
*Philadelphia Flyers:
Bob McCammon and
Pat Quinn
Adams Division
*Boston Bruins:
Don Cherry
*Buffalo Sabres:
Billy Inglis
*Minnesota North Stars:
Harry Howell and
Glen Sonmor
*Toronto Maple Leafs:
Roger Neilson
Roger Paul Neilson, (June 16, 1934 – June 21, 2003) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach, most notably in the NHL, where he served with eight teams. Known as Captain Video because of his technological contributions to the game, he is ...
Norris Division
*Detroit Red Wings:
Bobby Kromm
*Los Angeles Kings:
Bob Berry
*Montreal Canadiens:
Scotty Bowman
William Scott Bowman (born September 18, 1933) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey head coach. He holds the record for most wins in National Hockey League (NHL) history, with 1,244 wins in the regular season and 223 in the Stanley Cup ...
*Pittsburgh Penguins:
Johnny Wilson
*Washington Capitals:
Danny Belisle
Smythe Division
*Chicago Black Hawks:
Bill White
*Colorado Rockies:
Pat Kelly
*St. Louis Blues:
Barclay Plager
*Vancouver Canucks:
Harry Neale
Milestones
Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1978–79 (listed with their first team, asterisk (*) marks debut in playoffs):
*
Joel Quenneville, Toronto Maple Leafs
*
Brad Marsh, Atlanta Flames
*
Reggie Lemelin, Atlanta Flames
*
Al Secord, Boston Bruins
*
Bobby Smith, Minnesota North Stars
*
Steve Payne, Minnesota North Stars
*
Rod Langway §, Montreal Canadiens
*
John Tonelli §, New York Islanders
*
Anders Hedberg §, New York Rangers
*
Ulf Nilsson §, New York Rangers
*
Ken Linseman §, Philadelphia Flyers
*
Pete Peeters, Philadelphia Flyers
*
Greg Millen, Pittsburgh Penguins
*
Wayne Babych, St. Louis Blues
*
Curt Fraser, Vancouver Canucks
*
Thomas Gradin, Vancouver Canucks
*
Stan Smyl, Vancouver Canucks
*
Ryan Walter, Washington Capitals
''Players marked with § began their major professional career in the
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...
.''
Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1978–79 (listed with their last team):
*
Bobby Orr, Chicago Black Hawks
*
Joe Watson, Colorado Rockies
*
Danny Grant, Los Angeles Kings
*
J. P. Parise, Minnesota North Stars
*
Jacques Lemaire, Montreal Canadiens
*
Ken Dryden, Montreal Canadiens
*
Yvan Cournoyer, Montreal Canadiens
*
Ed Westfall, New York Islanders
*
Bernie Parent, Philadelphia Flyers
*
Garry Monahan, Toronto Maple Leafs
*
Pit Martin, Vancouver Canucks
Broadcasting
''
Hockey Night in Canada
''Hockey Night in Canada'' (often abbreviated ''Hockey Night'' or ''HNiC'') is a long-running program of broadcast ice hockey play-by-play coverage in Canada. With roots in pioneering hockey coverage on private radio stations as early as 1923, ...
'' on
CBC Television
CBC Television (also known as CBC TV, or simply CBC) is a Television in Canada, Canadian English-language terrestrial television, broadcast television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcasting, p ...
televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games.
In the U.S., this was the fourth and final season that NHL games aired in national
broadcast syndication
Broadcast syndication is the practice of content owners leasing the right to broadcast their content to other television stations or radio stations, without having an official broadcast network to air it on. It is common in the United States whe ...
under the
NHL Network package. On February 10,
CBS decided to televise Game 2 of the
1979 Challenge Cup, but that was the network's only involvement in broadcasting the NHL this season. Similarly,
ABC only agreed to air Game 7 of the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals had the series gone that far. The league then dissolved the NHL Network after the season, signing packages of regular season slates to the fledgling cable networks
ESPN
ESPN (an initialism of their original name, which was the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network) is an American international basic cable sports channel owned by the Walt Disney Company (80% and operational control) and Hearst Commu ...
and UA-Columbia (later known as the
USA Network
USA Network (or simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network, one of the first national sports ...
). The
Hughes Television Network, the NHL Network's distributor, also signed a new deal for regular season and postseason games.
See also
*
List of Stanley Cup champions
The Stanley Cup is a trophy awarded annually to the Season structure of the NHL, playoff champion club of the National Hockey League (NHL). It was donated by the Governor General of Canada Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, Lord Stanley of Pr ...
*
1978 NHL amateur draft
*
1978–79 NHL transactions
*
1979 Challenge Cup
*
1978–79 WHA season
*
Lester Patrick Trophy
The Lester Patrick Trophy has been presented by the National Hockey League and USA Hockey since 1966 to honor a recipient's contribution to ice hockey in the United States. It is considered a non-NHL trophy because it may be awarded to players, ...
*
1978 in sports
*
1979 in sports
Notes
Footnotes
References
*
*
*
*
External links
Hockey DatabaseNHL.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:NHL, 1978-79
1978–79 in Canadian ice hockey by league
1978–79 in American ice hockey by league