1978–79 Philadelphia Flyers season


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

Off-season

, who had one more year left on his contract, submitted a letter of resignation on May 22, 1978, 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. 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. A few weeks after signing Shero, the Rangers gave the Flyers their first-round pick in the 1978 draft and cash as compensation, allowing the Rangers to avoid tampering charges. 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.
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. Replacing him was Shero's previous assistant coach Pat Quinn, who had replaced McCammon as head coach in Maine. 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. An errant stick entered the right eye hole of his mask, causing permanent damage to his vision. 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.

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

Scoring

Awards

Records

Individual

Team

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.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
September 1978M. F. SchurmanSpokane Flyers
October 9, 1978Yves PrestonMilwaukee Admirals
November 7, 1978Robbie MooreUniversity of Western Ontario
November 20, 1978Reid BaileyPort Huron Flags

Waivers

The Flyers were not involved in any waivers transactions. The 1978 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 9, 1978. 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.

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.
DatePlayerNew team ViaRef
N/AGary Dornhoefer—Retirement
July 19, 1978Brian Burke—Retirement
July 22, 1978Mike KorneySt. Louis BluesFree agency

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.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
16Behn WilsonDefenseCanadaKingston Canadians
17Ken LinsemanForwardCanadaBirmingham Bulls
114Dan LucasWingCanadaSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
233Mike SimurdaRight WingCanadaKingston Canadians
337Gord SaltRight WingCanadaMichigan Tech University
350Glen CochraneDefenseCanadaVictoria Cougars
467Russ WildermanCenterCanadaSeattle Breakers
583Brad TamblynDefenseCanadaToronto Marlboros
6100Mark TaylorForwardCanadaUniversity of North Dakota
7117Mike EwanouskiRight WingUnited StatesBoston College
8126Jerry PriceGoaltenderCanadaPortland Winter Hawks
8134Darre SwitzerLeft WingCanadaMedicine Hat Tigers
9151Greg FrancisDefenseCanadaSt. Lawrence University
10167Rick BerardDefenseCanadaSaint Mary's University
10168Don LuciaDefenseUnited StatesUniversity of Notre Dame
11182Mike BergeForwardUnited StatesUniversity of North Dakota
11183Ken MooreGoaltenderUnited StatesClarkson University
12195Jim OlsonRight WingUnited StatesSt. Paul Vulcans
12198Anton StastnyForwardSlovakiaSlovan ChZJD Bratislava

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL, the Milwaukee Admirals of the IHL, and the Jersey Aces of the NEHL.