1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers season


The 1979–80 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 13th season in the National Hockey League. This team owns the longest unbeaten streak in North American sports history in 35 consecutive games without a loss, from October 14 to January 6. The Flyers reached the Stanley Cup Finals but lost in six games to the New York Islanders.

Off-season

On August 10, 1979, Bobby Clarke was named a player-assistant coach. In order to become an assistant coach, Clarke must give up the captaincy due to NHL rules. Mel Bridgman was named Clarke's replacement as team captain on October 11.

Regular season

The Flyers went undefeated for a North American professional sports record 35 straight games, a record that still stands to this day. In doing so, the Flyers wrapped up the Patrick Division title with 14 games to spare and the #1 overall seed in the playoffs.

Season standings

Playoffs

The Flyers' regular-season success continued into the playoffs, as the Flyers swept a young Wayne Gretzky and his Edmonton Oilers in the first round, then went on to get revenge against Fred Shero and his Rangers by beating them in five before disposing of Minnesota in five to lock up a berth in the Stanley Cup Finals. Facing the Islanders for the Cup, the Flyers would ultimately lose in six games on Bob Nystrom's overtime Cup-winning goal. The end result of the series was marred by controversy, as the Islanders were arguably offside on the play that resulted in their second goal in Game 6, but no call was made. Linesman Leon Stickle admitted after the game that he had blown the call.

Schedule and results

Regular season

Playoffs

Player statistics

Scoring

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Team

Milestones

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 22, 1979, the day after the deciding game of the 1979 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 24, 1980, the day of the deciding game of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals.

Trades

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.
DatePlayerPrevious team TermRef
August 8, 1979Dennis PattersonMaine Mariners
September 4, 1979Fred WilliamsPhiladelphia Firebirds
September 28, 1979Greg AdamsVictoria Cougars
October 10, 1979Sam St. LaurentChicoutimi Sagueneens
October 25, 1979Tim KerrKingston Canadians
October 28, 1979Marc-Andre MarchandHull Olympiques 3-year
October 31, 1979Dan BarberToronto Marlboros
January 21, 1980Dave GardnerBinghamton Dusters

Internal

The following players were either re-signed by the Flyers or, in the case of the team's selections in the NHL Entry Draft, signed to contracts.
DatePlayerTermRef
June 12, 1979Frank Bathemulti-year
September 4, 1979Brian Propp multi-year
September 4, 1979Blake Wesley
September 4, 1979Lindsay Carson
September 4, 1979Don Gillen
September 4, 1979Gord Williams

NHL Reclamation

The Flyers held the NHL rights to the following five players who had played the previous season in the World Hockey Association. They reclaimed one player on June 9, 1979.
PlayerWHA teamStatusHow Flyers originally acquired NHL rightsRef
Serge BeaudoinBirmingham BullsNot reclaimed1972 7th-round pick
Ron ChipperfieldEdmonton OilersNot reclaimedDecember 11, 1974, trade
John McKenzieHartford WhalersNot reclaimedAugust 3, 1972, trade
Michel ParizeauEdmonton OilersNot reclaimedClaimed off waivers on December 8, 1971
Dennis SobchukEdmonton OilersReclaimed1974 5th-round pick

NHL Expansion Draft

The 1979 NHL Expansion Draft was held on June 13, 1979. It featured four World Hockey Association teams entering the NHL as expansion teams, the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets, selecting players from the 17 existing NHL teams. Each NHL team placed 15 skaters and 2 goaltenders on a protected list from which the four expansion teams could not select.
StatusPlayers
ProtectedBill Barber, Mel Bridgman, Bobby Clarke, Bob Dailey, Barry Dean, Andre Dupont, Paul Evans, Gord Garbutt, Tom Gorence, Al Hill, Paul Holmgren, Bob Kelly, Reggie Leach, Rick MacLeish, Terry Murray, Phil Myre, Dennis Sobchuk, Rick St. Croix, Dennis Ververgaert, Jimmy Watson
SelectionsWinnipeg Jets selected Dave Hoyda in the 5th round
SelectionsHartford Whalers selected Bernie Johnston in the 10th round
SelectionsWinnipeg Jets selected Jim Cunningham in the 13th round
SelectionsHartford Whalers selected M. F. Schurman in the 13th round

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
May 31, 1979Bernie Parent—Retirement

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft, which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, on August 9, 1979.
RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityTeam Notes
114Brian ProppLeft WingCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings
222Blake WesleyDefenseCanadaPortland Winter Hawks
235Pelle LindberghGoaltenderSwedenAIK
356Lindsay CarsonCenterCanadaBillings Bighorns
477Don GillenRight WingCanadaBrandon Wheat Kings
598Thomas ErikssonDefenseSwedenDjurgardens IF
6119Gord WilliamsForwardCanadaLethbridge Broncos

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL, the Toledo Goaldiggers of the IHL, and the Hampton Aces of the Eastern Hockey League.