1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season

1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers
Division 2nd Patrick
Conference 2nd Campbell
1977–78 record 45–20–15
Home record 29–6–5
Road record 16–14–10
Goals for 296 (4th)
Goals against 200 (2nd)
Team information
President Joe Scott
General Manager Keith Allen
Coach Fred Shero
Captain Bobby Clarke
Alternate captains None[lower-alpha 1]
Arena Spectrum
Average attendance 17,077[1]
Minor league affiliate(s) Maine Mariners
Philadelphia Firebirds
Team leaders
Goals Bill Barber (41)
Assists Bobby Clarke (68)
Points Bobby Clarke (89)
Penalties in minutes Andre Dupont (225)
Plus/minus Bobby Clarke (+47)
Wins Bernie Parent (29)
Goals against average Bernie Parent (2.22)

The 1977–78 Philadelphia Flyers season was the Philadelphia Flyers' 11th season in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Regular season

The Flyers lost their hold on the Patrick Division in 1977–78 and settled for second place.

Tom Bladon's 8 points (4 goals and 4 assists) in a game against the Cleveland Barons on December 11 set an NHL record for a defenseman.[2]

Season standings

Patrick Division
  GP W L T GF GA PTS
New York Islanders80481715334210111
Philadelphia Flyers80452015296200105
Atlanta Flames8034271927425287
New York Rangers8030371327928073

[3]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Playoffs

After sweeping the Colorado Rockies in 2 games in the preliminary round, the Flyers moved on and beat Buffalo in five games. They faced Boston in the semifinals for the second consecutive season, and lost again, this time in five games.

Schedule and results

Regular season

1977–78 regular season

Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1978 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Skaters

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
  • dagger = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Flyers only.
  • double-dagger = 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
16Bobby Clarke28C7121688947831247118
7Bill Barber25LW804131723134126392
19Rick MacLeish28LW7631397024331279164
26Orest Kindrachuk27C731745623512812551013
2Bob Dailey24D7621365745621215622
27Reggie Leach27RW722428522024122240
18Ross Lonsberry30LW781830484145122246
10Mel Bridgman22C76163248262031217836
11Don Saleski28RW7027184534441120219
3Tom Bladon25D7911243532571202211
17Paul Holmgren22RW62161834231901214526
9Bob Kelly27LW7419133215951235826
29Barry Dean22LW56718251234
5Rick Lapointe22D474162035911203319
20Jimmy Watson25D71512173362121786
25Kevin McCarthy20D62215172932100118
14Joe Watson34D655914232210000
6Andre Dupont28D6921214312251221313
12Gary Dornhoefer34RW477512−36240007
8Dave Hoyda20LW41134−5119900017
22Harvey Bennettdouble-dagger25C210117
32Blake Dunlopdagger24C301110
1Bernie Parent32G49000N/A4120000
35Wayne Stephenson33G26000N/A0
30Rick St. Croix23G7000N/A0
15Al Hill22LW300002
21Frank Bathe23D100000
21Jim Cunningham21LW100014
28Drew Callander21C100000

Goaltenders

Regular season Playoffs
No. Player Age GP W L T SO GA SV% GAA MIN GP W L SO GA SV% GAA MIN
1Bernie Parent3249296137108.9122.2229231275033.8912.74722
35Wayne Stephenson332614101368.8922.751482
30Rick St. Croix237241020.8943.04395

Awards and records

Awards

League awards and honors
Award or honor Recipient Ref
Selected to NHL All-Star Game Bill Barber [4]
Tom Bladon
Bobby Clarke
Bob Dailey
Fred Shero (Coach)
Wayne Stephenson
Jim Watson
Team awards[5]
Award Recipient
Barry Ashbee Trophy Jim Watson
Class Guy Award Joe Watson

Records

  •  dagger  NHL record
  •  double-dagger  Tied for NHL record

Individual

Franchise player records set during the 1977–78 season
Record Type Total Player Date(s) Opponent Ref
Most goals scored Game 4[lower-alpha 2] Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [6]
Most points Game 8 Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [6]
Most points by a defenseman Game 8double-dagger Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [7]
Best plus-minus Game +10dagger Tom Bladon 12/11/1977 Cleveland Barons [8]
Games with an assist Streak 12[lower-alpha 3] Bobby Clarke 2/1/1978 – 3/16/1978 [6]

Team

Franchise team records set during the 1977–78 season
Record Type Total Date(s) Opponent Player(s) Refs
Fastest overtime goal, playoffs Game 0:23 4/11/1978 Colorado Rockies Mel Bridgman [9]

Milestones

Individual career milestones[10]
Milestone Player Date
500th game played Bernie Parent December 8, 1977

Transactions

The Flyers were involved in the following transactions from May 15, 1977, the day after the deciding game of the 1977 Stanley Cup Finals, through May 25, 1978, the day of the deciding game of the 1978 Stanley Cup Finals.[11]

Trades

Date Details Ref
June 14, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
8th-round pick in 1977
9th-round pick in 1977
10th-round pick in 1977
11th-round pick in 1977
To Buffalo Sabres
cash
June 17, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
future considerations[lower-alpha 4]
To Los Angeles Kings
Steve Short
[12]
August 5, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Barry Dean
To Colorado Rockies
Mark Suzor
[13]
October 28, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Blake Dunlop
3rd-round pick in 1978
To Minnesota North Stars
Harvey Bennett
[14]
November 1, 1977 To Philadelphia Flyers
Terry Murray
To Detroit Red Wings
cash
[15]

Signings

Free agency

The following players were signed by the Flyers via free agency.

Date Player Previous team (league) Contract details Ref
August 17, 1977Brian BurkeProvidence Friars (HE)[16]
September 1977Jim CunninghamMichigan State Spartans (CCHA)[17]
September 1977Guy DelparteOklahoma City Blazers (CHL)[18]
September 7, 1977Wayne SchaabVEU Feldkirch (Austria)
September 15, 1977Larry RomanchychAtlanta Flames[19]
September 28, 1977Bernie JohnstonSyracuse Blazers (NAHL)[20]
October 7, 1977Frank BathePort Huron Flags (IHL)[21]
October 23, 1977Mike BusniukNova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL)[22]
October 27, 1977Grant ColeSpringfield Indians (AHL)

Draft picks

The Flyers signed the following of their draft picks.

Date Player Previous team (league) Draft Contract details Ref
June 30, 1977Kevin McCarthyWinnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)1977 1st-round pick3 years[23]
August 2, 1977Tom GorenceMinnesota Golden Gophers (WCHA)1977 2nd-round pick[24]
August 2, 1977Dave HoydaPortland Winter Hawks (WCHL)1977 3rd-round pick[24]

NHL Waiver Draft

The 1977 NHL Waiver Draft was held on October 10, 1977.[25] Each NHL team placed 18 skaters, 2 goaltenders, and up to 3 additional players with no more than 2 years of pro experience on a protected list from which the other teams could not select.[25] First-year professional players were exempt.[25] The Flyers were not involved in any selections during the draft.[25]

The Flyers protected the following players:[25] goaltenders Bernie Parent and Wayne Stephenson, and skaters Bill Barber, Tom Bladon, Mel Bridgman, Bobby Clarke, Bob Dailey, Barry Dean, Gary Dornhoefer, Paul Holmgren, Bob Kelly, Orest Kindrachuk, Rick Lapointe, Reggie Leach, Ross Lonsberry, Rick MacLeish, Don Saleski, Jimmy Watson, and Joe Watson.

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 (*).

Date Player New team (league) Via Ref
September 1977Gary InnessIndianapolis Racers (WHA)Free agency[26]

Draft picks

Philadelphia's picks at the 1977 NHL Amateur Draft, which was held at the NHL's office in Montreal, Quebec, on June 14, 1977.[27]

Players drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 1977 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 17 Kevin McCarthy Defense  Canada Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL) 537 67 191 258 527 &
&
&
&
2 35 Tom Gorence Right Wing  United States Minnesota Golden Gophers (CCHA) 303 58 53 111 89 &
&
&
&
3 53 Dave Hoyda Left Wing  Canada Portland Winter Hawks (WCHL) 132 6 17 23 299 &
&
&
&
4 67 Yves Guillemette Goaltender  Canada Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 5]
4 71 Rene Hamelin Right Wing  Canada Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
5 89 Dan Clark Defense  Canada Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) 4 0 1 1 6 &
&
&
&
6 107 Alain Chaput Center  Canada Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
7 123 Richard Dalpe Center  Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
8 135 Pete Peeters Goaltender  Canada Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) 489 0 14 14 212 246 155 51 3.08 [lower-alpha 6]
8 136 Clint Eccles Center  Canada Kamloops Chiefs (WCHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 7]
8 139 Mike Greeder Defense  United States St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
9 150 Tom Bauer Wing  United States Providence Friars (HE) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 6]
9 151 Michael Bauman Defense  Canada Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 7]
9 153 Bruce Crowder Forward  Canada New Hampshire Wildcats (HE) 243 47 51 98 156 &
&
&
&
10 158 Rob Nicholson Defense  United States St. Paul Vulcans (MJHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 6]
10 159 Dave Isherwood Center  Canada Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 7]
10 161 Steve Jones Goaltender  Canada Ohio State Buckeyes (CCHA) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
11 165 Jim Trainor Defense  United States Harvard Crimson (ECAC) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 6]
11 166 Barry Duench Center  Canada Kitchener Rangers (OHA) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 7]
11 168 Rod McNair Defense  Canada Ohio State Buckeyes (CCHA) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
12 172 Mike Laycock Goaltender  Canada Brown Bears (ECAC) &
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
&
[lower-alpha 6]

Farm teams

The Flyers were affiliated with the Maine Mariners of the AHL[29][30] and the Philadelphia Firebirds of the NAHL.[31]

Notes

  1. The alternate captain position was abolished from the 1975–76 season through the 1984–85 season.
  2. Tied fifteen times by eight different players. See List of Philadelphia Flyers records.
  3. Clarke tied his mark set during the 1975–76 season.
  4. The Kings sent Paul Evans to the Flyers on November 3, 1977, to complete trade.[12]
  5. The Flyers traded Dave Schultz to the Los Angeles Kings for the Kings' fourth-round pick, 67th overall, and the Kings' 1978 second-round pick on September 29, 1976.[28]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 The Flyers traded Bobby Taylor and Ed Van Impe to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Gary Inness and future considerations (the Penguins' eighth through twelfth-round picks) on March 9, 1976.[28]
  7. 1 2 3 4 The Flyers traded cash to the Buffalo Sabres for the Sabres' eighth through eleventh-round picks on June 14, 1977.[28]

References

General
Specific
  1. "All Time Team Attendance". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  2. Hockey's Book of Firsts, p.27, James Duplacey, JG Press, ISBN 978-1-57215-037-9
  3. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 151. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. "31st NHL All-Star Game". NHL.com. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  5. "Flyers History – Team Awards". P.Anson. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 263
  7. National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2017, p. 168
  8. "Flyers History - NHL Records Held/Shared By Flyers". P.Anson. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  9. 2016–2017 Philadelphia Flyers Media Guide, p. 351
  10. "Flyers History – All-Time Milestone Award Winners". P.Anson. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
  11. "Hockey Transactions Search Results". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Steven Short – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  13. "Barry Dean – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  14. "Blake Dunlop – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  15. "Terry Murray – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  16. Meltzer, Bill (August 17, 2014). "Meltzer's Musings: Kerr vs. LeClair, Quick Hits". HockeyBuzz.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  17. "James Cunningham – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  18. "Guy Delparte – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  19. "Sports Transactions". The Cumberland News. September 16, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  20. "Bernard Johnston – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  21. "Francis Bathe – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  22. "Michael Busniuk – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  23. "'Confident' Kevin McCarthy never thought he'd be a Flyer". AP. Pottstown Mercury. July 1, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  24. 1 2 "Sports Moves". Indiana Gazette. August 3, 1977. Retrieved December 17, 2014 via Newspapers.com.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Parsons, Mark (November 8, 2013). "1977 NHL Waiver Draft". Historical Hockey Stats & Trivia. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  26. "Gary Inness – Notes". NHL.com. Retrieved December 17, 2014.
  27. "1977 NHL Amateur Draft Picks at hockeydb.com". hockeyDB.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  28. 1 2 3 "1977 NHL Amateur Draft Pick Transactions". Pro Sports Transactions. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
  29. "AHL Franchise Statistics". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  30. "AHL Season Overview: 1977–78". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  31. "Non-AHL Affiliates". P. Anson. Flyers History. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
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