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1979–80 Quebec Nordiques season

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1979–80 Quebec Nordiques
Division5th Adams
Conference10th Wales
1979–80 record25–44–11
Home record17–16–7
Road record8–28–4
Goals for248
Goals against313
Team information
General managerMaurice Filion
CoachJacques Demers
CaptainMarc Tardif
ArenaColisée de Québec
Average attendance10,742 [1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Syracuse Firebirds (AHL)
Team leaders
GoalsReal Cloutier (42)
AssistsReal Cloutier (47)
PointsReal Cloutier (89)
Penalty minutesPaul Baxter (145)
Plus/minusRobbie Ftorek (+6)
WinsMichel Dion (15)
Goals against averageMichel Dion (3.70)

The 1979–80 Quebec Nordiques season was the Nordiques eighth season overall, however, it marked as their expansion season in the National Hockey League. Quebec had played their previous seven seasons in the now defunct World Hockey Association. In 1978–79, their last season in the WHA, Quebec finished the year with the second best record, as they had a 41–34–5 record, earning 87 points. The Nordiques were then swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the WHA semi-finals. In the NHL, the team finished out of the playoffs.

Off-season

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During the off-season, the Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, New England Whalers, and Winnipeg Jets were admitted into the NHL as expansion teams. Quebec would be placed in the Adams Division in the Wales Conference. The other teams in the Nordiques division was the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota North Stars and Toronto Maple Leafs. Quebec held on to head coach Jacques Demers.

As many of the WHA players had their rights held by NHL teams, those NHL teams were allowed to reclaim their players. In order to keep the NHL from taking all the talent from the WHA-turned-NHL teams, each incoming franchise was allowed to protect up to two goaltenders and two skaters. These were designated as "priority selections" in the 1979 NHL expansion draft. The Nordiques made a deal with the Chicago Black Hawks, in which Quebec would keep Réal Cloutier in exchange for the Nordiques first round draft pick in the 1980 NHL entry draft. Quebec made a deal with the Montreal Canadiens in which Montreal selected Dan Geoffrion and Alain Cote from the Nordiques, rather than Marc Tardif and Richard David. In exchange for this, the Nordiques relinquished a third round pick in the 1980 NHL entry draft, a second round pick in the 1981 NHL entry draft, and that the Nordiques would draft Alain Cote from the Canadiens at the 1979 NHL expansion draft.

On June 28, 1979, the Nordiques acquired Jamie Hislop from the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Barry Legge. Hislop played with the Cincinnati Stingers in the 1978–79, as he scored 30 goals and 70 points in 80 games.

The Nordiques acquired goaltender Goran Hogosta from the New York Islanders for goaltender Richard Brodeur. Hogosta played the 1978–79 season with the Fort Worth Texans, earning a record of 25–29–4 with a 3.51 GAA and a .877 save percentage. Brodeur had been with the Nordiques during their entire existence in the WHA. In 1978–79, Brodeur had a 25–13–3 record with a 3.11 GAA and a .901 save percentage with Quebec.

At the 1979 NHL entry draft held on August 9, the Nordiques selected Michel Goulet from the Birmingham Bulls of the World Hockey Association in the first round, 20th overall. In 78 games with the Bulls during the 1978–79, Goulet scored 28 goals and 58 points. In the second round, Quebec selected Dale Hunter from the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League. Hunter scored 34 goals and 85 points in 61 games during the 1978–79 season. In the fourth round, the Nordiques selected Anton Stastny from Slovan ChZJD Bratislava of the Czechoslovak First Ice Hockey League. Stastny scored 32 goals and 51 points in 44 games during the 1978–79 season.

Quebec signed free agent Robbie Ftorek on August 13, who played the 1978–79 season with the Cincinnati Stingers of the World Hockey Association. Ftorek finished second in WHA scoring with 39 goals and 77 assists to earn 116 points in 80 games. Ftorek has previous NHL experience, as in 15 games with the Detroit Red Wings from 1972 to 1974, Ftorek scored two goals and seven points.

Regular season

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Quebec played in their first ever NHL game on October 10, 1979, at Le Colisée in Quebec City, as the Nordiques lost 5–3 to the Atlanta Flames. The Nords won their first ever NHL game in their third game, defeating the Colorado Rockies 5–2 in Denver, Colorado. During the first half of the season, the Nordiques were very competitive, earning a 17–17–6 record as they held on to a playoff position, however, wins were few and far between in the second half of the year, as Quebec fell into last place, and finished the year 25–44–11, earning 61 points, and missing the post-season.

Offensively, the Nordiques were led by Real Cloutier, who in his first NHL season, had a team best 42 goals and 47 assists for 89 points. Real Cloutier scored three goals in his National League Debut.[2] Marc Tardif had a solid season, scoring 33 goals and 68 points, while the Nordiques first round draft pick, Michel Goulet, had 22 goals and 54 points to finish in third in team scoring. On the blue line, Dale Hoganson led the way, earning 40 points, while Pierre Lacroix scored 9 goals and 30 points. Paul Baxter led the club with 145 penalty minutes.

In goal, Michel Dion saw most of the action, appearing in 50 games, earning a team high 15 victories and a 3.70 GAA, as well as two shutouts.

Season standings

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Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Buffalo Sabres 80 47 17 16 318 201 110
Boston Bruins 80 46 21 13 310 234 105
Minnesota North Stars 80 36 28 16 311 253 88
Toronto Maple Leafs 80 35 40 5 304 327 75
Quebec Nordiques 80 25 44 11 248 313 61

[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.

League standings[4]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 p – Philadelphia Flyers PTK 80 48 12 20 327 254 116
2 y – Buffalo Sabres ADM 80 47 17 16 318 201 110
3 x – Montreal Canadiens NRS 80 47 20 13 328 240 107
4 Boston Bruins ADM 80 46 21 13 310 234 105
5 New York Islanders PTK 80 39 28 13 281 247 91
6 Minnesota North Stars ADM 80 36 28 16 311 253 88
7 x – Chicago Black Hawks SMY 80 34 27 19 241 250 87
8 New York Rangers PTK 80 38 32 10 308 284 86
9 Atlanta Flames PTK 80 35 32 13 282 269 83
10 St. Louis Blues SMY 80 34 34 12 266 278 80
11 Toronto Maple Leafs ADM 80 35 40 5 304 327 75
12 Los Angeles Kings NRS 80 30 36 14 290 313 74
13 Pittsburgh Penguins NRS 80 30 37 13 251 303 73
14 Hartford Whalers NRS 80 27 34 19 303 312 73
15 Vancouver Canucks SMY 80 27 37 16 256 281 70
16 Edmonton Oilers SMY 80 28 39 13 301 322 69
17 Washington Capitals PTK 80 27 40 13 261 293 67
18 Detroit Red Wings NRS 80 26 43 11 268 306 63
19 Quebec Nordiques ADM 80 25 44 11 248 313 61
20 Winnipeg Jets SMY 80 20 49 11 214 314 51
21 Colorado Rockies SMY 80 19 48 13 234 308 51

Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe

bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.
x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

Record vs. opponents

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Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

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Vs. Campbell Conference

[edit]


Schedule and results

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# Date Visitor Score Home Record Pts Attendance
1 October 10 Atlanta Flames 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 0–1–0 0 10,350
2 October 13 Quebec Nordiques 1–3 Montreal Canadiens 0–2–0 0 17,049
3 October 18 Quebec Nordiques 5–2 Colorado Rockies 1–2–0 2 6,389
4 October 19 Quebec Nordiques 3–6 Edmonton Oilers 1–3–0 2 15,386
5 October 21 Quebec Nordiques 3–0 Chicago Black Hawks 2–3–0 4 9,893
6 October 24 Hartford Whalers 2–2 Quebec Nordiques 2–3–1 5 10,445
7 October 27 Buffalo Sabres 3–0 Quebec Nordiques 2–4–1 5 10,896
8 October 28 Montreal Canadiens 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 3–4–1 7 11,908
9 October 31 Winnipeg Jets 5–2 Quebec Nordiques 3–5–1 7 10,430
10 November 2 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Atlanta Flames 3–5–2 8 11,356
11 November 4 Detroit Red Wings 1–5 Quebec Nordiques 4–5–2 10 10,795
12 November 7 Philadelphia Flyers 4–3 Quebec Nordiques 4–6–2 10 11,899
13 November 10 Quebec Nordiques 4–5 New York Rangers 4–7–2 10 17,417
14 November 11 St. Louis Blues 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 5–7–2 12 10,260
15 November 14 Quebec Nordiques 2–7 Minnesota North Stars 5–8–2 12 10,955
16 November 16 Quebec Nordiques 3–2 Winnipeg Jets 6–8–2 14 12,401
17 November 18 Toronto Maple Leafs 2–4 Quebec Nordiques 7–8–2 16 10,577
18 November 20 Boston Bruins 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 7–9–2 16 11,897
19 November 22 Quebec Nordiques 4–7 Boston Bruins 7–10–2 16 11,699
20 November 24 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Hartford Whalers 7–10–3 17 7,627
21 November 25 Washington Capitals 2–2 Quebec Nordiques 7–10–4 18 10,643
22 November 27 Quebec Nordiques 2–4 St. Louis Blues 7–11–4 18 8,360
23 November 28 Quebec Nordiques 2–7 Pittsburgh Penguins 7–12–4 18 8,396
24 December 1 Quebec Nordiques 2–7 Washington Capitals 7–13–4 18 6,892
25 December 2 Vancouver Canucks 1–3 Quebec Nordiques 8–13-4 20 10,567
26 December 4 Colorado Rockies 3–1 Quebec Nordiques 8–14–4 20 10,299
27 December 6 St. Louis Blues 2–5 Quebec Nordiques 9–14–4 22 10,347
28 December 9 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 10–14–4 24 11,168
29 December 12 Winnipeg Jets 0–5 Quebec Nordiques 11–14–4 26 10,326
30 December 13 Quebec Nordiques 4–6 Philadelphia Flyers 11–15–4 26 17,007
31 December 15 Quebec Nordiques 4–4 Detroit Red Wings 11–15–5 27 15,609
32 December 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 1–4 Quebec Nordiques 12–15–5 29 10,279
33 December 19 Colorado Rockies 3–6 Quebec Nordiques 13–15–5 31 10,806
34 December 23 Quebec Nordiques 3–1 Buffalo Sabres 14–15–5 33 16,433
35 December 27 Quebec Nordiques 0–3 Los Angeles Kings 14–16–5 33 9,978
36 December 29 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Vancouver Canucks 14–17–5 33 13,615
37 December 30 Quebec Nordiques 2–1 Edmonton Oilers 15–17–5 35 15,423
38 January 2 New York Rangers 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 15–17–6 36 11,898
39 January 5 Quebec Nordiques 7–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 16–17–6 38 16,485
40 January 9 Edmonton Oilers 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 17–17–6 40 10,480
41 January 11 Quebec Nordiques 3–4 Atlanta Flames 17–18–6 40 9,246
42 January 12 Quebec Nordiques 2–8 St. Louis Blues 17–19–6 40 15,110
43 January 16 Boston Bruins 3–1 Quebec Nordiques 17–20–6 40 11,899
44 January 19 Quebec Nordiques 1–3 New York Islanders 17–21–6 40 14,995
45 January 20 Washington Capitals 2–3 Quebec Nordiques 18–21–6 42 10,097
46 January 23 Minnesota North Stars 4–6 Quebec Nordiques 19-21–6 44 10,710
47 January 26 Quebec Nordiques 1–1 Washington Capitals 19–21–7 45 9,479
48 January 27 Detroit Red Wings 7–6 Quebec Nordiques 19–22–7 45 10,765
49 January 30 Atlanta Flames 4–1 Quebec Nordiques 19–23–7 45 10,776
50 February 2 Quebec Nordiques 2–7 Boston Bruins 19–24–7 45 12,298
51 February 3 New York Rangers 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 20–24–7 47 11,075
52 February 6 Chicago Black Hawks 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 20–24–8 48 11,073
53 February 9 Quebec Nordiques 0–5 New York Islanders 20–25–8 48 14,995
54 February 10 Quebec Nordiques 1–3 New York Rangers 20–26–8 48 17,415
55 February 14 Quebec Nordiques 1–5 Montreal Canadiens 20–27–8 48 16,970
56 February 17 Quebec Nordiques 5–6 Winnipeg Jets 20–28–8 48 12,328
57 February 18 Quebec Nordiques 2–6 Minnesota North Stars 20–29–8 48 8,283
58 February 19 Buffalo Sabres 3–1 Quebec Nordiques 20–30–8 48 10,722
59 February 23 Quebec Nordiques 1–2 Pittsburgh Penguins 20–31–8 48 14,116
60 February 24 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2 Quebec Nordiques 21–31–8 50 10,227
61 February 26 Hartford Whalers 5–9 Quebec Nordiques 22–31–8 52 10,099
62 February 27 New York Islanders 5–3 Quebec Nordiques 22–32–8 52 10,619
63 March 2 Los Angeles Kings 4–3 Quebec Nordiques 22–33–8 52 10,777
64 March 5 Minnesota North Stars 3-3 Quebec Nordiques 22–33–9 53 10,193
65 March 8 Quebec Nordiques 2–3 Toronto Maple Leafs 22–34–9 53 16,485
66 March 9 Toronto Maple Leafs 4–5 Quebec Nordiques 23–34-9 55 10,241
67 March 12 Edmonton Oilers 6–3 Quebec Nordiques 23–35–9 55 10,619
68 March 16 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 Quebec Nordiques 23–36–9 55 10,699
69 March 19 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Chicago Black Hawks 23–37–9 55 10,035
70 March 20 Quebec Nordiques 6–2 Colorado Rockies 24–37–9 57 8,732
71 March 22 Quebec Nordiques 1-4 Los Angeles Kings 24–38-9 57 10,635
72 March 23 Quebec Nordiques 6–2 Vancouver Canucks 25–38–9 59 13,620
73 March 26 Chicago Black Hawks 7–2 Quebec Nordiques 25–39–9 59 10,718
74 March 27 Quebec Nordiques 2–5 Philadelphia Flyers 25–40–9 59 17,077
75 March 29 Quebec Nordiques 7–9 Detroit Red Wings 25–41–9 59 16,485
76 March 30 New York Islanders 9–6 Quebec Nordiques 25–42–9 59 10,412
77 April 1 Philadelphia Flyers 3–3 Quebec Nordiques 25–42–10 60 10,706
78 April 3 Quebec Nordiques 3–8 Buffalo Sabres 25–43–10 60 16,433
79 April 4 Quebec Nordiques 2–9 Hartford Whalers 25–44–10 60 14,356
80 April 6 Montreal Canadiens 4–4 Quebec Nordiques 25–44–11 61 11,005

Player statistics

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Scoring leaders

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Player GP G A Pts PIM
Réal Cloutier 67 42 47 89 12
Marc Tardif 58 33 35 68 30
Michel Goulet 77 22 32 54 48
Robbie Ftorek 52 18 33 51 28
Rich Leduc 75 21 27 48 49

Goaltending

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Player GP Min W L T GA SO GAA
Michel Dion 50 2773 15 25 6 171 2 3.70
Ron Low 15 828 5 7 2 51 0 3.70
Goran Hogosta 21 1199 5 12 3 83 1 4.15
Note:
Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

1979 NHL expansion draft

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The Nordiques participated in the 1979 NHL expansion draft, which was held on June 13, 1979.[6]

Quebec Nordiques selections

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# Player Drafted from
1. Dave Farrish (D) New York Rangers
2. Gerry Hart (D) New York Islanders
3. Ron Low (G) Detroit Red Wings
4. Pierre Plante (RW) New York Rangers
5. Blair Stewart (F) Washington Capitals
6. John Baby (D) Minnesota North Stars
7. John Smrke (LW) St. Louis Blues
8. Dave Parro (G) Boston Bruins
9. Ken Kuzyk (RW) Minnesota North Stars
10. Roland Cloutier (C) Detroit Red Wings
11. Terry Martin (F) Buffalo Sabres
12. Jamie Masters (D) St. Louis Blues
13. Hartland Monahan (F) Los Angeles Kings
14. Ron Andruff (C) Colorado Rockies
15. Alain Cote (LW) Montreal Canadiens
16. Lars Zetterstrom (D) Vancouver Canucks

Draft picks

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Quebec's draft picks from the 1979 NHL entry draft which was held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, on August 9, 1979.

Round # Player Nationality College/junior/club team (league)
1 20 Michel Goulet  Canada Birmingham Bulls (WHA)
2 41 Dale Hunter  Canada Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)
3 62 Lee Norwood  United States Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)
4 83 Anton Šťastný  Czechoslovakia Slovan Bratislava (Czech.)
5 104 Pierre Lacroix  Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
6 125 Scott McGeown  Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL)

Transactions

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The Nordiques were involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season.

Trades

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June 9, 1979 To Chicago Black Hawks
1st round pick in 1980Denis Savard
To Quebec Nordiques
*Real Cloutier
June 9, 1979 To Montreal Canadiens
3rd round pick in 1980John Newberry
2nd round pick in 1981Lars Eriksson
To Quebec Nordiques
**Marc Tardif
Richard David
June 13, 1979 To St. Louis Blues
Hartland Monahan
To Quebec Nordiques
Cash
June 15, 1979 To Washington Capitals
Dave Parro
To Quebec Nordiques
Nelson Burton
June 28, 1979 To Winnipeg Jets
Barry Melrose
To Quebec Nordiques
Jamie Hislop
Barry Legge
August 1, 1979 To New York Islanders
Richard Brodeur
To Quebec Nordiques
Goran Hogosta
December 13, 1979 To Toronto Maple Leafs
Dave Farrish
Terry Martin
To Quebec Nordiques
Reg Thomas
March 11, 1980 To Edmonton Oilers
Ron Low
To Quebec Nordiques
Ron Chipperfield
May 26, 1980 To Winnipeg Jets
Barry Legge
To Quebec Nordiques
Cash

*Black Hawks promised to not make Réal Cloutier one of its priority selections in the 1979 NHL reclaim draft
**Canadiens promised to not take Danny Geoffrion and Alain Cote rather than Marc Tardif and/or Richard David in the 1979 NHL reclaim draft

Waivers

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August 13, 1979 From Minnesota North Stars
Greg Tebbutt

Free agents

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Player Former Team
Bernie Saunders Kalamazoo Wings (IHL)
Robbie Ftorek Cincinnati Stingers (WHA)
Frantisek Cernik TJ Vitkovice (Czechoslovakia)
Dave Pichette Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Jacques Richard Buffalo Sabres
Miroslav Frycer TJ Vitkovice (Czechoslovakia)
Player New Team
Ken Kuzyk Minnesota North Stars

References

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  1. ^ "National Hockey League 1978-79 Attendance Graph". hockeydb.com.
  2. ^ Sports Illustrated, Oct. 27, 2008, p.24, Vol. 109, No. 16.
  3. ^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. ^ "1979–80 NHL Standings". NHL.com. National Hockey League.
  5. ^ "All-Time NHL Results". NHL.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. ^ Greig, Murray (1997). Big Bucks and Blue Pucks. Macmillan Canada. pp. 216–7. ISBN 978-0771574238.