# 1978–79 Minnesota North Stars season

The 1978–79 Minnesota North Stars season was the team's 12th season in the NHL. In the off season, the North Stars were on the verge of folding, and were merged with the Cleveland Barons, another team on the brink of collapse. The merged franchise continued as the Minnesota North Stars, with the old logo and colors. The changes for the franchise were new ownership and new management. Former Cleveland Barons General Manager Harry Howell assumed the coaching duties from Lou Nanne, who was named general manager. Former Barons owner George Gund III became a co-owner of the North Stars. Howell's tenure as head coach would last just eleven games before he was replaced by Glen Sonmor.
While the merger allowed the North Stars to ice a stronger team, it also saw the North Stars take the Barons' place in the tough Adams Division. The North Stars finished with 68 points, which was a substantial improvement over either the Barons' or North Stars' performance the previous season. Had the North Stars still been in the Smythe Division, that would have been good enough for second place and a playoff berth, but it was not enough to lift the team out of last place in the Adams. Minnesota missed the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years. One of the highlights was Bobby Smith winning the Calder Trophy.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team (League) |
| 1 | 1 | Bobby Smith | Center | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 19 | Steve Payne | Left wing | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
| 2 | 24 | Steve Christoff | Center | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 4 | 54 | Curt Giles | Defense | Canada | University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) |
| 5 | 70 | Roy Kerling | Left wing | Canada | Cornell University (ECAC) |
| 6 | 87 | Bob Bergloff | Defense | United States | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 7 | 104 | Kim Spencer | Defense | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WCHL) |
| 8 | 121 | Mike Cotter | Defense | Canada | Bowling Green University (CCHA) |
| 9 | 138 | Brent Gogol | Right wing | Canada | Billings Bighorns (WCHL) |
| 10 | 155 | Mike Seide | Left wing | United States | Bloomington Junior Stars (USHL) |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 43 | 23 | 14 | 316 | 270 | 100 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 280 | 263 | 88 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 34 | 33 | 13 | 267 | 252 | 81 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 28 | 40 | 12 | 257 | 289 | 68 |
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, GF = Goals For, GA = Goals Against, Pts = Points
 Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

### Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
TOR
Total
Boston
—4−3−15−0−35−1−214−4−6
Buffalo
3−4−1—5−2−14−3−112−9−3
Minnesota
0−5−32−5−1—2−4−24−14−6
Toronto
1−5−23−4−14−2−2—8−11−5
Vs. Norris Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
DET
LAK
MTL
PIT
WSH
Total
Boston
3−11−30−2−21−2−13−0−18−8−4
Buffalo
3−12−1−10−40−2−23−0−18−8−4
Minnesota
2−1−11−31−31−32−27−12−1
Toronto
2−24−00−3−13−11−1−210−7−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
Total
Boston
3−11−2−23−21−3−18−8−3
Buffalo
2−2−12−1−11−2−10−3−25−8−5
Minnesota
2−1−11−32−1−12−27−7−2
Toronto
1−41−32−2−12−2−16−11−2
Vs. Smythe Division
1978–79 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
STL
VAN
Total
Boston
3−1−13−13−14−013−3−1
Buffalo
2−2−13−0−13−0−13−1−111−3−4
Minnesota
2−22−3−12−1−14−1−110−7−3
Toronto
1−2−12−1−14−03−1−110−4−3 :

## Game log

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 11, 1978 | 2–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 14, 1978 | 2–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | W | October 18, 1978 | 7–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 1–2–0 |
| 4 | L | October 19, 1978 | 2–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 1–3–0 |
| 5 | T | October 21, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 1–3–1 |
| 6 | T | October 25, 1978 | 2–2 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 1–3–2 |
| 7 | L | October 28, 1978 | 0–1 | Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 1–4–2 |
| 8 | W | November 1, 1978 | 9–1 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 2–4–2 |
| 9 | W | November 4, 1978 | 2–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 3–4–2 |
| 10 | L | November 5, 1978 | 1–2 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 3–5–2 |
| 11 | L | November 7, 1978 | 2–5 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 3–6–2 |
| 12 | W | November 8, 1978 | 5–3 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 4–6–2 |
| 13 | W | November 10, 1978 | 3–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 5–6–2 |
| 14 | L | November 11, 1978 | 1–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 5–7–2 |
| 15 | L | November 15, 1978 | 2–3 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 5–8–2 |
| 16 | L | November 18, 1978 | 2–7 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 5–9–2 |
| 17 | L | November 19, 1978 | 2–9 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 5–10–2 |
| 18 | L | November 22, 1978 | 1–4 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 5–11–2 |
| 19 | L | November 24, 1978 | 3–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 5–12–2 |
| 20 | L | November 25, 1978 | 1–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 5–13–2 |
| 21 | L | November 29, 1978 | 3–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 5–14–2 |
| 22 | W | December 1, 1978 | 4–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 6–14–2 |
| 23 | W | December 2, 1978 | 5–3 | Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 7–14–2 |
| 24 | W | December 6, 1978 | 4–0 | Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 8–14–2 |
| 25 | W | December 9, 1978 | 3–0 | Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 9–14–2 |
| 26 | T | December 10, 1978 | 4–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 9–14–3 |
| 27 | L | December 13, 1978 | 2–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 9–15–3 |
| 28 | W | December 15, 1978 | 6–1 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 10–15–3 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1978 | 2–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 10–16–3 |
| 30 | W | December 19, 1978 | 5–3 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 11–16–3 |
| 31 | L | December 20, 1978 | 2–4 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 11–17–3 |
| 32 | W | December 23, 1978 | 5–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 12–17–3 |
| 33 | W | December 26, 1978 | 6–4 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 13–17–3 |
| 34 | W | December 27, 1978 | 6–1 | Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 14–17–3 |
| 35 | L | December 30, 1978 | 2–7 | @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 14–18–3 |
| 36 | T | January 3, 1979 | 3–3 | St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 14–18–4 |
| 37 | L | January 6, 1979 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 14–19–4 |
| 38 | L | January 8, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 14–20–4 |
| 39 | T | January 10, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 14–20–5 |
| 40 | L | January 11, 1979 | 4–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 14–21–5 |
| 41 | W | January 13, 1979 | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 15–21–5 |
| 42 | W | January 15, 1979 | 8–1 | @ New York Rangers (1978–79) | 16–21–5 |
| 43 | L | January 16, 1979 | 0–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 16–22–5 |
| 44 | L | January 19, 1979 | 3–5 | @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 16–23–5 |
| 45 | T | January 20, 1979 | 3–3 | Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 16–23–6 |
| 46 | T | January 24, 1979 | 2–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 16–23–7 |
| 47 | W | January 27, 1979 | 3–1 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 17–23–7 |
| 48 | W | January 28, 1979 | 3–1 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 18–23–7 |
| 49 | W | January 30, 1979 | 5–4 | @ New York Islanders (1978–79) | 19–23–7 |
| 50 | W | February 1, 1979 | 6–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 20–23–7 |
| 51 | L | February 3, 1979 | 1–2 | Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 20–24–7 |
| 52 | W | February 4, 1979 | 6–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 21–24–7 |
| 53 | W | February 14, 1979 | 8–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 22–24–7 |
| 54 | L | February 15, 1979 | 5–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 22–25–7 |
| 55 | T | February 17, 1979 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 22–25–8 |
| 56 | L | February 18, 1979 | 2–3 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 22–26–8 |
| 57 | W | February 21, 1979 | 5–1 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 23–26–8 |
| 58 | T | February 23, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 23–26–9 |
| 59 | L | February 24, 1979 | 3–6 | Atlanta Flames (1978–79) | 23–27–9 |
| 60 | T | February 28, 1979 | 4–4 | New York Rangers (1978–79) | 23–27–10 |
| 61 | T | March 1, 1979 | 5–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1978–79) | 23–27–11 |
| 62 | L | March 3, 1979 | 0–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 23–28–11 |
| 63 | L | March 4, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1978–79) | 23–29–11 |
| 64 | W | March 7, 1979 | 5–1 | Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 24–29–11 |
| 65 | L | March 10, 1979 | 3–4 | Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 24–30–11 |
| 66 | L | March 11, 1979 | 2–8 | @ St. Louis Blues (1978–79) | 24–31–11 |
| 67 | W | March 14, 1979 | 4–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1978–79) | 25–31–11 |
| 68 | L | March 17, 1979 | 4–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 25–32–11 |
| 69 | L | March 18, 1979 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (1978–79) | 25–33–11 |
| 70 | W | March 21, 1979 | 7–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1978–79) | 26–33–11 |
| 71 | W | March 24, 1979 | 3–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1978–79) | 27–33–11 |
| 72 | L | March 25, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 27–34–11 |
| 73 | L | March 27, 1979 | 1–5 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1978–79) | 27–35–11 |
| 74 | L | March 29, 1979 | 4–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1978–79) | 27–36–11 |
| 75 | L | March 31, 1979 | 2–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1978–79) | 27–37–11 |
| 76 | L | April 1, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1978–79) | 27–38–11 |
| 77 | W | April 3, 1979 | 4–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 28–38–11 |
| 78 | L | April 4, 1979 | 1–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1978–79) | 28–39–11 |
| 79 | T | April 6, 1979 | 2–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1978–79) | 28–39–12 |
| 80 | L | April 7, 1979 | 1–7 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1978–79) | 28–40–12 |

## Player statistics
### Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes
| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | +/- | PIM |
| Bobby Smith | 80 | 30 | 44 | 74 | -8 | 39 |

### Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | OT | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |