1978–79 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1978–79 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' 7th and final season in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Oilers finished 1st in the league and lost to the Winnipeg Jets in the Avco World Trophy Finals 4 games to 2.
==Off-season==
==Regular Season==
Nelson Skalbania, the owner of Indianapolis Racers, signed the 17 year old future super-star, Wayne Gretzky to, at that time, a whopping personal contract worth between 1.125 and 1.75 million dollars over 4 to 7 years. Skalbania, knowing that the WHA was fading, felt owning the young star was more valuable than owning a WHA team. Eight games into the season, though, Skalbania needed cash and liquidated his greatest asset to his old friend and former partner, Peter Pocklington, owner of the Oilers. Pocklington purchased Gretzky and two other Indianapolis players, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll paying $700,000 for the contracts of the three players, although the announced price was actually $850,000. On Gretzky's 18th birthday, (January 26, 1979), Pocklington signed him to a 21 year personal services contract worth between 4 and 5 million dollars, the longest in hockey history. Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy for rookie of the year, finish third in league scoring, and help the Oilers to first overall in the league.
===Final Standings===
===Game Log===
Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results	Regular Season Results 	Regular Season Results
No. 	R 	Date 	Score 	Opponent 	Record
1 	W 	October 13, 1978 	3–2 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	1–0–0
2 	L 	October 17, 1978 	1–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	1–1–0
3 	W 	October 20, 1978 	4–3 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	2–1–0
4 	L 	October 21, 1978 	3–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	2–2–0
5 	W 	October 22, 1978 	6–2 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	3–2–0
6 	L 	October 24, 1978 	2–3 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	3–3–0
7 	L 	October 29, 1978 	2–6 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	3–4–0
8 	L 	October 31, 1978 	4–5 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	3–5–0
9 	W 	November 3, 1978 	4–3 OT 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	4–5–0
10 	L 	November 5, 1978 	0–2 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	4–6–0
11 	W 	November 8, 1978 	6–5 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	5–6–0
12 	L 	November 9, 1978 	1–6 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	5–7–0
13 	W 	November 11, 1978 	5–3 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	6–7–0
14 	L 	November 12, 1978 	3–5 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	6–8–0
15 	W 	November 17, 1978 	6–1 	Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 	7–8–0
16 	W 	November 19, 1978 	6–3 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	8–8–0
17 	W 	November 21, 1978 	4–1 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	9–8–0
18 	W 	November 24, 1978 	4–3 OT 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	10–8–0
19 	W 	November 28, 1978 	8–2 	Indianapolis Racers (1978–79) 	11–8–0
20 	W 	December 1, 1978 	8–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	12–8–0
21 	L 	December 3, 1978 	0–7 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	12–9–0
22 	L 	December 6, 1978 	3–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	12–10–0
23 	L 	December 7, 1978 	3–5 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	12–11–0
24 	L 	December 9, 1978 	2–6 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	12–12–0
25 	L 	December 10, 1978 	4–6 	@ Indianapolis Racers (1978–79)	12–13–0
26 	W 	December 12, 1978 	5–2 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	13–13–0
27 	W 	December 15, 1978 	5–3 	Soviet All-Stars (1978–79) 	14–13–0
28 	W 	December 19, 1978 	5–2 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	15–13–0
29 	L 	December 22, 1978 	4–5 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	15–14–0
30 	L 	December 26, 1978 	3–5 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	15–15–0
31 	W 	December 27, 1978 	5–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	16–15–0
32 	W 	December 30, 1978 	5–1 	Czechoslovakia (1978–79) 	17–15–0
33 	L 	January 9, 1979 	3–4 OT 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	17–16–0
34 	W 	January 13, 1979 	3–0 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	18–16–0
35 	W 	January 16, 1979 	3–1 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	19–16–0
36 	W 	January 17, 1979 	6–3 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	20–16–0
37 	W 	January 19, 1979 	11–3 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	21–16–0
38 	L 	January 21, 1979 	3–4 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	21–17–0
39 	W 	January 23, 1979 	5–1 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	22–17–0
40 	L 	January 26, 1979 	2–5 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	22–18–0
41 	W 	January 28, 1979 	3–0 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	23–18–0
42 	L 	January 31, 1979 	3–6 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	23–19–0
43 	L 	February 2, 1979 	2–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	23–20–0
44 	L 	February 4, 1979 	3–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	23–21–0
45 	W 	February 6, 1979 	6–2 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	24–21–0
46 	W 	February 7, 1979 	8–5 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	25–21–0
47 	W 	February 9, 1979 	3–0 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	26–21–0
48 	W 	February 11, 1979 	4–3 OT 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	27–21–0
49 	W 	February 13, 1979 	6–1 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	28–21–0
50 	W 	February 16, 1979 	4–2 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	29–21–0
51 	W 	February 18, 1979 	6–3 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	30–21–0
52 	W 	February 20, 1979 	8–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	31–21–0
53 	W 	February 23, 1979 	3–1 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	32–21–0
54 	W 	February 25, 1979 	5–4 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	33–21–0
55 	T 	February 27, 1979 	1–1 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	33–21–1
56 	W 	March 2, 1979 	5–2 	Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79) 	34–21–1
57 	W 	March 3, 1979 	6–4 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	35–21–1
58 	L 	March 6, 1979 	3–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	35–22–1
59 	L 	March 7, 1979 	3–6 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	35–23–1
60 	T 	March 9, 1979 	4–4 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	35–23–2
61 	W 	March 11, 1979 	4–0 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	36–23–2
62 	L 	March 13, 1979 	1–5 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	36–24–2
63 	W 	March 16, 1979 	6–1 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	37–24–2
64 	L 	March 18, 1979 	2–7 	Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	37–25–2
65 	W 	March 20, 1979 	8–4 	Finland (1978–79) 	38–25–2
66 	W 	March 21, 1979 	7–4 	@ Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	39–25–2
67 	L 	March 23, 1979 	4–6 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	39–26–2
68 	W 	March 25, 1979 	6–5 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	40–26–2
69 	L 	March 28, 1979 	0–3 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	40–27–2
70 	W 	March 30, 1979 	3–1 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	41–27–2
71 	W 	April 1, 1979 	5–3 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	42–27–2
72 	W 	April 3, 1979 	5–1 	@ Cincinnati Stingers (1978–79)	43–27–2
73 	L 	April 4, 1979 	2–4 	@ Quebec Nordiques (1978–79) 	43–28–2
74 	W 	April 6, 1979 	7–2 	New England Whalers (1978–79) 	44–28–2
75 	W 	April 8, 1979 	5–4 	Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	45–28–2
76 	L 	April 10, 1979 	4–6 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	45–29–2
77 	W 	April 13, 1979 	6–4 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	46–29–2
78 	L 	April 14, 1979 	6–7 	@ Birmingham Bulls (1978–79) 	46–30–2
79 	W 	April 15, 1979 	4–1 	@ New England Whalers (1978–79)	47–30–2
80 	W 	April 18, 1979 	9–3 	Winnipeg Jets (1978–79) 	48–30–2
==Playoffs==
===Edmonton Oilers 4, New England Whalers 3===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	April 26	New England	2 – 6	Edmonton 	0–1
2	April 27	New England	5 – 9	Edmonton 	0–2
3	April 29	Edmonton 	1 – 4	New England	2–1
4	May 1 	Edmonton 	4 – 5	New England	2–2
5	May 3 	New England	2 – 5	Edmonton 	2–3
6	May 6 	Edmonton 	8 – 4	New England	3–3
7	May 8 	New England	3 – 6	Edmonton 	3–4
===Winnipeg Jets 4, Edmonton Oilers 2===
#	Date 	Visitor 	Score	Home 	Record
1	May 11	Winnipeg Jets 	3–1 	Edmonton Oilers	1–0
2	May 13	Winnipeg Jets 	3–2 	Edmonton Oilers	2–0
3	May 15	Edmonton Oilers	8–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–2
4	May 16	Edmonton Oilers	2–3 	Winnipeg Jets 	1–3
5	May 18	Winnipeg Jets 	2–10 	Edmonton Oilers	3–2
6	May 20	Edmonton Oilers	3–7 	Winnipeg Jets 	2–4
==Player Stats==
Regular Season	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	+/-	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	72	43	61	104	19 	23 	9 	0 	0
 	RW 	80	34	37	71 	44 	35 	3 	4 	0
 	C 	71	31	39	70 	79 	29 	12 	0 	0
 	C 	55	32	37	69 	47 	25 	6 	0 	0
 	RW 	73	28	36	64 	14 	26 	9 	0 	0
 	C 	74	26	37	63 	31 	24 	6 	1 	0
 	C 	68	31	30	61 	20 	24 	3 	0 	0
 	D 	72	14	33	47 	85 	10 	3 	0 	0
 	D 	80	8 	39	47 	119	37 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	80	6 	38	44 	38 	22 	2 	0 	0
 	C 	73	18	22	40 	50 	15 	4 	3 	0
 	LW 	69	17	23	40 	115	16 	3 	0 	0
 	LW 	72	7 	25	32 	134	7 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	54	8 	23	31 	16 	-5 	2 	1 	0
 	D 	77	6 	21	27 	76 	33 	3 	0 	0
 	LW 	77	10	14	24 	158	-12	2 	0 	0
 	D 	41	2 	15	17 	82 	22 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	29	6 	3 	9 	4 	-9 	1 	0 	0
 	LW 	38	5 	4 	9 	22 	-8 	1 	0 	0
 	G 	63	0 	8 	8 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	20	3 	4 	7 	4 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	17	4 	2 	6 	14 	-3 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	35	0 	5 	5 	18 	5 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	12	1 	1 	2 	8 	-5 	1 	0 	0
 	G 	22	0 	1 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	-4 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	3 	0 	0 	0 	11 	1 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	6 	0 	0 	0 	2 	-2 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Playoffs	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Scoring 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable sortable"	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Player 	Pos	GP	G 	A 	Pts	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG
 	C 	13	10	10	20 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	13	9 	10	19 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	13	8 	10	18 	6 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	13	5 	10	15 	15 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	12	6 	6 	12 	4 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	13	4 	5 	9 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	9 	9 	2 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	11	0 	9 	9 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	10	5 	2 	7 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	C 	13	2 	5 	7 	2 	0 	0 	1
 	LW 	13	1 	6 	7 	8 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	11	4 	2 	6 	29 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	1 	5 	6 	23 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	13	2 	3 	5 	42 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	2 	1 	2 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	C 	11	1 	1 	2 	12 	0 	0 	0
 	RW 	4 	1 	1 	2 	11 	0 	0 	1
 	D 	13	1 	0 	1 	35 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	13	0 	1 	1 	0 	0 	0 	0
 	D 	13	0 	1 	1 	25 	0 	0 	0
 	LW 	2 	0 	0 	0 	4 	0 	0 	0
 	G 	3 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts 
==Awards and Records==
*Gordie Howe Trophy (MVP): Dave Dryden
*Lou Kaplan Trophy (Rookie of the Year): Wayne Gretzky
*Ben Hatskin Trophy (Best Goaltender): Dave Dryden
*Dave Dryden, Goalie, WHA First Team All-Star
*Wayne Gretzky, Center, WHA Second Team All-Star
*Dave Langevin, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star
*Paul Shmyr, Defense, WHA Second Team All-Star
==Transactions==
==Draft Picks==
==Farm Teams==
==Gallery==
1979-McKenzie-Gretzky-Marty.jpg|John McKenzie, Wayne Gretzky, Marty Howe in 1978-79 season action.
78-79WHAEdmontonGameAd.jpg
78-79WHAIntlEdmontonGameAd.jpg
78-79WHAPOEdmontonGameAd.jpg
From http://www.vintageedmonton.com
==Video==
Wayne Gretzky scores the first two goals of his professional career, October 20, 1978.
Wayne Gretzky First Two Pro Goals with the WHA Indy Racers
Game 6 of the 1979 Avco World Trophy Finals, last game in WHA history, May 20, 1979.
1979 Avco Cup - Edmonton Oilers At Winnipeg Jets (WHA)
==See Also==
*1978–79 WHA season
==References==
* 
Edmonton Oilers season, 1978–79
Edmonton Oilers season, 1978–79
Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons