1977–78 Edmonton Oilers season

WHA hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 WHA 1977–78 1977 Edmonton Oilers WHA 5th 38–39–3 24–15–2 14–24–1 309 307 Brian Conacher Glen Sather Paul Shmyr Norm FergusonBill FlettAl Hamilton Northlands Coliseum Bill Flett (41) Ron Chipperfield (52) Ron Chipperfield (85) Al Hamilton (+24) Ron Busniuk (157) Dave Dryden (21) Dave Dryden (3.49) Spokane Flyers (WIHL) The 1977–78 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' sixth season of operation. The Oilers placed fifth to qualify for the playoffs, losing in the first round.2 Regular season Final standings EDM Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#012169 5px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 5px solid; 1977–78 regular season1977-78 Edmonton Oilers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDO/1978_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 21, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 12, 1977||3–7 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||0–1–0 |- |2||W||October 14, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||1–1–0 |- |3||L||October 15, 1977||2–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||1–2–0 |- |4||L||October 19, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1977–78) ||1–3–0 |- |5||L||October 26, 1977||7–8 OT|| align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||1–4–0 |- |6||W||October 28, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||2–4–0 |- |7||L||October 30, 1977||2–5 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||2–5–0 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |8||L||November 2, 1977||3–6 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||2–6–0 |- |9||W||November 4, 1977||3–1 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||3–6–0 |- |10||W||November 6, 1977||7–1 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||4–6–0 |- |11||L||November 8, 1977||3–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||4–7–0 |- |12||L||November 10, 1977||3–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||4–8–0 |- |13||W||November 11, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||5–8–0 |- |14||T||November 12, 1977||1–1 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||5–8–1 |- |15||W||November 16, 1977||6–4 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||6–8–1 |- |16||W||November 18, 1977||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||7–8–1 |- |17||L||November 20, 1977||4–5 OT|| align="left"| New England Whalers (1977–78) ||7–9–1 |- |18||W||November 22, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||8–9–1 |- |19||L||November 24, 1977||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||8–10–1 |- |20||W||November 26, 1977||3–1 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||9–10–1 |- |21||W||November 30, 1977||4–2 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||10–10–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |22||L||December 2, 1977||5–7 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||10–11–1 |- |23||W||December 4, 1977||3–2 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||11–11–1 |- |24||W||December 7, 1977||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||12–11–1 |- |25||L||December 9, 1977||3–5 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||12–12–1 |- |26||L||December 11, 1977||2–4 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||12–13–1 |- |27||W||December 14, 1977||6–1 || align="left"| Czechoslovakia (1977–78) ||13–13–1 |- |28||L||December 18, 1977||2–3 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||13–14–1 |- |29||L||December 20, 1977||4–6 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||13–15–1 |- |30||W||December 21, 1977||5–2 || align="left"| Soviet All-Stars (1977–78) ||14–15–1 |- |31||W||December 27, 1977||9–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||15–15–1 |- |32||W||December 30, 1977||8–5 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||16–15–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |33||L||January 1, 1978||1–2 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||16–16–1 |- |34||L||January 6, 1978||1–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||16–17–1 |- |35||W||January 8, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||17–17–1 |- |36||W||January 11, 1978||2–0 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||18–17–1 |- |37||L||January 13, 1978||0–2 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||18–18–1 |- |38||L||January 14, 1978||4–7 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||18–19–1 |- |39||W||January 15, 1978||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||19–19–1 |- |40||W||January 18, 1978||1–0 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1977–78) ||20–19–1 |- |41||L||January 20, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||20–20–1 |- |42||W||January 21, 1978||3–2 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||21–20–1 |- |43||L||January 22, 1978||2–5 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||21–21–1 |- |44||W||January 25, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||22–21–1 |- |45||W||January 27, 1978||9–6 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||23–21–1 |- |46||L||January 29, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||23–22–1 |- |47||W||January 31, 1978||6–4 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||24–22–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |48||L||February 1, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||24–23–1 |- |49||W||February 3, 1978||6–3 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||25–23–1 |- |50||W||February 4, 1978||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||26–23–1 |- |51||L||February 5, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||26–24–1 |- |52||T||February 8, 1978||6–6 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||26–24–2 |- |53||W||February 12, 1978||7–0 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||27–24–2 |- |54||W||February 14, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||28–24–2 |- |55||L||February 15, 1978||5–6 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||28–25–2 |- |56||W||February 17, 1978||6–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||29–25–2 |- |57||W||February 19, 1978||4–3 OT|| align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||30–25–2 |- |58||L||February 22, 1978||5–6 || align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||30–26–2 |- |59||W||February 24, 1978||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||31–26–2 |- |60||L||February 26, 1978||5–6 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1977–78) ||31–27–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |61||L||March 1, 1978||4–6 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||31–28–2 |- |62||L||March 3, 1978||6–8 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||31–29–2 |- |63||W||March 5, 1978||4–3 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||32–29–2 |- |64||L||March 7, 1978||3–4 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||32–30–2 |- |65||L||March 9, 1978||5–6 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||32–31–2 |- |66||L||March 11, 1978||0–2 || align="left"| @ Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||32–32–2 |- |67||L||March 14, 1978||3–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||32–33–2 |- |68||L||March 15, 1978||4–8 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||32–34–2 |- |69||W||March 17, 1978||6–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||33–34–2 |- |70||W||March 19, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Cincinnati Stingers (1977–78) ||34–34–2 |- |71||L||March 22, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||34–35–2 |- |72||W||March 24, 1978||4–0 || align="left"| Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||35–35–2 |- |73||L||March 26, 1978||3–5 || align="left"| @ New England Whalers (1977–78) ||35–36–2 |- |74||W||March 28, 1978||4–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||36–36–2 |- |75||L||March 30, 1978||1–5 || align="left"| @ Houston Aeros (1977–78) ||36–37–2 |- |76||L||March 31, 1978||2–5 || align="left"| @ Birmingham Bulls (1977–78) ||36–38–2 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |77||W||April 1, 1978||4–1 || align="left"| @ Indianapolis Racers (1977–78) ||37–38–2 |- |78||L||April 4, 1978||1–9 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1977–78) ||37–39–2 |- |79||T||April 5, 1978||4–4 || align="left"| New England Whalers (1977–78) ||37–39–3 |- |80||W||April 7, 1978||4–2 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1977–78) ||38–39–3 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#012169 5px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 5px solid; 1978 Avco Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#012169 2px solid; border-bottom:#FF6720 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. (2) New England Whalers – Whalers win 4–1 Game Date Visitor Score Home Series |- | 1 || April 14 || Edmonton || 4–6 || New England ||0–1 |- | 2 || April 16 || Edmonton || 1–4 || New England || 0–2 |- | 3 || April 19 || New England || 0–2 || Edmonton || 1–2 |- | 4 || April 21 || New England || 9–1 || Edmonton || 1–3 |- | 5 || April 23 || Edmonton || 1–4 || New England || 1–4 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Ron Chipperfield C 80 33 52 85 4811110 Bill Flett RW 74 41 28 69 349810 Blair MacDonald RW 80 34 34 68 11−12740 Mike Zuke C 71 23 34 57 471230 Al Hamilton D 59 11 43 54 4624600 Brett Callighen C 80 20 30 50 1125100 Paul Shmyr D 80 9 40 49 100−9300 Joe Micheletti D 56 14 34 48 568300 Norm Ferguson Norm Ferguson (ice hockey) RW 71 26 21 47 214800 Juha Widing C 71 18 24 42 810010 Pierre Guite LW 60 12 21 33 71−7200 Randy Rota C/LW 53 8 22 30 1211000 Dave Langevin D 62 6 22 28 9011100 Bryan Campbell C 53 7 13 20 12−17200 Ron Busniuk RW 59 2 18 20 157−8000 Ab DeMarco Ab DeMarco Jr. D 47 6 8 14 20−7300 Pierre Jarry LW 18 4 10 14 4−1000 Gary MacGregor C 37 11 2 13 29−2200 Dave Semenko LW 65 6 6 12 140−4000 Dennis Sobchuk C 13 6 3 9 4−4100 Don McLeod G 33 0 8 8 20000 Ken Baird D 6 2 4 6 20000 Warren Miller Warren Miller (ice hockey) RW 18 2 4 6 181000 Ray McKay D 14 1 4 5 43000 Butch Deadmarsh LW 20 1 3 4 32−1000 Jerry Holland Jerry Holland (ice hockey) LW 22 2 1 3 14−1100 Cal Sandbeck D 11 1 2 3 391100 Jim Troy Jim Troy (ice hockey) RW 47 2 0 2 124−11000 Rick Morris Rick Morris (ice hockey) LW 5 1 1 2 7−7010 Craig Topolnisky D 10 0 2 2 4−1000 Dave Dryden G 48 0 1 1 00000 Dave Inkpen D 19 0 1 1 16−6000 Owen Lloyd D 3 0 1 1 4−1000 Gerry Pinder LW 5 0 1 1 0−1000 Kevin Primeau RW 7 0 1 1 2−1000 Chris Ahrens Chris Ahrens (ice hockey) D 4 0 0 0 15−5000 Ken Broderick G 9 0 0 0 00000 Jim Cross Jim Cross (ice hockey, born 1957) LW 2 0 0 0 0−3000 Bob Falkenberg D 2 0 0 0 0−1000 Del Hall C 1 0 0 0 00000 Dale McMullin LW 1 0 0 0 00000 Frank Turnbull G 1 0 0 0 00000Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO Dave Dryden 2578 48 21 23 2 150 3.49 2 Don McLeod 1723 33 15 10 1 102 3.55 2 Ken Broderick 497 9 2 5 0 42 5.07 0 Frank Turnbull 60 1 0 1 0 6 6.00 0 Team: 4858 80 38 39 3 300 3.71 4 Playoffs Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG Mike Zuke C 5 2 3 5 0000 Paul Shmyr D 5 1 3 4 11000 Ron Chipperfield C 5 1 1 2 0000 Pierre Guite LW 5 1 1 2 20001 Blair MacDonald RW 5 1 1 2 0000 Randy Rota C/LW 5 1 1 2 4000 Brett Callighen C 5 0 2 2 16000 Dave Langevin D 5 0 2 2 10000 Joe Micheletti D 5 0 2 2 4000 Pierre Jarry LW 5 1 0 1 4000 Dennis Sobchuk C 5 1 0 1 4000 Ray McKay D 4 0 1 1 4000 Juha Widing C 5 0 1 1 0000 Ron Busniuk RW 5 0 0 0 18000 Ab DeMarco D 1 0 0 0 0000 Dave Dryden G 2 0 0 0 0000 Norm Ferguson Norm Ferguson (ice hockey) RW 5 0 0 0 0000 Don McLeod G 4 0 0 0 0000 Kevin Primeau RW 2 0 0 0 2000 Cal Sandbeck D 5 0 0 0 10000 Dave Semenko LW 5 0 0 0 8000 Jim Troy Jim Troy (ice hockey) RW 2 0 0 0 0000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LGAGAA SO Don McLeod 207 4 1 3 16 4.64 1 Dave Dryden 91 2 0 1 6 3.96 0 Team: 298 5 1 4 22 4.43 1 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-29 1977-78 Edmonton Oilers Statistics – Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/EDO/1978.html 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; Transactions Trades Date To Edmonton Oilers Traded to Traded for June 1977 Jim Troy New England Whalers Brett Callighen 1977 6 16 Dave DrydenBrett Callighen1st-round pick in 1977 - Ron Areshenkoff4th-round pick in 1977 - Dan Clark New England Whalers Jean-Louis Levasseur 1977 9 9 Blair MacDonaldDave InkpenMike Zuke Indianapolis Racers Barry WilkinsEd PatenaudeClaude St. SauveurKevin Devine1977 9 19 Jeff JacquesLou Nistico Birmingham Bulls Chris EvansPete LaframboiseDanny Arndt Future considerations Indianapolis Racers Kevin MorrisonBill PrenticeBob Russell Don TannahillPeter Donnelly Quebec Nordiques Future considerations 1977 10 16 Dave Semenko Houston Aeros Future considerations 1977 11 25 Pierre GuitéDon McLeod Quebec Nordiques Dave InkpenRick MorrisWarren MillerKen Broderick 1977 12 16 Dennis SobchukDel Hall Cincinnati Stingers Butch DeadmarshDave DebolFuture considerationsCash 1978 3 3 Pierre JarryChris Ahrens Minnesota North Stars (NHL) Future considerations Players acquired Date Player Former team Term1977 8 25 Doug Berry Calgary Cowboys Ron Chipperfield Chris Evans Don Micheletti Joe Micheletti Warren Miller Perry Schnarr Steve Stoyanovich Kevin Devine San Diego Mariners Norm Ferguson Randy Legge Kevin Morrison Paul Shmyr 1977 9 9 Butch Deadmarsh Calgary Cowboys 1977 9 14 Jerry Holland New York Rangers (NHL) Gary MacGregor Indianapolis Racers 1977 9 16 Juha Widing Cleveland Crusaders 2-year October 1977 Bob Falkenberg San Diego Mariners 1977 10 12 Ken Baird Calgary Cowboys Frank Turnbull Spokane Flyers (WIHL) 1978 2 19 Gerry Pinder San Diego Mariners 1978 3 1 Dale McMullin Spokane Flyers (WIHL) Craig Topolnisky 1978 3 5 Kevin Primeau Alberta Golden Bears (CWUAA) 1978 3 7 Jim Cross St. Albert Saints (AJHL) 1978 3 12 Ray McKay Birmingham Bulls Players lost Date Player New team Doug Barrie Retired Randy Legge Bill Prentice Indianapolis Racers Tom Simpson Broome Dusters (AHL) July 1977 Bobby Sheehan Indianapolis Racers November 1977 Frank Beaton Birmingham Bulls 1977 11 1 Ken Baird Released 1977 11 6 Lou Nistico Colorado Rockies (NHL) 1977 11 15 Gavin Kirk Birmingham BullsDecember 1977 Ken Baird Winnipeg Jets Del Hall Retired Paul Stewart Cincinnati Stingers 1978 3 1 Robin Sadler Nova Scotia Voyageurs (AHL) Signings Date Player Term 1977 6 20 Robin Sadler 2-year1977 9 6 Norm Ferguson Paul Shmyr 1977 9 13 Dave Dryden 1977 9 21 Ron Busniuk 1-year Al Hamilton 1-year 1977 10 10 Warren Miller 1-year 1977 10 12 Ken Baird 1977 10 23 Dave Semenko 2-year 1977 12 2 Ab DeMarco 1-year 1978 1 5 Jim Troy 1978 3 18 Cal Sandbeck 2-year 1978 3 20 Owen Lloyd Draft picks Edmonton's draft picks at the 1977 WHA Amateur Draft.http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/wha1977a.html 1977 WHA Amateur Draft hockeyDB.com December 18, 2018 Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)14Mike Crombeen (F)CanadaKingston Canadians (OHA)111Ron AreshenkoffMatheson Jim 17 June 1977 https://edmontonjournal.newspapers.com/image/471305610/ Dryden, Oilers reunited in odd fashion Edmonton Journal 22 February 2024 Edmonton s (C)CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)324Kim Davis (C)CanadaFlin Flon Bombers (WCHL)433Neil LaBatte (D)CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHA)434Dan Clark (D)CanadaKamloops Chiefs (WCHL)542Rocky Saganiuk (RW)CanadaLethbridge Broncos (WCHL)651Julian Baretta (G)United StatesUniversity of Wisconsin (WCHA)760Dave Hoyda (LW)CanadaPortland Winter Hawks (WCHL)869Ray Creasy (F)CanadaNew Westminster Bruins (WCHL)977Guy Lash (RW)CanadaWinnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)1085Owen Lloyd (D)CanadaMedicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) See also 1977–78 WHA season References Ed Ed Category:Edmonton Oilers seasons Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers Category:1970s in Edmonton