1979–80 Quebec Nordiques season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2020 NHL 1979–80 1979 Quebec Nordiques Adams 5th Wales 10th 25–44–11 17–16–7 8–28–4 248 313 Maurice Filion Jacques Demers Marc Tardif Colisée de Québec 10,742 https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph_season.php?lid=NHL1927&sid=1979 National Hockey League 1978-79 Attendance Graph hockeydb.com Syracuse Firebirds (AHL) Real Cloutier (42) Real Cloutier (47) Real Cloutier (89) Robbie Ftorek (+6) Paul Baxter (145) Michel Dion (15) Michel 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 (NHL). 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. 2 Off-season 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 right 10px Adams Division teams 800 330 190 275 400 North America 1000 North America 42.37 -71.06 Black pog.svg 80 right Boston #ffe North America 42.88 -78.88 Black pog.svg 80 right Buffalo #ffe North America 44.86 -93.24 Black pog.svg 80 left Minnesota #ffe North America 46.83 -71.25 Black pog.svg 80 right Quebec #ffe North America 43.66 -79.38 Black pog.svg 80 left Toronto #ffe 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.Sports Illustrated, Oct. 27, 2008, p.24, Vol. 109, No. 16. 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 QUE QUE Record vs. opponents QUE Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1979–80 regular season1979-80 Quebec Nordiques Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/QUE/1980_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 19, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; October Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points 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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; November Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; December Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; January Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; February Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; March Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0072CE 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; April Game Date Visitor Score Home Record Points Attendance |- |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 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMRéal Cloutier 67 42 47 89 12Marc Tardif 58 33 35 68 30Michel Goulet 77 22 32 54 48Robbie Ftorek 52 18 33 51 28Rich Leduc 75 21 27 48 49 Goaltending Player GP Min W L T GA SO GAAMichel Dion 50 2773 15 25 6 171 2 3.70Ron Low 15 828 5 7 2 51 0 3.70Goran Hogosta 21 1199 5 12 3 83 1 4.15 Transactions The Nordiques were involved in the following transactions during the 1979–80 season. Trades June 9, 1979To Chicago Black Hawks1st round pick in 1980 – Denis SavardTo Quebec Nordiques*Real Cloutier June 9, 1979To Montreal Canadiens3rd round pick in 1980 – John Newberry 2nd round pick in 1981 – Lars ErikssonTo Quebec Nordiques**Marc Tardif Richard David June 13, 1979To St. Louis BluesHartland MonahanTo Quebec NordiquesCash June 15, 1979To Washington CapitalsDave ParroTo Quebec NordiquesNelson Burton June 28, 1979To Winnipeg JetsBarry MelroseTo Quebec NordiquesJamie Hislop Barry Legge August 1, 1979To New York IslandersRichard BrodeurTo Quebec NordiquesGoran Hogosta December 13, 1979To Toronto Maple LeafsDave Farrish Terry MartinTo Quebec NordiquesReg Thomas March 11, 1980To Edmonton OilersRon LowTo Quebec NordiquesRon Chipperfield May 26, 1980To Winnipeg JetsBarry LeggeTo Quebec NordiquesCash *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 August 13, 1979From Minnesota North StarsGreg Tebbutt Free agents 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 1979 NHL expansion draft The Nordiques participated in the 1979 NHL expansion draft, which was held on June 13, 1979.Greig Murray Big Bucks and Blue Pucks 1997 Macmillan Canada 978-0771574238 216–7 Quebec Nordiques selections # Player Drafted from1. Dave Farrish (D) New York Rangers2. Gerry Hart (D) New York Islanders3. Ron Low (G) Detroit Red Wings4. Pierre Plante (RW) New York Rangers5. Blair Stewart (F) Washington Capitals6. John Baby (D) Minnesota North Stars7. John Smrke (LW) St. Louis Blues8. Dave Parro (G) Boston Bruins9. Ken Kuzyk (RW) Minnesota North Stars10. Roland Cloutier (C) Detroit Red Wings11. Terry Martin (F) Buffalo Sabres12. Jamie Masters (D) St. Louis Blues13. Hartland Monahan (F) Los Angeles Kings14. Ron Andruff (C) Colorado Rockies15. Alain Cote (LW) Montreal Canadiens16. Lars Zetterstrom (D) Vancouver Canucks Draft picks 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)120 Michel Goulet Canada Birmingham Bulls (WHA)241 Dale Hunter Canada Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)362 Lee Norwood United States Oshawa Generals (OMJHL)483 Anton Šťastný Slovan Bratislava (Czech.)5104 Pierre Lacroix Canada Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)6125 Scott McGeown Canada Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) References Quebec Nordiques season, 1979-80 Category:Quebec Nordiques seasons Que Category:1979 in sports in Quebec Category:1980 in sports in Quebec Category:1970s in Quebec City Category:1980s in Quebec City