1979 NHL Entry Draft | |
---|---|
General information | |
Date(s) | August 9, 1979 |
Location |
Queen Elizabeth Hotel Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
Overview | |
First selection |
Rob Ramage ( Colorado Rockies) |
The 1979 NHL Entry Draft was the 17th NHL Entry Draft. It took place on August 9, 1979, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League (NHL) teams selected 126 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1978–79 NHL season and playoff standings. The draft was the first to be conducted after the NHL-WHA merger, which had included its own 1979 NHL expansion draft, held on June 13, 1979. As part of the terms of the merger, the four former WHA teams had joined the NHL on the condition that they be placed at the bottom of the entry draft order, as opposed to the top of the order as is usually the case for expansion teams.
In addition, the minimum draft age was lowered from 20 to 19 with the addition of any underage players who had already played in the WHA. [1] [2] The NHL had been considering lowering the draft age for some time, and timed the decision to lower the draft age at least in part to coincide with the merger. The lowering of the draft age caused two years' worth of draft picks to go in the same draft, contributing to what is generally considered one of the best draft classes in NHL Entry Draft history, which included seven future Hall of Famers: Ray Bourque, Mike Gartner, Michel Goulet and Kevin Lowe were selected in the first round alone, while Mark Messier, Glenn Anderson, and Guy Carbonneau would be drafted in later rounds. 12 of the 21 players selected in the first round would play in at least one All-Star game, 19 of the 21 would play at least 450 career NHL games, and all 21 had NHL careers of at least 235 games. Under the old rules, Wayne Gretzky and Messier would not have been eligible to enter the NHL until the 1981 draft.
On the other hand, the NHL shortened the draft to only six rounds, whereas some previous drafts ran for more than twenty rounds. [1] As a result, in spite of the larger number of teams participating the 1979 Draft had 108 fewer selections than the previous draft and was the shortest draft since 1971. It is the last Entry Draft to have fewer than 200 selections. Due to the strength of the class and fewer selections, there are many undrafted players who were eligible to be drafted who went on to have notable NHL careers, including Hall of Famer Dino Ciccarelli, five-time Stanley Cup champion Charlie Huddy and four-time 50-goal scorer Tim Kerr. Gretzky, protected by the Oilers in the 1979 NHL expansion draft, also entered the Hall of Fame.
As consolidation for lowering the minimum age for the draft, the NHL provided junior teams with CA$40,000 (equivalent to $142,000 in 2021) in compensation for each under-age player selected and signed. [1] Under-aged players were also offered back to junior clubs before being able to play in the minor leagues. [1]
Mark Messier was the last active player in the NHL from the 1979 draft class, playing his final NHL game in the 2003–04 season.
Rising superstar Wayne Gretzky had played for the Edmonton Oilers in the WHA's final season. As per the terms of the NHL-WHA merger, Gretzky was to have become eligible for the 1979 draft due to having already played professionally in the WHA. However, Gretzky had a personal services contract with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington.
The NHL had originally expected the contract would be voided. But Gretzky, faced with the likelihood of having to play for the struggling Colorado Rockies if he were to enter the draft, refused to void his contract with Pocklington. It was determined that the Oilers were allowed to keep Gretzky in exchange for being placed at the bottom of the draft order in the Entry Draft.
Below are listed the selections in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
= NHL All-Star team · | = NHL All-Star [3] · | = NHL All-Star [3] and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |
Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
22 | Blake Wesley | Defence | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers (from Colorado) | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
23 | Mike Perovich | Defence | Canada | Atlanta Flames (from St. Louis) | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
24 | Errol Rausse | Left wing | Canada | Washington Capitals (from Detroit) | Seattle Breakers (WHL) |
25 | Tomas Jonsson | Defence | Sweden | New York Islanders (from Washington) | Modo Hockey ( Sweden) |
26 | Brent Ashton | Left wing | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
27 | Gaston Gingras | Defence | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Minnesota) | Birmingham Bulls (WHA) |
28 | Tim Trimper | Left wing | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
29 | Dean Hopkins | Right wing | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | London Knights (OMJHL) |
30 | Mark Hardy | Defence | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from Toronto) | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
31 | Paul Marshall | Left wing | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Brantford Alexanders (OMJHL) |
32 | Lindy Ruff | Defence | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
33 | Pat Riggin | Goaltender | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Birmingham Bulls (WHA) |
34 | Ed Hospodar | Defence |
United States/ Canada |
New York Rangers | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
35 | Pelle Lindbergh | Goaltender | Sweden | Philadelphia Flyers | AIK IF (Sweden) |
36 | Doug Morrison | Right wing | Canada | Boston Bruins | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
37 | Mats Naslund | Left wing | Sweden | Montreal Canadiens | Brynas IF (Sweden) |
38 | Billy Carroll | Centre | Canada | New York Islanders | London Knights (OMJHL) |
39 | Stuart Smith | Defence | Canada | Hartford Whalers | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
40 | Dave Christian | Centre | United States | Winnipeg Jets | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
41 | Dale Hunter | Centre | Canada | Quebec Nordiques | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
42 | Neal Broten | Centre | United States | Minnesota North Stars (from Edmonton) | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
Reference: "1979 NHL Entry Draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. |
Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
43 | Craig Levie | Defence | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Colorado) | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) |
44 | Guy Carbonneau | Centre | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis) | Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) |
45 | Jody Gage | Right wing | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
46 | Boris Fistric | Defence | Canada | Detroit Red Wings (from Washington) | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
47 | Ken Ellacott | Goaltender | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
48 | Mark Messier | Left wing | Canada | Edmonton Oilers (from Minnesota) | Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) |
49 | Bill Gardner | Centre | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
50 | John-Paul Kelly | Left wing | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
51 | Normand Aubin | Centre | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL) |
52 | Bennett Wolf | Defence | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
53 | Mark Robinson | Defence | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
54 | Tim Hunter | Defence | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Seattle Breakers (WHL) |
55 | Jacques Cloutier | Goaltender | Canada | Buffalo Sabres (from New York Rangers) | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
56 | Lindsay Carson | Left wing | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
57 | Keith Crowder | Right wing | Canada | Boston Bruins | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
58 | Rick Wamsley | Goaltender | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Brantford Alexanders (OMJHL) |
59 | Roland Melanson | Goaltender | Canada | New York Islanders | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
60 | Don Nachbaur | Centre | Canada | Hartford Whalers | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
61 | Bill Whelton | Defence | United States | Winnipeg Jets | Boston University ( ECAC) |
62 | Lee Norwood | Defence | United States | Quebec Nordiques | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
63 | Kevin Maxwell | Centre | Canada | Minnesota North Stars (from Edmonton) | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
Reference: "1979 NHL Entry Draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. |
Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
64 | Steve Peters | Centre | Canada | Colorado Rockies | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
65 | Bob Crawford | Right wing | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
66 | John Ogrodnick | Right wing | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
67 | Harvie Pocza | Left wing | Canada | Washington Capitals | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
68 | Arthur Rutland | Centre | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
69 | Glenn Anderson | Right wing | Canada | Edmonton Oilers (from Minnesota) | University of Denver (WCHA) |
70 | Louis Begin | Left wing | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
71 | John Gibson | Defence | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
72 | Vincent Tremblay | Goaltender | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
73 | Brian Cross | Defence | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Brantford Alexanders (OMJHL) |
74 | Gilles Hamel | Left wing | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Laval National (QMJHL) |
75 | Jim Peplinski | Right wing | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
76 | Pat Conacher | Centre | Canada | New York Rangers | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
77 | Don Gillen | Right wing | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
78 | Larry Melnyk | Defence | Canada | Boston Bruins | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
79 | Dave Orleski | Left wing | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
80 | Tim Lockridge | Defence | Canada | New York Islanders | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
81 | Ray Neufeld | Right wing | Canada | Hartford Whalers | Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) |
82 | Pat Daley | Left wing | Canada | Winnipeg Jets | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
83 | Anton Stastny | Left wing | Czechoslovakia | Quebec Nordiques | Slovan Bratislava ( Czechoslovakia) |
84 | Maxwell Kostovich | Left wing | Canada | Edmonton Oilers | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
Reference: "1979 NHL Entry Draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. |
Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
85 | Gary Dillon | Centre | Canada | Colorado Rockies | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
86 | Mark Reeds | Right wing | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
87 | Joe Paterson | Left wing | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | London Knights (OMJHL) |
88 | Tim Tookey | Centre | Canada | Washington Capitals | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
89 | Dirk Graham | Right wing | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Regina Pats (WHL) |
90 | Jim Dobson | Right wing | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
91 | Lowell Loveday | Defence | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
92 | Jim Brown | Defence | United States | Los Angeles Kings | University of Notre Dame (WCHA) |
93 | Frank Nigro | Centre | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | London Knights (OMJHL) |
94 | Nick Ricci | Goaltender | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
95 | Alan Haworth | Centre | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
96 | Brad Kempthorne | Centre | Canada | Atlanta Flames | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
97 | Dan Makuch | Right wing | Canada | New York Rangers | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
98 | Thomas Eriksson | Defence | Sweden | Philadelphia Flyers | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |
99 | Marco Baron | Goaltender | Canada | Boston Bruins | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
100 | Yvan Joly | Right wing | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
101 | Glen Duncan | Left wing | Canada | New York Islanders | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
102 | Mark Renaud | Defence | Canada | Hartford Whalers | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
103 | Thomas Steen | Centre | Sweden | Winnipeg Jets | Leksands IF (Sweden) |
104 | Pierre Lacroix | Defence | Canada | Quebec Nordiques | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
105 | Mike Toal | Centre | Canada | Edmonton Oilers | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
Reference: "1979 NHL Entry Draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. |
Pick # | Player | Position | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
106 | Bob Attwell | Right wing | Canada | Colorado Rockies | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
107 | Gilles Leduc | Left wing | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Verdun Eperviers (QMJHL) |
108 | Carmine Cirella | Left wing | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
109 | Greg Theberge | Defence | Canada | Washington Capitals | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
110 | Shane Swan | Defence | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL) |
111 | Brian Gualazzi | Right wing | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
112 | Doug Crossman | Defence | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Ottawa 67's (OMJHL) |
113 | Jay McFarlane | Defence | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
114 | Bill McCreary | Right wing | United States | Toronto Maple Leafs | Colgate University (ECAC) |
115 | Marc Chorney | Defence | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
116 | Rick Knickle | Goaltender | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
117 | Glenn Johnson | Centre | Canada | Atlanta Flames | University of Denver (WCHA) |
118 | Stan Adams | Centre | Canada | New York Rangers | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
119 | Gord Williams | Right wing | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
120 | Mike Krushelnyski | Centre | Canada | Boston Bruins | Montreal Juniors (QMJHL) |
121 | Greg Moffett | Goaltender | United States | Montreal Canadiens | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
122 | John Gibb | Defence | Canada | New York Islanders | Bowling Green University ( CCHA) |
123 | Dave McDonald | Left wing | Canada | Hartford Whalers | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
124 | Tim Watters | Defence | Canada | Winnipeg Jets | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
125 | Scott McGeown | Defence | Canada | Quebec Nordiques | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
126 | Blair Barnes | Right wing | Canada | Edmonton Oilers | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
Reference: "1979 NHL Entry Draft hockeydraftcentral.com". Archived from the original on February 20, 2009. Retrieved January 10, 2009. |
= NHL All-Star [3] · | = NHL All-Star [3] and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |
Rank | Country | Amount |
---|---|---|
North America | 120 | |
1 | Canada | 111 |
2 | United States | 9 |
Europe | 6 | |
3 | Sweden | 5 |
4 | Czechoslovakia | 1 |