1977–78 Cleveland Barons season

The 1977–78 Cleveland Barons season was the team's eleventh and final season in the NHL. The relocation to Cleveland did not cure the attendance problems that plagued the franchise from its inception in Oakland as the Seals in 1967. In June 1978, with both the Barons and the Minnesota North Stars on the verge of folding, the league approved an arrangement in which the two teams were permitted to merge under the ownership of Barons owner George Gund III. The merged franchise continued as the Minnesota North Stars, and assumed the Barons' old place in the Adams Division. Fifteen seasons later, the North Stars relocated to Dallas and became the Stars, bringing the NHL to Texas for the first time. The NHL returned to both the Buckeye State and the North Star State when the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild both began play in 2000.

1977–78 Cleveland Barons
Division	4th Adams
Conference	8th Wales
1977–78 record	22–45–13
Home record	14–17–9
Road record	8–28–4
Goals for	230
Goals against	325
Team information
General manager	Harry Howell
Coach	Jack Evans
Captain	Jim Neilson and Bob Stewart
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Coliseum at Richfield
Team leaders
Goals	Dennis Maruk (36)
Assists	Dennis Maruk (35)
Points	Dennis Maruk (71)
Penalty minutes	Randy Holt (229)
Plus/minus	Reg Kerr, Jeff Allan (0)
Wins	Gilles Meloche (16)
Goals against average	Gilles Meloche (3.77)
← 1976–77

Offseason

Amateur draft

Main article: 1977 NHL amateur draft

Cleveland's picks at the 1977 NHL amateur draft, which was held at the NHL's office in Montreal on June 14, 1977.^[1][2]

Players drafted by the Cleveland Barons in 1977 and their NHL career regular season statistics

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Team (league)	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	W	L	T	GAA
1	5	Mike Crombeen	Forward	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)	475	55	68	123	218	—	—	—	—
2	23	Dan Chicoine	Right wing	Canada	Sherbrooke Beavers (QMJHL)	31	1	2	3	12	—	—	—	—
3	41	Reg Kerr	Defense	Canada	Kamloops Chiefs (WHL)	263	66	94	160	169	—	—	—	—
3	42	Guy Lash	Right wing	Canada	Winnipeg Monarchs (WCHL)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
4	59	John Baby	Defense	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OMJHL)	26	2	8	10	26	—	—	—	—
5	77	Owen Lloyd	Defense	Canada	Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
6	95	Jeff Allan	Defense	Canada	Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)	4	0	0	0	2	—	—	—	—
7	113	Mark Toffolo	Defense	United States	Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
8	128	Grant Eakin	Left wing	Canada	Lethbridge Broncos (WCHL)	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Regular season

On December 11, 1977, Tom Bladon of the Philadelphia Flyers became the first defenseman in NHL history to score 8 points in one game.^[3] He scored four goals and four assists versus the Cleveland Barons. It was 25% of his point total for the entire season.

The Barons did not qualify for the playoffs.

Final standings

Adams Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
Boston Bruins	80	51	18	11	333	218	113
Buffalo Sabres	80	44	19	17	288	215	105
Toronto Maple Leafs	80	41	29	10	271	237	92
Cleveland Barons	80	22	45	13	230	325	57

^[4]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.^[5]

Record vs. opponents

Adams Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Adams Division 1977–78 NHL records[6] Team BOS BUF CLE TOR Total Boston — 2–4 3–1–2 5–0–1 10–5–3 Buffalo 4–2 — 4–2 2–3–1 10–7–1 Cleveland 1–3–2 2–4 — 2–4 5–13–2 Toronto 0–5–1 3–2–1 4–2 — 7–9–2 Vs. Norris Division 1977–78 NHL records Team DET LAK MTL PIT WSH Total Boston 4–0–1 5–0 0–4–1 5–0 4–0–1 18–4–3 Buffalo 2–2–1 3–0–2 3–2 0–0–5 3–1–1 11–5–9 Cleveland 2–2–1 1–3–1 1–4 0–5 2–3 6–17–2 Toronto 2–1–2 2–3 0–4–1 2–3 4–0–1 10–11–4 Vs. Patrick Division 1977–78 NHL records Team ATL NYI NYR PHI Total Boston 2–1–1 1–3 4–1 1–2–1 8–7–2 Buffalo 2–1–1 3–2 2–1–1 3–0–1 10–4–3 Cleveland 1–2–1 1–1–2 1–3 0–4–1 3–10–4 Toronto 2–3 1–3 3–1 3–1 9–8–0 Vs. Smythe Division 1977–78 NHL records Team CHI COL MIN STL VAN Total Boston 3–1 3–0–1 3–1 4–0 2–0–2 15–2–3 Buffalo 2–1–1 3–1 3–1 4–0 1–0–3 13–3–4 Cleveland 1–3 1–1–2 3–0–1 1–2–1 2–1–1 8–7–5 Toronto 2–1–1 4–0 4–0 2–0–2 3–0–1 15–1–4

Schedule and results

Regular season

1977–78 regular season[7]
October: 4–5–0 (home: 2–3–0; road: 2–2–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 12, 1977 @ Los Angeles 0–2 Meloche The Forum 11,643 0–1–0 0 [8] 2 October 15, 1977 Washington 4–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 10,253 1–1–0 2 [9] 3 October 19, 1977 Los Angeles 3–1 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 3,252 2–1–0 4 [10] 4 October 20, 1977 @ Minnesota 7–4 Meloche Met Center 7,270 3–1–0 6 [11] 5 October 22, 1977 @ St. Louis 3–2 Meloche The Checkerdome 10,644 4–1–0 8 [12] 6 October 23, 1977 Pittsburgh 2–3 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,910 4–2–0 8 [13] 7 October 25, 1977 N.Y. Rangers 0–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,556 4–3–0 8 [14] 8 October 28, 1977 Chicago 2–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 6,273 4–4–0 8 [15] 9 October 30, 1977 @ Chicago 1–6 Meloche Chicago Stadium 10,505 4–5–0 8 [16]
November: 3–8–2 (home: 2–2–1; road: 1–6–1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 2, 1977 St. Louis 4–4 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 4,641 4–5–1 9 [17] 11 November 5, 1977 @ Detroit 4–3 Meloche Detroit Olympia 13,185 5–5–1 11 [18] 12 November 6, 1977 Detroit 1–4 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 6,687 5–6–1 11 [19] 13 November 9, 1977 @ Pittsburgh 3–5 Meloche Civic Arena 7,516 5–7–1 11 [20] 14 November 13, 1977 @ Boston 1–3 Edwards Boston Garden 10,234 5–8–1 11 [21] 15 November 15, 1977 @ Vancouver 4–5 Meloche Pacific Coliseum 13,500 5–9–1 11 [22] 16 November 16, 1977 @ Los Angeles 1–1 Edwards The Forum 10,649 5–9–2 12 [23] 17 November 19, 1977 @ Colorado 2–7 Meloche McNichols Sports Arena 5,114 5–10–2 12 [24] 18 November 23, 1977 Montreal 2–1 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 12,859 6–10–2 14 [25] 19 November 25, 1977 @ Philadelphia 2–7 Edwards Spectrum 17,077 6–11–2 14 [26] 20 November 26, 1977 St. Louis 1–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,497 6–12–2 14 [27] 21 November 29, 1977 @ Toronto 2–3 Edwards Maple Leaf Gardens 16,485 6–13–2 14 [28] 22 November 30, 1977 Toronto 5–3 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 3,930 7–13–2 16 [29]
December: 3–10–2 (home: 1–4–2; road: 2–6–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 2, 1977 @ Washington 3–2 Edwards Capital Centre 12,371 8–13–2 18 [30] 24 December 3, 1977 Boston 4–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 6,636 8–13–3 19 [31] 25 December 7, 1977 Washington 3–5 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 3,842 8–14–3 19 [32] 26 December 8, 1977 @ Buffalo 2–5 Edwards Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16,433 8–15–3 19 [33] 27 December 11, 1977 @ Philadelphia 1–11 Edwards Spectrum 17,077 8–16–3 19 [34] 28 December 12, 1977 Montreal 1–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,026 8–17–3 19 [35] 29 December 15, 1977 @ Atlanta 6–3 Edwards The Omni 7,829 9–17–3 21 [36] 30 December 17, 1977 N.Y. Rangers 4–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,929 10–17–3 23 [37] 31 December 18, 1977 @ Boston 1–2 Edwards Boston Garden 11,255 10–18–3 23 [38] 32 December 21, 1977 Philadelphia 0–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,112 10–19–3 23 [39] 33 December 23, 1977 @ N.Y. Rangers 4–5 Edwards Madison Square Garden 17,500 10–20–3 23 [40] 34 December 27, 1977 @ Montreal 3–5 Meloche Montreal Forum 15,730 10–21–3 23 [41] 35 December 28, 1977 Boston 5–5 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 11,255 10–21–4 24 [42] 36 December 30, 1977 Toronto 0–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 6,520 10–22–4 24 [43] 37 December 31, 1977 @ Pittsburgh 3–6 Edwards Civic Arena 7,237 10–23–4 24 [44]
January: 7–7–0 (home: 5–1–0; road: 2–6–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 3, 1978 @ Philadelphia 4–5 Meloche Spectrum 17,077 10–23–4 24 [45] 39 January 6, 1978 Vancouver 6–1 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,037 11–24–4 26 [46] 40 January 7, 1978 @ N.Y. Islanders 3–5 Meloche Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15,317 11–25–4 26 [47] 41 January 11, 1978 N.Y. Islanders 5–3 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 2,704 12–25–4 28 [48] 42 January 12, 1978 Buffalo 6–3 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 2,110 13–25–4 30 [49] 43 January 13, 1978 Toronto 5–2 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 4,527 14–25–4 32 [50] 44 January 14, 1978 @ Pittsburgh 2–4 Meloche Civic Arena 11,461 14–25–4 32 [51] 45 January 18, 1978 Montreal 4–7 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 7,011 14–27–4 32 [52] 46 January 19, 1978 @ Buffalo 2–9 Meloche Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16,433 14–28–4 32 [53] 47 January 21, 1978 Colorado 9–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,226 15–28–4 34 [54] 48 January 22, 1978 @ Boston 3–2 Edwards Boston Garden 11,427 16–28–4 36 [55] 49 January 26, 1978 @ Chicago 0–5 Edwards Chicago Stadium 537 16–29–4 36 [56] 50 January 28, 1978 @ Minnesota 2–1 Meloche Met Center 8,958 17–29–4 38 [57] 51 January 29, 1978 Atlanta 2–6 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 3,321 17–30–4 38 [58]
February: 2–7–4 (home: 2–3–3; road: 0–4–1) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 1, 1978 Detroit 2–0 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 7,841 18–30–4 40 [59] 53 February 4, 1978 Philadelphia 2–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 13,110 18–30–5 41 [60] 54 February 5, 1978 @ Detroit 3–4 Meloche Detroit Olympia 10,216 18–31–5 41 [61] 55 February 8, 1978 Buffalo 2–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,094 18–32–5 41 [62] 56 February 10, 1978 Washington 1–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,193 18–33–5 41 [63] 57 February 12, 1978 N.Y. Islanders 2–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 6,440 18–33–6 42 [64] 58 February 15, 1978 Atlanta 5–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 2,696 18–33–7 43 [65] 59 February 17, 1978 Vancouver 3–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,589 19–33–7 45 [66] 60 February 22, 1978 @ Toronto 3–5 Edwards Maple Leaf Gardens 16,449 19–34–7 45 [67] 61 February 23, 1978 @ Montreal 1–5 Meloche Montreal Forum 15,615 19–35–7 45 [68] 62 February 25, 1978 Buffalo 3–13 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 10,324 19–36–7 45 [69] 63 February 27, 1978 @ Vancouver 3–3 Edwards Pacific Coliseum 19–36–8 46 [70] 64 February 28, 1978 @ Los Angeles 2–4 Edwards The Forum 9,529 19–37–8 46 [71]
March: 2–6–4 (home: 1–2–2; road: 1–4–2) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 3, 1978 @ Colorado 2–2 Meloche McNichols Sports Arena 7,685 19–37–8 47 [72] 66 March 4, 1978 @ Atlanta 3–9 Edwards The Omni 10,014 19–38–8 47 [73] 67 March 8, 1978 @ N.Y. Rangers 1–6 Meloche Madison Square Garden 15,469 19–39–9 47 [74] 68 March 11, 1978 @ Toronto 2–5 Edwards Maple Leaf Gardens 16,485 19–40–9 47 [75] 69 March 15, 1978 Colorado 2–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,266 19–40–10 48 [76] 70 March 17, 1978 Minnesota 4–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,089 19–40–11 49 [77] 71 March 18, 1978 @ Washington 3–8 Edwards Capital Centre 10,381 19–41–11 49 [78] 72 March 21, 1978 Boston 3–5 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 6,117 19–42–11 49 [60] 73 March 24, 1978 Los Angeles 3–4 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 4,744 19–43–11 49 [79] 74 March 25, 1978 @ N.Y. Islanders 4–4 Meloche Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum 15,317 19–43–12 50 [80] 75 March 29, 1978 Minnesota 7–3 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,345 20–43–12 52 [81] 76 March 30, 1978 @ Buffalo 5–3 Meloche Buffalo Memorial Auditorium 16,433 21–43–12 54 [82]
April: 1–2–1 (home: 1–1–1; road: 0–1–0) Game Date Opponent Score Decision Arena Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 1, 1978 @ St. Louis 1–3 Edwards The Checkerdome 5,561 21–44–12 54 [83] 78 April 2, 1978 Chicago 4–2 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 5,561 22–44–12 56 [84] 79 April 5, 1978 Detroit 5–5 Edwards Coliseum at Richfield 5,410 22–44–13 57 [85] 80 April 9, 1978 Pittsburgh 2–3 Meloche Coliseum at Richfield 7,364 22–45–13 57 [86]
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Detailed records

Wales Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Adams Division Boston Bruins 0–1–2 1–2–0 1–3–2 4 17 21 Buffalo Sabres 1–2–0 1–2–0 2–4–0 4 20 38 Cleveland Barons – – – – – – Toronto Maple Leafs 2–1–0 0–3–0 2–4–0 4 17 23 3–4–2 2–7–0 5–11–2 12 54 82 Norris Division Detroit Red Wings 1–1–1 1–1–0 2–2–1 5 15 16 Los Angeles Kings 1–1–0 0–2–1 1–3–1 3 9 12 Montreal Canadiens 1–2–0 0–2–0 1–4–0 2 11 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 0–2–0 0–3–0 0–5–0 0 12 21 Washington Capitals 1–2–0 1–1–0 2–3–0 4 14 21 4–8–1 2–9–1 6–17–2 14 61 93

Campbell Conference Opponent Home Away Total Pts. Goals scored Goals allowed Patrick Division Atlanta Flames 0–1–1 1–1–0 1–2–1 3 16 23 New York Islanders 1–0–1 0–1–1 1–1–2 4 14 14 New York Rangers 1–1–0 0–2–0 1–3–0 2 9 18 Philadelphia Flyers 0–1–1 0–3–0 0–4–1 1 9 29 2–3–3 1–7–1 3–10–4 10 48 84 Smythe Division Chicago Black Hawks 1–1–0 0–2–0 1–3–0 2 7 17 Colorado Rockies 1–0–1 0–1–1 1–1–2 4 15 15 Minnesota North Stars 1–0–1 2–0–0 3–0–1 7 20 12 St. Louis Blues 0–1–1 1–1–0 1–2–1 3 9 11 Vancouver Canucks 2–0–0 0–1–1 2–1–1 5 16 11 5–2–3 3–5–2 8–7–5 21 67 66

Player stats

Skaters

Note: GP= Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalties in minutes; +/- = Plus/minus

				Regular season							Playoffs
#	Player	Pos		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-
21	Dennis Maruk	C		76	36	35	71	50	−26		–	–	–	–	–	–
12	Mike Fidler	LW		78	23	28	51	38	−13		–	–	–	–	–	–
24	Kris Manery	C		78	22	27	49	14	−15		–	–	–	–	–	–
25	Al MacAdam	LW		80	16	32	48	42	−19		–	–	–	–	–	–
7	Dave Gardner	C		75	19	25	44	10	−16		–	–	–	–	–	–
20	Bob Murdoch	RW		71	14	26	40	27	−18		–	–	–	–	–	–
5	Greg Smith	D		80	7	30	37	92	−26		–	–	–	–	–	–
2	Rick Hampton	D		77	18	18	36	19	−24		–	–	–	–	–	–
26	Chuck Arnason†	RW		40	21	13	34	8	−2		–	–	–	–	–	–
8	Walt McKechnie†	C		53	12	22	34	12	−8		–	–	–	–	–	–
15	Jim Neilson	D		68	2	21	23	20	−25		–	–	–	–	–	–
23	J. P. Parise†	LW		40	9	13	22	27	−15		–	–	–	–	–	–
22	Rick Shinske	RW		47	5	12	17	6	−12		–	–	–	–	–	–
6	Jean Potvin†	D		40	3	14	17	30	−4		–	–	–	–	–	–
4	Bob Stewart	D		72	2	15	17	84	−25		–	–	–	–	–	–
16	Ken Kuzyk	RW		28	5	4	9	6	−1		–	–	–	–	–	–
19	John Baby	D		24	2	7	9	26	−10		–	–	–	–	–	–
16	Fred Ahern‡	RW		36	3	4	7	48	−16		–	–	–	–	–	–
14	Mike Crombeen	C		48	3	4	7	13	−26		–	–	–	–	–	–
9	Wayne Merrick‡	C		18	2	5	7	13	−10		–	–	–	–	–	–
3	Mike Christie‡	D		34	1	6	7	49	−14		–	–	–	–	–	–
18	Rick Jodzio†	LW		38	2	3	5	43	−9		–	–	–	–	–	–
28	Randy Holt†	D		48	1	4	5	229	−24		–	–	–	–	–	–
26	Bob Girard‡	LW		25	0	4	4	11	−8		–	–	–	–	–	–
10	Ralph Klassen‡	C		13	2	1	3	6	−2		–	–	–	–	–	–
3	Dennis O'Brien†‡	D		23	0	3	3	31	−13		–	–	–	–	–	–
18	Reg Kerr	LW		7	0	2	2	7	−		–	–	–	–	–	–
6	Darcy Regier‡	D		15	0	1	1	28	−5		–	–	–	–	–	–
1	Gary Edwards	G		30	0	1	1	4	–		–	–	–	–	–	–
29	Jeff Allan	D		4	0	0	0	2	−		–	–	–	–	–	–
13	Bjorn Johansson	D		5	0	0	0	6	−2		–	–	–	–	–	–
8	Dan Chicoine	RW		6	0	0	0	0	−2		–	–	–	–	–	–
27	Gilles Meloche	G		54	0	0	0	4	–		–	–	–	–	–	–

^[87]

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Barons. Stats reflect time with the Barons only. ^‡Traded mid-season.

Goaltenders

Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average

			Regular season									Playoffs
Player	#		GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA		GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Gilles Meloche	27		54	3100	16	27	8	195	1	3.77		–	–	–	–	–	–	-.--
Gary Edwards	1		30	1700	6	18	5	128	0	4.52		–	–	–	–	–	–	-.--

Transactions

The Barons were involved in the following transactions during the 1977–78 season:

Trades

August 17, 1977	To Cleveland Barons rights to Mike Eaves	To St. Louis Blues Len Frig
November 23, 1977	To Cleveland Barons Randy Holt	To Chicago Black Hawks Reg Kerr
December 9, 1977	To Cleveland Barons Walt McKechnie	To Washington Capitals Bob Girard 2nd round pick in 1978 draft (Paul MacKinnon)
January 9, 1978	To Cleveland Barons Chuck Arnason Rick Jodzio	To Colorado Rockies Fred Ahern Ralph Klassen
January 10, 1978	To Cleveland Barons J. P. Parise Jean Potvin 4th round pick in 1978 draft (cancelled by Barons-North Stars merger)	To New York Islanders Wayne Merrick Darcy Regier
January 12, 1978	To Cleveland Barons Dennis O'Brien	To Colorado Rockies Mike Christie

Additions and subtractions

Additions Player Former team Via Kris Manery University of Michigan (NCAA) free agency (1977–10)

Subtractions Player New team Via Phil Roberto Birmingham Bulls (WHA) free agency (July 1977) Charlie Simmer Los Angeles Kings free agency (1977-08-08) Gary Holt St. Louis Blues free agency (1977-10-20) Dennis O'Brien Boston Bruins waivers (1978-03-10)