Het NHL-seizoen 1978-79 was het 62e seizoen van de National Hockey League. De 17 teams van de competitie speelden een seizoen van 80 wedstrijden.
De Montreal Canadiens versloegen de New York Rangers in de Stanley Cup finale met vier wedstrijden tegen één voor hun vierde Cup op rij.
GP = gespeelde wedstrijden, W = gewonnen, L = verloren, T = gelijkspel, Pts = punten, GF = doelpunten voor, GA = doelpunten tegen, PIM = strafschoppen in minuten.
Teams die zich kwalificeerden voor de play-offs zijn vetgedrukt.
| Adams Afdeling | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| 80 | 43 | 23 | 14 | 100 | 316 | 270 | 1222 | |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 88 | 280 | 263 | 1026 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 34 | 33 | 13 | 81 | 267 | 252 | 1440 |
| 80 | 28 | 40 | 12 | 68 | 257 | 289 | 1102 |
| Afdeling Norris | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| 80 | 52 | 17 | 11 | 115 | 337 | 204 | 803 | |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 36 | 31 | 13 | 85 | 281 | 279 | 1039 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 80 | 292 | 286 | 1134 |
| Washington Capitals | 80 | 24 | 41 | 15 | 63 | 273 | 338 | 1312 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 23 | 41 | 16 | 62 | 252 | 295 | 1359 |
| Patrick Division | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| New York Islanders | 80 | 51 | 15 | 14 | 116 | 358 | 214 | 1077 |
| 80 | 40 | 25 | 15 | 95 | 281 | 248 | 1548 | |
| 80 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 91 | 316 | 292 | 1214 | |
| Atlanta Flames | 80 | 41 | 31 | 8 | 90 | 327 | 280 | 1158 |
| Smythe Divisie | GP | W | L | T | Pts | GF | GA | PIM |
| 80 | 29 | 36 | 15 | 73 | 244 | 277 | 1254 | |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 25 | 42 | 13 | 63 | 217 | 291 | 1134 |
| 80 | 18 | 50 | 12 | 48 | 249 | 348 | 1055 | |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 15 | 53 | 12 | 42 | 210 | 331 | 838 |
GP = gespeeld, G = goals, A = assists, Pts = punten, PIM = penalties in minuten.
| Speler | Team | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Bryan Trottier | New York Islanders | 76 | 47 | 87 | 134 | 50 |
| Marcel Dionne | Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 59 | 71 | 130 | 30 |
| Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 52 | 77 | 129 | 28 |
| Mike Bossy | New York Islanders | 80 | 69 | 57 | 126 | 25 |
| Bob MacMillan | Atlanta Flames | 79 | 37 | 71 | 108 | 14 |
| Guy Chouinard | Atlanta Flames | 80 | 50 | 57 | 107 | 14 |
| Denis Potvin | New York Islanders | 73 | 31 | 70 | 101 | 58 |
| Bernie Federko | St. Louis Blues | 74 | 31 | 64 | 95 | 14 |
| Dave Taylor | Los Angeles Kings | 78 | 43 | 48 | 91 | 124 |
| Clark Gillies | New York Islanders | 75 | 35 | 56 | 91 | 68 |
| New York Islanders | |
| Art Ross Memorial Trophy: | Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders |
| Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens | |
| Bobby Smith, Minnesota North Stars | |
| Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens | |
| Frank J. Selke Trophy: | Bob Gainey, Montreal Canadiens |
| Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders | |
| Al Arbour, New York Islanders | |
| Denis Potvin, New York Islanders | |
| Bob MacMillan, Atlanta Flames | |
| Lester B. Pearson Award: | Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings |
| NHL Plus/Minus Award: | Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders |
| Ken Dryden & Michel Larocque, Montreal Canadiens | |
| Lester Patrick Trofee: | Bobby Orr |
| Eerste team | Positie | Tweede team |
| G | Glenn Resch, New York Islanders | |
| Denis Potvin, New York Islanders | D | Borje Salming, Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Larry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens | D | Serge Savard, Montreal Canadiens |
| Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders | C | Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings |
| Guy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens | RW | Mike Bossy, New York Islanders |
| Clark Gillies, New York Islanders | LW | Bill Barber, Philadelphia Flyers |