View source for 1980–81 NHL season

{{short description|National Hockey League season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox sports season
| title            =1980–81 NHL season
| league           =[[National Hockey League]]
| sport            =[[Ice hockey]]
| duration         =October 9, 1980 – May 21, 1981
| draft            =Draft
| draft_link       =1980 NHL Draft
| top_pick_link    =List of first overall NHL draft picks
| top_pick         =[[Doug Wickenheiser]] 
| picked_by        =[[Montreal Canadiens]]
| season           =Regular season
| season_champs    =[[New York Islanders]]
| no_of_teams      = 21
| no_of_games      = 80
| TV               = [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]], [[La Soirée du hockey|SRC]] (Canada)<br> [[NHL on USA|USA]], [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]] (United States)
| MVP              =[[Wayne Gretzky]] ([[Edmonton Oilers|Oilers]])
| MVP_link         =Hart Memorial Trophy
| top_scorer       =[[Wayne Gretzky]] (Oilers)
| top_scorer_link  =Art Ross Trophy
| playoffs         =Playoffs
| playoffs_link    =1981 Stanley Cup playoffs
| finals           =Stanley Cup
| finals_link      =1981 Stanley Cup Finals
| finals_champ     =[[New York Islanders]]
| finals_runner-up =[[Minnesota North Stars]]
| playoffs_MVP     = [[Butch Goring]] ([[New York Islanders|Islanders]])
| playoffs_MVP_link=Conn Smythe Trophy
 |nextseason_year = [[1981–82 NHL season|1981–82]]
 |prevseason_year = [[1979–80 NHL season|1979–80]]
 | seasonslistnames =[[List of NHL seasons|NHL]]
}}
The '''1980–81 NHL season''' was the [[List of NHL seasons|64th]] [[Season (sports)|season]] of the [[National Hockey League]]. The [[Calgary Flames|Flames]] relocated from [[Atlanta]] to [[Calgary]]. The [[New York Islanders]] were the top regular season team and the top playoff team, winning their second consecutive [[Stanley Cup]] by defeating the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in five games.

==League business==
This was the first season that the [[Calgary Flames]] played in [[Calgary, Alberta]]. Previously, they were the [[Atlanta Flames]] and played in [[Atlanta]].

==Teams==
{| class="wikitable" style="width:auto"
|-
| bgcolor="#000000" align="center" colspan="5"|'''<span style="color:orange;">1980-81 National Hockey League</span>'''
|-
| bgcolor="orange" align="center" colspan="5"|'''<span style="color;">{{color|#000000|Prince of Wales Conference}}</span>'''
|-
! Division || Team || City || Arena || Capacity
|-
! rowspan="5" | Adams
| [[Boston Bruins]]
| [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]
| [[Boston Garden]]
| 14,673
|-
| [[Buffalo Sabres]]
| [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]]
| 16,433
|-
| [[Minnesota North Stars]]
| [[Bloomington, Minnesota|Bloomington]], [[Minnesota]]
| [[Metropolitan Sports Center]]
| 15,000
|-
| [[Quebec Nordiques]]
| [[Quebec City, Quebec|Quebec City]], [[Quebec]]
| [[Colisée de Québec]]
| 15,250
|-
| [[Toronto Maple Leafs]]
| [[Toronto, Ontario|Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| [[Maple Leaf Gardens]]
| 16,316
|-
! rowspan="5" | Norris
| [[Detroit Red Wings]]
| [[Detroit, Michigan|Detroit]], [[Michigan]]
| [[Joe Louis Arena]]
| 19,275
|-
| [[Hartford Whalers]]
| [[Hartford, Connecticut|Hartford]], [[Connecticut]]
| [[Hartford Civic Center]]
| 14,510
|-
| [[Montreal Canadiens]]
| [[Montreal, Quebec|Montreal]], [[Quebec]]
| [[Montreal Forum]]
| 18,076
|-
| [[Los Angeles Kings]]
| [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]], [[California]]
| [[The Forum (Inglewood, California)|The Forum]]
| 16,005
|-
| [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
| [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]]
| 16,033
|-
| bgcolor="orange" align="center" colspan="5"|'''<span style="color;">{{color|#000000|Campbell Conference}}</span>'''
|-
! rowspan="5" | Patrick
| [[Calgary Flames]]
| [[Calgary, Alberta|Calgary]], [[Alberta]]
| [[Stampede Corral]]
| 7,475
|-
| [[New York Islanders]]
| [[Uniondale, New York|Uniondale]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| [[Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum]]
| 15,008
|-
| [[New York Rangers]]
| [[New York, New York|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| [[Madison Square Garden]]
| 17,500
|-
| [[Philadelphia Flyers]]
| [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| [[Spectrum (arena)|Spectrum]]
| 17,077
|-
| [[Washington Capitals]]
| [[Landover, Maryland|Landover]], [[Maryland]]
| [[Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)|Capital Centre]]
| 18,130
|-
! rowspan="6" | Smythe
| [[Chicago Black Hawks]]
| [[Chicago, Illinois|Chicago]], [[Illinois]]
| [[Chicago Stadium]]
| 16,666
|-
| [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]]
| [[Denver, Colorado|Denver]], [[Colorado]]
| [[McNichols Sports Arena]]
| 15,900
|-
| [[Edmonton Oilers]]
| [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]], [[Alberta]]
| [[Northlands Coliseum]]
| 17,490
|-
| [[St. Louis Blues]]
| [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]]
| [[Checkerdome]]
| 17,968
|-
| [[Vancouver Canucks]]
| [[Vancouver, British Columbia|Vancouver]], [[British Columbia]]
| [[Pacific Coliseum]]
| 16,413
|-
| [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]]
| [[Winnipeg, Manitoba|Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]]
| [[Winnipeg Arena]]
| 15,565
|}
==Regular season==
The season featured notable individual scoring milestones.

[[Wayne Gretzky]] of the [[Edmonton Oilers]] broke [[Bobby Orr]]'s single season assist record, scoring 109 assists, and [[Phil Esposito]]'s point record, scoring 164 points. He won his second of an unmatched eight straight [[Hart Memorial Trophy|Hart Trophies]] as the league's most valuable player

[[Mike Bossy]] of the [[New York Islanders]] became only the second man in NHL history to score 50 goals in his first 50 games. In the 50th game, played at his home rink, he had 48 goals going into the 3rd and final period (before the advent of overtime games). Bossy admitted being so embarrassed and upset that he contemplated not going out on the ice for the final period. However, Bossy got his 49th goal with 5:15 left to go in the game and the 50th with 1:50 remaining, sending the Nassau Coliseum into a delirium. Maurice Richard, the only other man to accomplish this feat, was on hand to congratulate Bossy.

Bossy's Islanders finished as regular season champions with 110 points with the [[St. Louis Blues]] finishing a close second at 107 points.

===Final standings===
''Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes''
<br>
''Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold''

====Prince of Wales Conference====
{{1980–81 NHL Adams Division standings}}
{{1980–81 NHL Norris Division standings}}

====Clarence Campbell Conference====
{{1980–81 NHL Patrick Division standings}}
{{1980–81 NHL Smythe Division standings}}

==Playoffs==
{{main|1981 Stanley Cup playoffs}}
The Stanley Cup playoffs would see the [[New York Islanders]] dominate on their way to winning their second consecutive [[Stanley Cup]]. Notably, in the first round against the Maple Leafs, the Isles swept a three-game series, outscoring Toronto 20–4. The Islanders would go on to defeat Edmonton in six games in the quarter-finals, and in the semi-finals, the Islanders swept the Rangers and outscored them 22–8.

In game one of the Edmonton-Montreal series, [[Wayne Gretzky]] had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Montreal Canadiens:100 Years of Glory |first=D'Arcy |last=Jenish |page=243 |publisher=Doubleday |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-385-66325-0 }}</ref>  Another distinction was in the [[Minnesota North Stars]]' sweep of the [[Boston Bruins]]; the two games the North Stars won in [[Boston Garden]] were the first games that the team had won in Boston, either regular season or playoff, since the team had joined the NHL in [[1967 NHL expansion|1967]].

==Playoff bracket==
{{16TeamBracket|RD1-RD2-path=0|RD2-RD3-path=0
| RD1=Preliminary round
| RD2=Quarterfinals
| RD3=Semifinals
| RD4=Stanley Cup Finals
| RD1-seed01='''1'''
| RD1-team01='''NY Islanders'''
| RD1-score01='''3'''
| RD1-seed02=16
| RD1-team02=Toronto
| RD1-score02=0
| RD1-seed05=3
| RD1-team05=Montreal
| RD1-score05=0
| RD1-seed06='''14'''
| RD1-team06='''Edmonton'''
| RD1-score06='''3'''
| RD1-seed03='''2'''
| RD1-team03='''St. Louis'''
| RD1-score03='''3'''
| RD1-seed04=15
| RD1-team04=Pittsburgh
| RD1-score04=2
| RD1-seed07=4
| RD1-team07=Los Angeles
| RD1-score07=1
| RD1-seed08='''13'''
| RD1-team08='''NY Rangers'''
| RD1-score08='''3'''
| RD1-seed09='''5'''
| RD1-team09='''Buffalo'''
| RD1-score09='''3'''
| RD1-seed10=12
| RD1-team10=Vancouver
| RD1-score10=0
| RD1-seed11='''6'''
| RD1-team11='''Philadelphia'''
| RD1-score11='''3'''
| RD1-seed12=11
| RD1-team12=Quebec
| RD1-score12=2
| RD1-seed13='''7'''
| RD1-team13='''Calgary'''
| RD1-score13='''3'''
| RD1-seed14=10
| RD1-team14=Chicago
| RD1-score14=0
| RD1-seed15=8
| RD1-team15=Boston
| RD1-score15=0
| RD1-seed16='''9'''
| RD1-team16='''Minnesota'''
| RD1-score16='''3'''
| RD2-seed01='''1'''
| RD2-team01='''NY Islanders'''
| RD2-score01='''4'''
| RD2-seed02=8
| RD2-team02=Edmonton
| RD2-score02=2
| RD2-seed03=2
| RD2-team03=St. Louis
| RD2-score03=2
| RD2-seed04='''7'''
| RD2-team04='''NY Rangers'''
| RD2-score04='''4'''
| RD2-seed05=3
| RD2-team05=Buffalo
| RD2-score05=1
| RD2-seed06='''6'''
| RD2-team06='''Minnesota'''
| RD2-score06='''4'''
| RD2-seed07=4
| RD2-team07=Philadelphia
| RD2-score07=3
| RD2-seed08='''5'''
| RD2-team08='''Calgary'''
| RD2-score08='''4'''
| RD3-seed01='''1'''
| RD3-team01='''NY Islanders'''
| RD3-score01='''4'''
| RD3-seed02=4
| RD3-team02=NY Rangers
| RD3-score02=0
| RD3-seed03=2
| RD3-team03=Calgary
| RD3-score03=2
| RD3-seed04='''3'''
| RD3-team04='''Minnesota'''
| RD3-score04='''4'''
| RD4-seed01='''1'''
| RD4-team01='''NY Islanders'''
| RD4-score01='''4'''
| RD4-seed02=3
| RD4-team02=Minnesota
| RD4-score02=1
}}

===Stanley Cup Finals===
{{main|1981 Stanley Cup Finals}}
The Islanders defeated the [[Minnesota North Stars]] in the finals in five games. The Islanders were defeated only three times during the entire four round playoff run.

==== New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars====

{{NHLPlayoffs
|team1=Minnesota North Stars
|team2=New York Islanders
|stadium2=[[Met Center]]
|stadium1=[[Nassau Coliseum]]

|date1       =May 12
|score1      =3–6
|won1        =2
|recap1      =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-nyi/1981/05/12/1980030411#game=1980030411,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore
|1-1-1       =
|1-1-2       =
|1-2-1       =
|1-2-2       =
|1-3-1       =
|1-3-2       =
|goalie1-1   =
|goalie1-2   =

|date2       =May 14
|score2      =3–6
|won2        =2
|recap2      =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-nyi/1981/05/14/1980030412#game=1980030412,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore
|2-1-1       =
|2-1-2       =
|2-2-1       =
|2-2-2       =
|2-3-1       =
|2-3-2       =
|goalie2-1   =
|goalie2-2   =

|date3       =May 17
|score3      =7–5
|won3        =2
|recap3      =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-mns/1981/05/17/1980030413#game=1980030413,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore
|3-1-1       =
|3-1-2       =
|3-2-1       =
|3-2-2       =
|3-3-1       =
|3-3-2       =
|goalie3-1   =
|goalie3-2   =

|date4       =May 19
|score4      =2–4
|won4        =1
|recap4      =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/nyi-vs-mns/1981/05/19/1980030414#game=1980030414,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore
|4-1-1       =
|4-1-2       =
|4-2-1       =
|4-2-2       =
|4-3-1       =
|4-3-2       =
|goalie4-1   =
|goalie4-2   =

|date5       =May 21
|score5      =1–5
|won5        =2
|recap5      =www.nhl.com/gamecenter/mns-vs-nyi/1981/05/21/1980030415#game=1980030415,game_state=final,game_tab=boxscore
|5-1-1       =
|5-1-2       =
|5-2-1       =
|5-2-2       =
|5-3-1       =
|5-3-2       =
|goalie5-1   =
|goalie5-2   =

|series = New York won series 4–1
}}

==Awards==
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDDD" colspan="2" | 1981 NHL awards
|-
|[[Stanley Cup]]: || [[New York Islanders]]
|-
|[[Prince of Wales Trophy]]:<br><small>(Wales Conference regular season champion)</small> || [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|[[Clarence S. Campbell Bowl]]:<br><small>(Campbell Conference regular season champion)</small> || [[New York Islanders]]
|-
|[[Art Ross Trophy]]:<br><small>(Top scorer, regular season)</small> || [[Wayne Gretzky]], [[Edmonton Oilers]]
|-
|[[Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy]]: <br><small>(Perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication)</small>|| [[Blake Dunlop]], [[St. Louis Blues]]
|-
|[[Calder Memorial Trophy]]:<br><small>(Top first-year player)</small> || [[Peter Šťastný|Peter Stastny]], [[Quebec Nordiques]]
|-
|[[Conn Smythe Trophy]]:<br><small>(Most valuable player, playoffs)</small> || [[Butch Goring]], [[New York Islanders]]
|-
|[[Frank J. Selke Trophy]]:<br><small>(Top defensive forward)</small> || [[Bob Gainey]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|[[Hart Memorial Trophy]]:<br><small>(Most valuable player, regular season)</small> || [[Wayne Gretzky]], [[Edmonton Oilers]]
|-
|[[Jack Adams Award]]:<br><small>(Best coach)</small> || [[Gordon "Red" Berenson]], [[St. Louis Blues]]
|-
|[[James Norris Memorial Trophy]]:<br><small>(Best defenceman)</small> || [[Randy Carlyle]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
|-
|[[Lady Byng Memorial Trophy]]:<br><small>(Excellence and sportsmanship)</small> || [[Rick Kehoe]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
|-
|[[Lester B. Pearson Award]]:<br><small>(Outstanding player, regular season)</small> || [[Mike Liut]], [[St. Louis Blues]]
|-
|[[Vezina Trophy]]:<br><small>(Goaltender(s) of team(s) with best goaltending record)</small> || [[Denis Herron]], [[Michel Larocque (ice hockey, born 1952)|Michel Larocque]], & [[Richard Sevigny]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|}

===All-Star teams===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! First Team !! &nbsp; Position &nbsp; !! Second Team
|-
|[[Mike Liut]], [[St. Louis Blues]]
| align=center | [[Goaltender|G]]
|[[Mario Lessard]], [[Los Angeles Kings]]
|-
|[[Denis Potvin]], [[New York Islanders]]
| align=center | [[defenceman|D]]
|[[Larry Robinson]], [[Montreal Canadiens]]
|-
|[[Randy Carlyle]], [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]
| align=center | D
|[[Ray Bourque]], [[Boston Bruins]]
|-
|[[Wayne Gretzky]], [[Edmonton Oilers]]
| align=center | [[Centre (ice hockey)|C]]
|[[Marcel Dionne]], [[Los Angeles Kings]]
|-
|[[Mike Bossy]], [[New York Islanders]]
| align=center | [[Winger (ice hockey)|RW]]
|[[Dave Taylor (ice hockey)|Dave Taylor]], [[Los Angeles Kings]]
|-
|[[Charlie Simmer]], [[Los Angeles Kings]]
| align=center | [[Winger (ice hockey)|LW]]
|[[Bill Barber]], [[Philadelphia Flyers]]
|-
|}

==Player statistics==

===Scoring leaders===
''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points''
<!--- IMPORTANT: Rank players by Pts, then G, then GP (fewer), then +/-. If there are more than 10 players due to ties in point totals, '''nonetheless list all the leaders''', such as [[1936–37 NHL season#Scoring leaders]], when players #10 to #12 all tied at 34 total "regular season points" - the stated criteria for this section, or again when in this 1980–81 NHL season, when players #10 to #12 all tied at 103 total "regular season points" --->
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="30%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | G
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | A
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | Pts
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="7.5%" | PIM
|-
| [[Wayne Gretzky]] || Edmonton Oilers || 80 || 55 || 109 || 164 || 28
|-
| [[Marcel Dionne]] || Los Angeles Kings || 80 || 58 || 77 || 135 || 70
|-
| [[Kent Nilsson]] || Calgary Flames || 80 || 49 || 82 || 131 || 26
|-
| [[Mike Bossy]] || New York Islanders || 79 || 68 || 51 || 119 || 32
|-
| [[Dave Taylor (ice hockey)|Dave Taylor]] || Los Angeles Kings || 72 || 47 || 65 || 112 || 130
|-
| [[Peter Šťastný|Peter Stastny]] || Quebec Nordiques || 77 || 39 || 70 || 109 || 37
|-
| [[Charlie Simmer]] || Los Angeles Kings || 65 || 56 || 49 || 105 || 62
|-
| [[Mike Rogers (ice hockey)|Mike Rogers]] || Hartford Whalers || 80 || 40 || 65 || 105 || 32
|-
| [[Bernie Federko]] || St. Louis Blues || 78 || 31 || 73 || 104 || 47
|-
| [[Jacques Richard]] || Quebec Nordiques || 78 || 52 || 51 || 103 || 39
|-
| [[Rick Middleton]] || Boston Bruins || 80 || 44 || 59 || 103 || 16
|-
| [[Bryan Trottier]] || New York Islanders || 73 || 31 || 72 || 103 || 74
|}
'''Source:''' NHL.{{sfn |Dinger |2011 |p=152}}

===Leading goaltenders===
{| class="wikitable"
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="32%" | Player
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="22%" | Team
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | GP
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="11%" | MIN
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="8.5%" | GA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="6%" | SO
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="9.5%" | GAA
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="15%" | SV%
|-
| [[Richard Sevigny]] || Montreal || 33 || 1777 || 71 || 2 || '''2.40''' || .908
|-
| [[Rick St. Croix]] || Philadelphia || 27 || 1567 || 65 || 2 || '''2.49''' || .913
|-
| [[Don Edwards (ice hockey)|Don Edwards]] || Buffalo || 45 || 2700 || 133 || 3 || '''2.96''' || .898
|-
| [[Pete Peeters]] || Philadelphia || 40 || 2333 || 115 || 2 || '''2.96''' || .897
|-
| [[Bob Sauvé|Bob Sauve]] || Buffalo || 35 || 2100 || 111 || 2 || '''3.17''' || .880
|-
| [[Don Beaupre]] || Minnesota || 44 || 2585 || 138 || 0 || '''3.20''' || .889
|-
| [[Chico Resch|Glenn Resch]] || New York Islanders/Colorado || 40 || 2266 || 121 || 3 || '''3.20''' || .891
|-
| [[Réjean Lemelin|Reggie Lemelin]] || Calgary || 29 || 1629 || 88 || 2 || '''3.24''' || .902
|-
| [[Gilles Meloche]] || Minnesota || 38 || 2215 || 120 || 2 || '''3.25''' || .889
|-
| [[Mario Lessard]] || Los Angeles || 64 || 3746 || 203 || 2 || '''3.25''' || .893
|}

<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1981_leaders.html|title = 1980-81 NHL Leaders}}</ref>

==Coaches==
===Patrick Division===
*Calgary Flames: [[Al MacNeil]]
*New York Islanders: [[Al Arbour]]
*New York Rangers: [[Fred Shero]] and [[Craig Patrick]]
*Philadelphia Flyers: [[Pat Quinn (ice hockey)|Pat Quinn]]
*Washington Capitals: [[Gary Green (ice hockey)|Gary Green]]

===Adams Division===
*Boston Bruins: [[Gerry Cheevers]]
*Buffalo Sabres: [[Scotty Bowman]]
*Minnesota North Stars: [[Glen Sonmor]]
*Quebec Nordiques: [[Maurice Filion]] and [[Michel Bergeron (ice hockey, born 1946)|Michel Bergeron]]
*Toronto Maple Leafs: [[Joe Crozier]]

===Norris Division===
*Detroit Red Wings: [[Wayne Maxner]]
*Hartford Whalers: [[Don Blackburn]]
*Los Angeles Kings: [[Bob Berry (ice hockey)|Bob Berry]]
*Montreal Canadiens: [[Claude Ruel]]
*Pittsburgh Penguins: [[Eddie Johnston]]

===Smythe Division===
*Chicago Black Hawks: [[Keith Magnuson]]
*Colorado Rockies: [[Bill MacMillan]]
*Edmonton Oilers: [[Bryan Watson (ice hockey)|Bryan Watson]]
*St. Louis Blues: [[Red Berenson]]
*Vancouver Canucks: [[Harry Neale]]
*Winnipeg Jets: [[Mike Smith (ice hockey, born 1945)|Mike Smith]] and [[Tom Watt (ice hockey)|Tom Watt]]

==Milestones==

===Debuts===
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1980–81 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
*[[Barry Pederson]], Boston Bruins
*[[Steve Kasper]], Boston Bruins
*[[Denis Savard]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Steve Larmer]], Chicago Black Hawks
*[[Andy Moog]], Edmonton Oilers
*[[Charlie Huddy]], Edmonton Oilers
*[[Glenn Anderson]], Edmonton Oilers
*[[Jari Kurri]], Edmonton Oilers
*[[Paul Coffey]], Edmonton Oilers
*[[Larry Murphy (ice hockey)|Larry Murphy]], Los Angeles Kings
*[[Dino Ciccarelli]], Minnesota North Stars
*[[Don Beaupre]], Minnesota North Stars
*[[Neal Broten]], Minnesota North Stars
*[[Doug Wickenheiser]], Montreal Canadiens
*[[Guy Carbonneau]], Montreal Canadiens
*[[Rick Wamsley]], Montreal Canadiens
*[[Brent Sutter]], New York Islanders
*[[Rollie Melanson]], New York Islanders
*[[Tim Kerr]], Philadelphia Flyers
*[[Mike Bullard (ice hockey)|Mike Bullard]], Pittsburgh Penguins
*[[Anton Stastny]], Quebec Nordiques
*[[Peter Šťastný|Peter Stastny]], Quebec Nordiques
*[[Dale Hunter]], Quebec Nordiques
*[[Paul MacLean (ice hockey)|Paul MacLean]], St. Louis Blues
*[[Dave Babych]], Winnipeg Jets

===Last games===
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1980–81 (listed with their last team):
*[[Jean Ratelle]], Boston Bruins
*[[Terry Harper]], Colorado Rockies
*[[Pete Mahovlich]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Tom Bladon]], Detroit Red Wings
*[[Phil Esposito]], New York Rangers
*[[Walt Tkaczuk]], New York Rangers
*[[Ron Ellis]], Toronto Maple Leafs
*[[Dennis Kearns]], Vancouver Canucks
*[[Bobby Schmautz]], Vancouver Canucks
*[[Dennis Ververgaert]], Washington Capitals
*[[Guy Charron]], Washington Capitals
*[[Wayne Stephenson]], Washington Capitals
*[[Jude Drouin]], Winnipeg Jets

==Broadcasting==
''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' on [[CBC Television]] televised Saturday night regular season games and Stanley Cup playoff games.

This was the first season that U.S. national broadcasts were only on cable television. [[NHL on ESPN|ESPN]] and [[NHL on USA|USA]] continued to carry slates of regular season and playoff games for the second consecutive season.

== See also ==
* [[33rd National Hockey League All-Star Game]]
* [[1980 NHL Entry Draft]]
* [[1980–81 NHL transactions]]
* [[1980 in sports]]
* [[1981 in sports]]
* [[List of Stanley Cup champions]]
* [[National Hockey League All-Star Game]]

==References==
* {{cite book|title=Total Hockey |editor=Diamond, Dan |publisher=Total Sports |year=2000 |location=Kingston, New York |isbn=1-892129-85-X }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dinger |editor-first=Ralph |year=2011 |title=The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 |publisher=Dan Diamond & Associates |isbn=978-1-894801-22-5 |location=Toronto, ON |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/nationalhockeyle0000unse_u6g5 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Dryden |editor-first=Steve |title=Century of hockey |publisher=McClelland & Stewart Ltd. |location=Toronto, ON |year=2000 |isbn=0-7710-4179-9 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Fischler |first1=Stan |last2=Fischler |first2=Shirley
 |last3=Hughes |first3=Morgan |last4=Romain |first4=Joseph |last5=Duplacey |first5=James
 |year=2003 |title=The Hockey Chronicle: Year-by-Year History of the National Hockey League |publisher=Publications International Inc. |isbn=0-7853-9624-1 |location=Lincolnwood, Illinois |ref={{harvid|Fischler|2003}}}}
* {{cite web|title=1980-81 NHL Playoff Results
|publisher=hockeyDB.com|url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/playoffdisplay.php?league=nhl1927&season=1981&leaguenm=NHL}}

;Notes
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/nhl1927.html Hockey Database]
*[http://nhl.com/ NHL.com]

{{1980–81 NHL season by team}}
{{NHL seasons|1980}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:NHL, 1980-81}}
[[Category:1980–81 NHL season| ]]
[[Category:1980–81 in Canadian ice hockey by league]]
[[Category:1980–81 in American ice hockey by league]]