View source for 1980–81 Hartford Whalers season

{{Short description|National Hockey League season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox ice hockey team season
| League = NHL
| Season = 1980–81
| year = 1980
| Team = Hartford Whalers
| Division = [[Norris Division|Norris]]
| DivisionRank = 4th
| Conference = [[Wales Conference|Wales]]
| ConferenceRank = 9th
| Record = 21–41–18
| HomeRecord = 14–17–9
| RoadRecord = 7–24–9
| GoalsFor = 292
| GoalsAgainst = 372
| GeneralManager = [[Jack Kelley (ice hockey)|Jack Kelley]]
| Coach = [[Don Blackburn]] (15-29-16) <br /> [[Larry Pleau]] (6-12-2)
| Captain = [[Rick Ley]] <br /> [[Mike Rogers (ice hockey)|Mike Rogers]]
| AltCaptain = 
| Arena = [[Hartford Civic Center]]
| Attendance = 11,704 (80.7%) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045 |title=Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph |website=hockeydb.com}}</ref>
| MinorLeague = [[Binghamton Whalers]] ([[American Hockey League|AHL]]) <br /> [[Saginaw Gears (IHL)|Saginaw Gears]] ([[International Hockey League (1945–2001)|IHL]]) <br /> [[Syracuse Hornets]] ([[Eastern Hockey League (1978–1981)|EHL]])
| GoalsLeader = [[Blaine Stoughton]] (43)
| AssistsLeader = [[Mike Rogers (ice hockey)|Mike Rogers]] (65)
| PointsLeader = [[Mike Rogers (ice hockey)|Mike Rogers]] (105)
| PlusMinusLeader = [[Mark Howe]] (+9)
| PIMLeader = [[Tom Rowe (ice hockey)|Tom Rowe]] (190)
| WinsLeader = [[John Garrett (ice hockey)|John Garrett]] (15)
| GAALeader = [[Mike Veisor]] (4.46)
| DivisionWin = 
| PresidentsTrophy = 
| ConferenceWin = 
| StanleyCup = 
}}

The '''[[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]] [[Hartford Whalers]] season''' was the Whalers' [[Hartford Whalers seasons|second]] [[Season (sports)|season]] in the [[National Hockey League]].

==Offseason==
On May 23, Hartford signed defenseman [[Thommy Abrahamsson]] as a free agent. Abrahamsson played in 26 games with [[Leksands IF]] of [[Elitserien]], scoring nine goals and 15 points. Abrahamsson had previously played with the Whalers from 1974 to 1977, when the club was still a part of the [[World Hockey Association|WHA]]. In 203 games with New England, Abrahamsson scored 28 goals and 95 points.

[[Gordie Howe]] announced his retirement from the team on June 4. Howe retired as the highest scoring player in NHL history, as he scored 801 goals and added 1049 assists for 1850 points in 1767 games in a career that spanned from 1946 until 1980. Howe joined the Whalers organization in 1977, and in two seasons with the New England Whalers in the WHA, he scored 53 goals and 139 points in 134 games. In 1979–80, he remained with the club as they moved to the [[National Hockey League|NHL]], and Howe, at the age of 51, scored 15 goals and 41 points in 80 games, followed with a goal and two points in three playoff games. Following this announcement, the Whalers hired Howe as director of player development.

On June 5, the Whalers acquired center [[Rick Meagher]], a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the [[1981 NHL Entry Draft]] from the [[Montreal Canadiens]] in exchange for a third round and a fifth-round pick in 1981. Meagher appeared in only two games with Montreal during 1979–80, as he spent most of the season with their [[American Hockey League]] affiliate, the [[Nova Scotia Voyageurs]]. In 64 games with Nova Scotia, Meagher had 32 goals and 76 points, followed by three goals and seven points in six post-season games.

At the [[1980 NHL Entry Draft]] held at the [[Montreal Forum]] on June 11, the Whalers selected defenseman [[Fred Arthur]] from the [[Cornwall Royals]] of the [[Quebec Major Junior Hockey League|QMJHL]] with their first-round pick, eighth overall. In 67 games with Cornwall in 1979–80, Arthur scored five goals and 70 assists for 75 points. In the postseason, Arthur had two goals and 14 points in 18 games, helping Cornwall win the [[President's Cup (QMJHL)|President's Cup]] and earn a berth at the [[1980 Memorial Cup]]. During the Memorial Cup, Arthur had five assists in five games, helping the Royals win the championship.

On June 14, Hartford acquired goaltender [[Mike Veisor]] from the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] in exchange for a second-round draft pick in the [[1981 NHL Entry Draft]].  Veisor had a record of 3–5–3 with a 3.28 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 11 games with Chicago during 1979–80.

The Whalers acquired right winger [[Warren Miller (ice hockey)|Warren Miller]] off of waivers under terms from the 1979 expansion draft from the [[New York Rangers]] on August 7. The Whalers had to give the Rangers cash to complete the deal. Miller scored seven goals and 13 points in 55 games with New York in 1979–80. In 1978–79, Miller scored 26 goals and 49 points in 77 games with the New England Whalers.

On September 1, right winger [[Bobby Hull]] announced his retirement as a player. Hull appeared in nine games with Hartford in 1979–80, scoring two goals and seven points after he was acquired from the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]]. In 1090 career NHL games, Hull scored 616 goals and 1187 points as he played with the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] from 1957 to 1972 before signing with the Jets as a free agent. In 411 career WHA games with Winnipeg, Hull scored 303 goals and 638 points from 1972 to 1979, before rejoining the NHL in 1979–80 with the Jets.

On September 4, the Whalers traded away goaltender [[Al Smith (ice hockey)|Al Smith]] to the [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] in exchange for cash. Smith had a record of 11–10–8 with a 3.67 GAA and a .876 save percentage with the Whalers in 1979–80. In 1973, Smith led the Whalers to the [[Avco Cup]], and in 1978, he won the [[Ben Hatskin Trophy]] which was awarded to the best goaltender in the [[World Hockey Association]].

==Regular season==

===October===
The Whalers opened the [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]] season with a four-game road trip, and on October 9, they lost 8–6 to the [[St. Louis Blues]], followed by a 9–3 loss two nights later against the [[Minnesota North Stars]].  After a 2–2 tie against the [[Buffalo Sabres]], the Whalers earned their first victory on October 15, with a 5–2 win over the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].

Hartford played their first home game of the season on October 18 against the [[Detroit Red Wings]] in front of 10,287 fans.  The Whalers [[Al Sims]] led the way with two goals, and [[John Garrett (ice hockey)|John Garrett]] made 26 saves in the Whalers 4–2 victory.  The team would post a 3–0–1 record on their opening four game home stand.

The Whalers would finish the month with a solid record of 5–4–2, earning 12 points, and second place in the [[Norris Division]], three points behind the first place [[Los Angeles Kings]].

===November===
The Whalers would slump to begin the month of November, as the club would go winless in their first eight games (0–6–2) of the month before earning a 4–3 victory over the [[Vancouver Canucks]] on November 22.  The Whalers would follow that game up with a huge 11–3 loss to the [[Chicago Black Hawks]] the next night.

Hartford would end November with two wins in their final three games, bringing their season record to 8–12–4 record with 20 points, sitting in third place in the [[Norris Division]].

===December===
The Whalers opened December with a five-game western road trip, in which the team put up a respectable 2–2–1 record, with wins over the [[Calgary Flames]] and [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]].

The team returned home for two games, as Hartford tied the [[Los Angeles Kings]] 5–5 on December 13, followed by a 5–4 win over the [[Boston Bruins]] on December 17.  The Whalers then headed out for a three-game road trip before [[Christmas]], in which the Whalers tied the Bruins 5–5, lost to the [[Quebec Nordiques]] 6–5, followed by a huge 7–2 win over the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] on December 23.

On December 26, the Whalers and [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] played a very high scoring game, as Hartford came out on top with a 9–7 victory.  Hartford ended the month with a 5–5 tie against the defending [[Stanley Cup]] champion [[New York Islanders]] the next night.

Overall, the Whalers had a 5–3–4 record in their 12 December games, and improved to 13–15–8, earning 34 points, for the season.  The Whalers continued to stay into third place in the [[Norris Division]], five points ahead of the fourth place [[Pittsburgh Penguins]].

===January===
Hartford got off to a bad start in January, losing their first three games, snapping their losing streak with a 6–6 tie against the [[Edmonton Oilers]] on January 9.  The Whalers earned their first win of the month the next night, defeating the [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] 5–3.

The Whalers losing ways would return though, as the club lost four games in a row, including three by one goal, before ending the streak with a tie against the [[St. Louis Blues]] on January 21.  Hartford would then lose their next two games, extending their winless streak to seven games, before the team finally defeated the [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] 6–3 on January 28.  Hartford then went winless in their last two games (0–1–1) of the month.

The team managed a 2–10–3 record in 15 games for the month, and had a 15–25–11 record, getting 41 points at the end January.  Hartford fell into fourth place in the [[Norris Division]], one point behind the third place [[Pittsburgh Penguins]], and four points ahead of the last place [[Detroit Red Wings]].

===February===
The Whalers losing ways continued into February, as Hartford would go winless in their first nine games of the month (0–4–5), and extend their overall winless streak to 11 games.

After their 6–2 loss to the [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] on February 19, the Whalers fired head coach [[Don Blackburn]], and replaced him with [[Larry Pleau]].

In his first game as the head coach, Pleau ended the Whalers winless skid, as Hartford defeated the [[New York Rangers]] 6–5 on February 22.  The club won their next game three nights later, defeating the [[Minnesota North Stars]] 3–2, however, their winning streak ended with a 5–1 loss to the [[Calgary Flames]] on February 27.

The Whalers had a 2–5–5 record in February, and had a 4–15–8 record since the start of January.  The Whalers overall season record at the end of February was 17–30–16, as they earned 50 points, and remained in fourth place in the [[Norris Division]], only two points ahead of the [[Detroit Red Wings]].

===March/April===
The Whalers began March with two straight losses before earning a 5–3 win over the [[Buffalo Sabres]] on March 6.  Hartford then went on a five-game winless skid (0–4–1) before earning another victory, which was a huge 9–3 win over the [[Montreal Canadiens]].

Hartford would continue to struggle for the rest of the regular season, as they posted a 2–5–1 record in their final eight games after the 9–3 win over the Canadiens.

The team finished their second season with a 21–41–18 record, earning 60 points, and fourth place in the [[Norris Division]], four points ahead of the [[Detroit Red Wings]].  The Whalers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in team history.

===Final standings===
{{1980–81 NHL Norris Division standings|team=HAR}}
{{1980–81 NHL standings|team=HAR}}

===Record vs. opponents===
{{1980–81 NHL Record vs. opponents (Norris)|team=HFD}}

==Schedule and results==
{| class="wikitable" width="70%"
|-
! width="2%"  | No.
! width="3%"  | R
! width="10%"  | Date
! width="5%"  | Score
! width="20%" | Opponent
! width="10%" | Record
! width="5%" | Attendance
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|1||L||October 9, 1980||6–8 || align="left"| @ [[St. Louis Blues]] <small>([[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|1980–81]])</small> ||0–1–0 ||11,132
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|2||L||October 11, 1980||3–9 || align="left"| @ [[Minnesota North Stars]] <small>([[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|1980–81]])</small> ||0–2–0 ||15,338
|- align="center" 
|3||T||October 12, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ [[Buffalo Sabres]] <small>([[1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season|1980–81]])</small> ||0–2–1 ||16,433
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|4||W||October 15, 1980||5–2 || align="left"| @ [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] <small>([[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1980–81]])</small> ||1–2–1 ||5,637
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|5||W||October 18, 1980||4–2 || align="left"|  [[Detroit Red Wings]] <small>([[1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season|1980–81]])</small> ||2–2–1 ||10,287
|- align="center" 
|6||T||October 19, 1980||3–3 || align="left"|  [[New York Islanders]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Islanders season|1980–81]])</small> ||2–2–2 ||10,014
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|7||W||October 22, 1980||3–0 || align="left"|  [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] <small>([[1980–81 Colorado Rockies season|1980–81]])</small> ||3–2–2 ||9,595
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|8||W||October 25, 1980||4–2 || align="left"|  [[Quebec Nordiques]] <small>([[1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season|1980–81]])</small> ||4–2–2 ||11,005
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|9||L||October 26, 1980||1–6 || align="left"| @ [[Philadelphia Flyers]] <small>([[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|1980–81]])</small> ||4–3–2 ||17,077
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|10||W||October 29, 1980||5–3 || align="left"|  [[Detroit Red Wings]] <small>([[1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–3–2 ||9,103
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|11||L||October 30, 1980||2–8 || align="left"| @ [[Montreal Canadiens]] <small>([[1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–4–2 ||15,555
|- align="center" 
|12||T||November 1, 1980||4–4 || align="left"|  [[Vancouver Canucks]] <small>([[1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–4–3 ||10,418
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|13||L||November 5, 1980||1–6 || align="left"| @ [[St. Louis Blues]] <small>([[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–5–3 ||10,278
|- align="center" 
|14||T||November 6, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] <small>([[1980–81 Colorado Rockies season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–5–4 ||5,669
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|15||L||November 8, 1980||4–5 || align="left"|  [[Philadelphia Flyers]] <small>([[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–6–4 ||13,191
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|16||L||November 12, 1980||1–5 || align="left"|  [[Minnesota North Stars]] <small>([[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–7–4 ||10,044
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|17||L||November 15, 1980||4–8 || align="left"|  [[Washington Capitals]] <small>([[1980–81 Washington Capitals season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–8–4 ||11,544
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|18||L||November 16, 1980||3–7 || align="left"| @ [[New York Rangers]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Rangers season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–9–4 ||17,419
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|19||L||November 20, 1980||0–5 || align="left"| @ [[New York Islanders]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Islanders season|1980–81]])</small> ||5–10–4 ||14,062
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|20||W||November 22, 1980||4–3 || align="left"|  [[Vancouver Canucks]] <small>([[1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season|1980–81]])</small> ||6–10–4 ||11,160
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|21||L||November 23, 1980||3–11 || align="left"| @ [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] <small>([[1980–81 Chicago Black Hawks season|1980–81]])</small> ||6–11–4 ||10,827
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|22||W||November 26, 1980||8–4 || align="left"|  [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] <small>([[1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season|1980–81]])</small> ||7–11–4 ||10,741
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|23||W||November 28, 1980||6–4 || align="left"|  [[Edmonton Oilers]] <small>([[1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season|1980–81]])</small> ||8–11–4 ||11,073
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|24||L||November 29, 1980||2–5 || align="left"|  [[Buffalo Sabres]] <small>([[1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season|1980–81]])</small> ||8–12–4 ||13,202
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|25||L||December 2, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| @ [[Los Angeles Kings]] <small>([[1980–81 Los Angeles Kings season|1980–81]])</small> ||8–13–4 ||7,456
|- align="center" 
|26||T||December 3, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ [[Vancouver Canucks]] <small>([[1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season|1980–81]])</small> ||8–13–5 ||11,281
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|27||W||December 6, 1980||5–3 || align="left"| @ [[Calgary Flames]] <small>([[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|1980–81]])</small> ||9–13–5 ||7,083
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|28||L||December 7, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| @ [[Edmonton Oilers]] <small>([[1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season|1980–81]])</small> ||9–14–5 ||17,215
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|29||W||December 10, 1980||8–5 || align="left"| @ [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] <small>([[1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season|1980–81]])</small> ||10–14–5 ||11,623
|- align="center" 
|30||T||December 13, 1980||5–5 || align="left"|  [[Los Angeles Kings]] <small>([[1980–81 Los Angeles Kings season|1980–81]])</small> ||10–14–6 ||11,204
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|31||W||December 17, 1980||5–4 || align="left"|  [[Boston Bruins]] <small>([[1980–81 Boston Bruins season|1980–81]])</small> ||11–14–6 ||13,111
|- align="center" 
|32||T||December 20, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ [[Boston Bruins]] <small>([[1980–81 Boston Bruins season|1980–81]])</small> ||11–14–7 ||9,616
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|33||L||December 21, 1980||5–6 || align="left"| @ [[Quebec Nordiques]] <small>([[1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season|1980–81]])</small> ||11–15–7 ||10,241
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|34||W||December 23, 1980||7–2 || align="left"| @ [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] <small>([[1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1980–81]])</small> ||12–15–7 ||16,430
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|35||W||December 26, 1980||9–7 || align="left"|  [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] <small>([[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–15–7 ||12,208
|- align="center" 
|36||T||December 27, 1980||5–5 || align="left"|  [[New York Islanders]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Islanders season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–15–8 ||14,510
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|37||L||January 2, 1981||1–3 || align="left"|  [[Montreal Canadiens]] <small>([[1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–16–8 ||14,510
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|38||L||January 3, 1981||1–8 || align="left"| @ [[New York Islanders]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Islanders season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–17–8 ||15,008
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|39||L||January 7, 1981||3–5 || align="left"| @ [[Los Angeles Kings]] <small>([[1980–81 Los Angeles Kings season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–18–8 ||8,535
|- align="center" 
|40||T||January 9, 1981||6–6 || align="left"| @ [[Edmonton Oilers]] <small>([[1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season|1980–81]])</small> ||13–18–9 ||17,474
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|41||W||January 10, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| @ [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] <small>([[1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–18–9 ||11,233
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|42||L||January 12, 1981||2–5 || align="left"|  [[St. Louis Blues]] <small>([[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–19–9 ||11,118
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|43||L||January 14, 1981||4–5 || align="left"|  [[Los Angeles Kings]] <small>([[1980–81 Los Angeles Kings season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–20–9 ||11,455
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|44||L||January 17, 1981||2–3 || align="left"|  [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] <small>([[1980–81 Chicago Black Hawks season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–21–9 ||13,131
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|45||L||January 18, 1981||2–3 || align="left"| @ [[Washington Capitals]] <small>([[1980–81 Washington Capitals season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–22–9 ||10,036
|- align="center" 
|46||T||January 21, 1981||6–6 || align="left"|  [[St. Louis Blues]] <small>([[1980–81 St. Louis Blues season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–22–10 ||9,484
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|47||L||January 23, 1981||2–4 || align="left"|  [[Calgary Flames]] <small>([[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–23–10 ||10,206
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|48||L||January 24, 1981||4–7 || align="left"| @ [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] <small>([[1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1980–81]])</small> ||14–24–10 ||16,485
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|49||W||January 28, 1981||6–3 || align="left"|  [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] <small>([[1980–81 Colorado Rockies season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–24–10 ||12,510
|- align="center" 
|50||T||January 30, 1981||5–5 || align="left"|  [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] <small>([[1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–24–11 ||10,667
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|51||L||January 31, 1981||3–5 || align="left"|  [[Buffalo Sabres]] <small>([[1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–25–11 ||12,425
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|52||L||February 2, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ [[Quebec Nordiques]] <small>([[1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–26–11 ||12,435
|- align="center" 
|53||T||February 4, 1981||3–3 || align="left"|  [[Boston Bruins]] <small>([[1980–81 Boston Bruins season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–26–12 ||13,149
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|54||L||February 7, 1981||2–6 || align="left"|  [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] <small>([[1980–81 Chicago Black Hawks season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–27–12 ||12,327
|- align="center" 
|55||T||February 8, 1981||6–6 || align="left"| @ [[Philadelphia Flyers]] <small>([[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–27–13 ||17,077
|- align="center" 
|56||T||February 12, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ [[Detroit Red Wings]] <small>([[1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–27–14 ||11,175
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|57||L||February 14, 1981||4–7 || align="left"| @ [[Minnesota North Stars]] <small>([[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–28–14 ||13,158
|- align="center" 
|58||T||February 15, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ [[Chicago Blackhawks|Chicago Black Hawks]] <small>([[1980–81 Chicago Black Hawks season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–28–15 ||12,571
|- align="center" 
|59||T||February 18, 1981||3–3 || align="left"|  [[Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996)|Winnipeg Jets]] <small>([[1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–28–16 ||14,096
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|60||L||February 19, 1981||2–6 || align="left"| @ [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] <small>([[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1980–81]])</small> ||15–29–16 ||6,571
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|61||W||February 22, 1981||6–5 || align="left"|  [[New York Rangers]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Rangers season|1980–81]])</small> ||16–29–16 ||13,663
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|62||W||February 25, 1981||3–2 || align="left"|  [[Minnesota North Stars]] <small>([[1980–81 Minnesota North Stars season|1980–81]])</small> ||17–29–16 ||11,202
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|63||L||February 27, 1981||1–5 || align="left"| @ [[Calgary Flames]] <small>([[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|1980–81]])</small> ||17–30–16 ||7,226
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|64||L||March 1, 1981||0–3 || align="left"| @ [[Vancouver Canucks]] <small>([[1980–81 Vancouver Canucks season|1980–81]])</small> ||17–31–16 ||12,616
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|65||L||March 3, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| @ [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]] <small>([[1980–81 Colorado Rockies season|1980–81]])</small> ||17–32–16 ||5,239
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|66||W||March 6, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| @ [[Buffalo Sabres]] <small>([[1980–81 Buffalo Sabres season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–32–16 ||16,383
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|67||L||March 8, 1981||4–5 || align="left"|  [[Calgary Flames]] <small>([[1980–81 Calgary Flames season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–33–16 ||10,171
|- align="center" 
|68||T||March 10, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ [[Detroit Red Wings]] <small>([[1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–33–17 ||13,217
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|69||L||March 11, 1981||2–5 || align="left"|  [[Washington Capitals]] <small>([[1980–81 Washington Capitals season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–34–17 ||10,962
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|70||L||March 14, 1981||2–6 || align="left"| @ [[New York Rangers]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Rangers season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–35–17 ||17,405
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|71||L||March 15, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ [[Boston Bruins]] <small>([[1980–81 Boston Bruins season|1980–81]])</small> ||18–36–17 ||10,865
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|72||W||March 18, 1981||9–3 || align="left"|  [[Montreal Canadiens]] <small>([[1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season|1980–81]])</small> ||19–36–17 ||12,092
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|73||L||March 21, 1981||4–6 || align="left"|  [[New York Rangers]] <small>([[1980–81 New York Rangers season|1980–81]])</small> ||19–37–17 ||14,510
|- align="center" 
|74||T||March 22, 1981||3–3 || align="left"|  [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] <small>([[1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season|1980–81]])</small> ||19–37–18 ||10,620
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|75||L||March 25, 1981||2–7 || align="left"|  [[Edmonton Oilers]] <small>([[1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season|1980–81]])</small> ||19–38–18 ||11,405
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|76||W||March 27, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| @ [[Washington Capitals]] <small>([[1980–81 Washington Capitals season|1980–81]])</small> ||20–38–18 ||12,201
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|77||L||March 29, 1981||1–4 || align="left"|  [[Philadelphia Flyers]] <small>([[1980–81 Philadelphia Flyers season|1980–81]])</small> ||20–39–18 ||12,350
|- align="center" bgcolor="#CCFFCC" 
|78||W||April 1, 1981||5–4 || align="left"|  [[Quebec Nordiques]] <small>([[1980–81 Quebec Nordiques season|1980–81]])</small> ||21–39–18 ||10,734
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|79||L||April 3, 1981||1–6 || align="left"| @ [[Montreal Canadiens]] <small>([[1980–81 Montreal Canadiens season|1980–81]])</small> ||21–40–18 ||16,978
|- align="center" bgcolor="#FFBBBB"
|80||L||April 5, 1981||4–5 || align="left"|  [[Pittsburgh Penguins]] <small>([[1980–81 Pittsburgh Penguins season|1980–81]])</small> ||21–41–18 ||13,059
|}

==Playoffs==
The Whalers failed to qualify for [[1981 Stanley Cup playoffs]], as the club finished with a 21–41–18 record, earning 60 points, which was 11 points behind the [[Toronto Maple Leafs]] for the final playoff position. This marked the first time since joining the NHL that the Whalers did not qualify for the playoffs.

==Player statistics==
{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

==Awards and records==
{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

==Transactions==
The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the [[1980–81 NHL season|1980–81]] season.

===Trades===
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
| June 5, 1980
|  valign="top"|To [[Montreal Canadiens]]<hr>3rd-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] – [[Dieter Hegen]] <br /> 5th-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] – [[Steve Rooney]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Rick Meagher]] <br /> 3rd-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] – [[Paul MacDermid]] <br /> 5th-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft]] – [[Dan Bourbonnais]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| June 14, 1980
|  valign="top"|To [[Chicago Black Hawks]]<hr>2nd-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Mike Veisor]]
|-
| September 4, 1980
|  valign="top"|To [[Colorado Rockies (NHL)|Colorado Rockies]]<hr>[[Al Smith (ice hockey)|Al Smith]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>Cash Considerations
|- style="background:#eee;"
| November 20, 1980
|  valign="top"|To [[Philadelphia Flyers]]<hr>2nd-round pick in [[1982 NHL Entry Draft|1982]] – [[Peter Ihnacak]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Jack McIlhargey]] <br /> Player to be Named Later – [[Norm Barnes]] on Dec. 5, 1980
|- 
| December 16, 1980
|  valign="top"|To [[Minnesota North Stars]]<hr>[[Gordie Roberts]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Mike Fidler]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| January 15, 1981
|  valign="top"|To [[New York Rangers]]<hr>[[Nick Fotiu]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>5th-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] – [[Bill Maguire]]
|- 
| February 1, 1981
|  valign="top"|To [[Calgary Flames]]<hr>Future Considerations
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[John Stewart (ice hockey, born 1954)|John Stewart]]
|- style="background:#eee;"
| February 20, 1981
|  valign="top"|To [[Pittsburgh Penguins]]<hr>6th-round pick in [[1981 NHL Entry Draft|1981]] – [[Paul Edwards (ice hockey)|Paul Edwards]]
|  valign="top"|To [[Hartford Whalers]]<hr>[[Gilles Lupien]]
|}

===Waivers===
{|class="wikitable"
|- 
| August 7, 1980
|  valign="top"|From [[New York Rangers]]<hr>[[Warren Miller (ice hockey)|Warren Miller]]
|}

===Free agents===
{|class="wikitable"
|-  style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"
| '''Player''' || '''Former Team'''
|-
| [[Thommy Abrahamsson]] || [[Leksands IF]] ([[Swedish Elite League|Sweden]])
|- style="background:#eee;"
| [[Randy MacGregor]] || [[EC VSV]] ([[Austrian Hockey League|Austria]])
|-
| [[Ross Yates]] || [[Mount Allison Mounties|Mount Allison University]] ([[Atlantic University Sport|AUAA]])
|}

==Draft picks==

Hartford's draft picks from the [[1980 NHL Entry Draft]] which was held at the [[Montreal Forum]] in [[Montreal]] on June 11, 1980.

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="text-align:center;"
!  style="background:#ddf; width:4.0%;"| Round
!  style="background:#ddf; width:4.0%;"| #
!  style="background:#ddf; width:21.0%;"| Player
!  style="background:#ddf; width:21.0%;"| Nationality
!  style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team (league)
|-
|1||8|| [[Fred Arthur]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Cornwall Royals]] (QMJHL)
|-
|2||29|| [[Michel Galarneau]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Hull Olympiques]] (QMJHL)
|-
|3||50|| [[Mickey Volcan]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey|University of North Dakota]] (WCHA)
|-
|4||71|| [[Kevin McClelland]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Niagara Falls Flyers]] (OMJHL)
|-
|5||92|| [[Darren Jensen]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[North Dakota Fighting Hawks men's ice hockey|University of North Dakota]] (WCHA)
|-
|6||113|| Mario Cerri || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Ottawa 67's]] (OMJHL)
|-
|7||134|| Mike Martin || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Sudbury Wolves]] (OMJHL)
|-
|8||155|| Brent DeNat || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey|Michigan Tech]] (WCHA)
|-
|9||176|| [[Paul Fricker]] || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey|University of Michigan]] (WCHA)
|-
|10||197|| Lorne Bokshowan || {{flagu|Canada}} || [[Saskatoon Blades]] (WHL)
|}

==Farm teams==

{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}

==See also==
*[[1980–81 NHL season]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1981_games.html |publisher=Hockey-reference.com |accessdate=2009-05-06 |title=1980–81 Hartford Whalers Games}}

{{Hartford Whalers seasons}}
{{1980–81 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Hartford Whalers season}}
[[Category:Hartford Whalers seasons]]
[[Category:1980–81 NHL season by team|Hartford]]
[[Category:1980 in sports in Connecticut|Hartford]]
[[Category:1981 in sports in Connecticut|Hartford]]
[[Category:1980s in Hartford, Connecticut]]