# 1979–80 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1979–80 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' eighth season and their first season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers were one of four WHA organizations that were granted NHL expansion franchises under the terms of an expansion agreement that took effect on June 22, 1979.
The Oilers were led offensively by rookie superstar Wayne Gretzky, as he tied for the lead league in points at 137, however lost the Art Ross Trophy due to scoring 2 fewer goals than winner Marcel Dionne. Gretzky, however, won the Hart Memorial Trophy as MVP of the NHL but was declared ineligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy due to his playing days in the WHA.
Edmonton played six goaltenders during the season and was led by Eddie Mio's nine wins, while Ron Low, who came over in a trade with the Quebec Nordiques, would go 8–2–1 in 11 games with the Oilers.
They made the playoffs, however, they were quickly swept out by the powerful Philadelphia Flyers in 3 games, but Oilers fans were very excited about being part of the NHL, and of the future of the team.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
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.
League standings :
| R | | Div | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| 1 | p – Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 48 | 12 | 20 | 327 | 254 | 116 |
| 2 | y – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 47 | 17 | 16 | 318 | 201 | 110 |
| 3 | x – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| 4 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 46 | 21 | 13 | 310 | 234 | 105 |
| 5 | New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 39 | 28 | 13 | 281 | 247 | 91 |
| 6 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 36 | 28 | 16 | 311 | 253 | 88 |
| 7 | x – Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 34 | 27 | 19 | 241 | 250 | 87 |
| 8 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 38 | 32 | 10 | 308 | 284 | 86 |
| 9 | Atlanta Flames | PTK | 80 | 35 | 32 | 13 | 282 | 269 | 83 |
| 10 | St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 34 | 34 | 12 | 266 | 278 | 80 |
| 11 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 35 | 40 | 5 | 304 | 327 | 75 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| 13 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| 14 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| 15 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 27 | 37 | 16 | 256 | 281 | 70 |
| 16 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 28 | 39 | 13 | 301 | 322 | 69 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 27 | 40 | 13 | 261 | 293 | 67 |
| 18 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
| 19 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 25 | 44 | 11 | 248 | 313 | 61 |
| 20 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 20 | 49 | 11 | 214 | 314 | 51 |
| 21 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 19 | 48 | 13 | 234 | 308 | 51 |
Divisions: ADM – Adams, NRS – Norris, PTK – Patrick, SMY – Smythe
bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference. x – Won division; y – Won Conference (and division); p – Won Presidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

### Record vs. opponents

Smythe Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−0−11−31−2−11−1−22−28−8−4
Colorado
0−3−1—2−20−2−21−2−11−2−14−11−5
Edmonton
3−12−2—0−3−11−2−11−2−17−10−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−0−23−0−1—3−11−1−211−3−6
Vancouver
1−1−22−1−12−1−11−3—2−1−18−7−5
Winnipeg
2−22−1−11−2−12−21−2−1—8−9−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Chicago
2−0−21−2−12−1−10−2−22−27−7−6
Colorado
0−41−31−1−21−2−11−1−24−11−5
Edmonton
1−2−12−1−11−30−3−13−17−10−3
St. Louis
1−31−30−40−2−22−24−14−2
Vancouver
2−22−1−10−41−31−36−13−1
Winnipeg
0−40−2−22−20−40−3−12−15−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Chicago
2−21−1−22−1−12−1−14−011−5−4
Colorado
1−2−11−31−31−30−3−14−14−2
Edmonton
0−41−2−11−1−22−22−1−16−10−4
St. Louis
1−1−22−21−32−22−28−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−30−1−32−1−12−21−35−8−7
Winnipeg
1−30−3−11−2−12−20−44−14−2
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Chicago
3−11−1−20−3−12−22−0−28−7−5
Colorado
3−11−2−10−41−32−27−12−1
Edmonton
1−2−11−2−12−1−11−33−18−9−3
St. Louis
2−1−12−23−12−22−1−111−7−2
Vancouver
2−21−1−22−22−21−2−18−9−3
Winnipeg
1−32−22−1−11−30−46−13−1 :

## Schedule and results

1979–80 Game Log :

## Playoffs

1980 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Player statistics
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 79 | 51 | 86 | 137 | 21 |
| Blair MacDonald | 80 | 46 | 48 | 94 | 6 |
| Stan Weir | 79 | 33 | 33 | 66 | 40 |
| Brett Callighen | 59 | 23 | 35 | 58 | 72 |
| Dave Lumley | 80 | 20 | 38 | 58 | 138 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Ron Low | 11 | 650 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 37 | 0 | 3.42 |
| Don Cutts | 6 | 269 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 3.57 |
| Jim Corsi | 26 | 1366 | 8 | 14 | 3 | 83 | 0 | 3.65 |
| Bob Dupuis | 1 | 60 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4.00 |
| Eddie Mio | 34 | 1711 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 120 | 1 | 4.21 |
| Dave Dryden | 14 | 744 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 53 | 0 | 4.27 |

#### Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Mark Messier | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Blair MacDonald | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Don Murdoch | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brett Callighen | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Ron Low | 3 | 212 | 0 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 3.40 |

## Awards and records

* Wayne Gretzky – Hart Memorial Trophy

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Brett Callighen | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1979 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1979 |
| Ron Chipperfield | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Peter Driscoll | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Blair MacDonald | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1979 |
| Dave Hunter | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1979 |
| Kevin Lowe | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1979 |
| Dave Lumley | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1979 |
| Blair MacDonald | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 13, 1979 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 13, 1979 |
| Eddie Mio | 1st NHL Game | October 13, 1979 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 13, 1979 |
| Stan Weir | 200th NHL Point | October 13, 1979 |
| Colin Campbell | 300th NHL Game | October 14, 1979 |
| Bill Flett | 500th NHL PIM | October 14, 1979 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1st NHL Goal | October 14, 1979 |
| Blair MacDonald | 1st NHL Assist | October 14, 1979 |
| Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 14, 1979 |
| Brett Callighen | 1st NHL Goal | October 19, 1979 |
| Ron Chipperfield | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 19, 1979 |
| Blair MacDonald | 1st NHL Hat-trick | October 19, 1979 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Assist | October 19, 1979 |
| Eddie Mio | 1st NHL Win | October 19, 1979 |
| Dave Hunter Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Assist | October 21, 1979 |
| Ron Areshenkoff | 1st NHL Game | October 23, 1979 |
| Colin Campbell | 600th NHL PIM | October 23, 1979 |
| Peter Driscoll | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | October 23, 1979 |
| Peter Driscoll | 1st NHL Assist | October 26, 1979 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Goal | October 26, 1979 |
| Bill Flett | 200th NHL Goal | October 28, 1979 |
| Ron Chipperfield | 1st NHL Goal | October 30, 1979 |
| Mike Toal | 1st NHL Game | October 30, 1979 |
| Kari Makkonen | 1st NHL Game | November 7, 1979 |
| John Bednarski | 100th NHL Game | November 8, 1979 |
| Bryon Baltimore | 1st NHL Game | November 13, 1979 |
| Dave Dryden | 200th NHL Game | November 21, 1979 |
| Kevin Lowe | 1st NHL Assist | November 30, 1979 |
| Pat Price | 200th NHL Game | November 30, 1979 |
| Kari Makkonen | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | December 7, 1979 |
| Stan Weir | 400th NHL Game | December 7, 1979 |
| Eddie Mio | 1st NHL Shutout | December 9, 1979 |
| Kari Makkonen | 1st NHL Goal | December 12, 1979 |
| Eddie Mio | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | December 19, 1979 |
| Jim Corsi | 1st NHL Game | December 21, 1979 |
| Jim Corsi | 1st NHL Win | December 26, 1979 |
| Jim Corsi | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | January 7, 1980 |
| Stan Weir | 100th NHL Goal | January 7, 1980 |
| Doug Hicks | 100th NHL Point | January 13, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 2nd NHL Hat-trick | January 19, 1980 |
| Doug Hicks | 400th NHL Game | January 20, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 3rd NHL Hat-trick | January 26, 1980 |
| Don Cutts | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win | January 30, 1980 |
| Dave Semenko | 100th NHL PIM | January 30, 1980 |
| Cam Connor | 100th NHL PIM | February 1, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1st NHL Hat-trick | February 1, 1980 |
| Dave Lumley | 100th NHL PIM | February 6, 1980 |
| Stan Weir | 100th NHL PIM | February 6, 1980 |
| Colin Campbell | 700th NHL PIM | February 13, 1980 |
| Lee Fogolin | 500th NHL PIM | February 15, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 4th NHL Hat-trick | February 15, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 100th NHL Point | February 24, 1980 |
| Ron Carter | 1st NHL Game | February 27, 1980 |
| Pat Price | 200th NHL PIM | March 4, 1980 |
| Bob Dupuis | 1st NHL Game | March 9, 1980 |
| Lee Fogolin | 400th NHL Game | March 14, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 2nd NHL Hat-trick 1st NHL Natural Hat-trick | March 21, 1980 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick | March 21, 1980 |
| Don Ashby | 1st NHL Hat-trick | March 29, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 50th Goal in 79 Games | April 2, 1980 |
| Dave Hunter | 100th NHL PIM | April 2, 1980 |
Playoffs :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Brett Callighen | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1980 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1980 |
| Peter Driscoll | 1st NHL Game | April 8, 1980 |
| Dave Hunter | 1st NHL Game | April 8, 1980 |
| Ron Low | 1st NHL Game | April 8, 1980 |
| Kevin Lowe | 1st NHL Game | April 8, 1980 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Game | April 8, 1980 |
| Dave Lumley | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1980 |
| Kevin Lowe | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 9, 1980 |
| Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Game | April 9, 1980 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Goal | April 11, 1980 |

## Transactions

Claimed via waivers
DatePlayerTeam
March 1980John Hilworthfrom Detroit Red Wings :
Signings
DatePlayerTerm
July 18, 1979 (1979-07-18)Bryon Baltimore
August 3, 1979 (1979-08-03)Lee Fogolin3-year
August 21, 1979 (1979-08-21)Dave Semenko2-year
August 30, 1979 (1979-08-30)Kevin Lowe4-year
September 14, 1979 (1979-09-14)Mark Messier2-year
October 5, 1979 (1979-10-05)Max Kostovich
Dave Lumley
Mike Toal
May 14, 1980 (1980-05-14)Blair Barnes :

## Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft:
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 21 | Kevin Lowe | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 3 | 48 | Mark Messier | Canada | Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) |
| 4 | 69 | Glenn Anderson | Canada | Denver Pioneers (WCHA) |
| 4 | 84 | Max Kostovich | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 5 | 105 | Mike Toal | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 6 | 126 | Blair Barnes | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |

### Expansion draft picks

Edmonton's expansion draft picks at the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
| Pick | Player | Pos | Age | Drafted From | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM | W | L | T | GAA |
| 1 | Pete LoPresti | G | 25 | Minnesota North Stars | 173 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 43 | 101 | 20 | 4.06 |
| 2 | Doug Favell | G | 34 | Colorado Rockies | 373 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 152 | 123 | 153 | 69 | 3.17 |
| 3 | Cam Connor | RW | 24 | Montreal Canadiens | 23 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 39 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | Lee Fogolin | D | 24 | Buffalo Sabres | 329 | 8 | 68 | 76 | 424 | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | Pat Price | D | 24 | New York Islanders | 182 | 8 | 45 | 53 | 104 | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | Colin Campbell | D | 26 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 297 | 17 | 60 | 77 | 584 | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | Larry Brown | D | 32 | Los Angeles Kings | 455 | 7 | 53 | 60 | 180 | — | — | — | — |
| 8 | Ron Areshenkoff | C | 22 | Buffalo Sabres | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Inge Hammarstrom | LW | 31 | St. Louis Blues | 427 | 116 | 123 | 239 | 98 | — | — | — | — |
| 10 | John Gould | RW | 30 | Atlanta Flames | 452 | 122 | 129 | 251 | 103 | — | — | — | — |
| 11 | Doug Hicks | D | 24 | Chicago Black Hawks | 357 | 20 | 63 | 83 | 241 | — | — | — | — |
| 12 | Tom Edur | D | 24 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 158 | 17 | 70 | 87 | 67 | — | — | — | — |
| 13 | Wayne Bianchin | LW | 25 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 264 | 68 | 41 | 109 | 137 | — | — | — | — |
| 14 | Mike Forbes | D | 21 | Boston Bruins | 32 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 15 | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Doug Patey | RW | 22 | Washington Capitals | 45 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 8 | — | — | — | — |
| 16 | Bob Kelly | LW | 33 | Chicago Black Hawks | 425 | 87 | 109 | 196 | 687 | — | — | — | — |

#### Trades

* The Montreal Canadiens traded Dave Hunter and Ron Carter in exchange for Edmonton not to select Bill Nyrop, Gilles Lupien, or Rod Langway.
* The Toronto Maple Leafs traded Stan Weir in exchange for Edmonton not to select Ron Ellis.