# 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' second season in the NHL, and they finished with 74 points, a 5-point improvement from their first season.
Wayne Gretzky ran away with the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the leading scorer, as he finished with 164 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky also won his second consecutive Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the NHL. His 164 points were an NHL record, previously held by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in the 1970–71 NHL season when he scored 152 points. Youngsters Jari Kurri and Mark Messier have very good offensive seasons, finishing 2nd and 3rd on the Oilers scoring list.
Eddie Mio got the majority of the action in the Oilers' goal, playing in a team-high 43 games and having 16 wins, which set a franchise record.
In the playoffs, the Oilers faced the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and they shocked the hockey world by sweeping Montreal in 3 games. In the quarter-finals, the Oilers played the defending Stanley Cup champion and heavily favored New York Islanders and took them to 6 games before being eliminated.
The season also saw one of their roster players, Don Ashby died in a car accident in the Okanagan Valley. The vehicle that he was driving was hit head-on by a pickup truck. Ashby was critically injured in the accident and died afterward from massive internal injuries in the hospital in Kelowna, British Columbia.

## Season standings

Smythe Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 45 | 18 | 17 | 352 | 281 | 107 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 304 | 315 | 78 |
| Vancouver Canucks | 80 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 289 | 301 | 76 |
| Edmonton Oilers | 80 | 29 | 35 | 16 | 328 | 327 | 74 |
| Colorado Rockies | 80 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 258 | 344 | 57 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 9 | 57 | 14 | 246 | 400 | 32 |
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 – New York Islanders | PTK | 80 | 48 | 18 | 14 | 355 | 260 | 110 |
| 2 | x – St. Louis Blues | SMY | 80 | 45 | 18 | 17 | 352 | 281 | 107 |
| 3 | y – Montreal Canadiens | NRS | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 332 | 232 | 103 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Kings | NRS | 80 | 43 | 24 | 13 | 337 | 290 | 99 |
| 5 | x – Buffalo Sabres | ADM | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| 6 | Philadelphia Flyers | PTK | 80 | 41 | 24 | 15 | 313 | 249 | 97 |
| 7 | Calgary Flames | PTK | 80 | 39 | 27 | 14 | 329 | 298 | 92 |
| 8 | Boston Bruins | ADM | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| 9 | Minnesota North Stars | ADM | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| 10 | Chicago Black Hawks | SMY | 80 | 31 | 33 | 16 | 304 | 315 | 78 |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | ADM | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| 12 | Vancouver Canucks | SMY | 80 | 28 | 32 | 20 | 289 | 301 | 76 |
| 13 | New York Rangers | PTK | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 312 | 317 | 74 |
| 14 | Edmonton Oilers | SMY | 80 | 29 | 35 | 16 | 328 | 327 | 74 |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Penguins | NRS | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 302 | 345 | 73 |
| 16 | Toronto Maple Leafs | ADM | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | PTK | 80 | 26 | 36 | 18 | 286 | 317 | 70 |
| 18 | Hartford Whalers | NRS | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 292 | 372 | 60 |
| 19 | Colorado Rockies | SMY | 80 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 258 | 344 | 57 |
| 20 | Detroit Red Wings | NRS | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 252 | 339 | 56 |
| 21 | Winnipeg Jets | SMY | 80 | 9 | 57 | 14 | 246 | 400 | 32 |
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
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
—2−21−31−2−12−23−19−10−1
Colorado
2−2—3−0−11−30−2−21−2−17−9−4
Edmonton
3−10−3−1—1−2−12−24−010−8−2
St. Louis
2−1−13−12−1−1—4−02−0−213−3−4
Vancouver
2−22−0−22−20−4—2−0−28−8−4
Winnipeg
1−32−1−10−40−2−20−2−2—3−12−5
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Chicago
1−0−30−41−2−11−1−21−1−24−8−8
Colorado
3−11−33−10−40−3−17−12−1
Edmonton
1−2−10−2−21−2−12−21−2−15−10−5
St. Louis
2−20−2−24−00−3−12−0−28−7−5
Vancouver
1−31−31−2−12−1−11−1−26−10−4
Winnipeg
0−3−10−3−11−31−30−3−12−15−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Chicago
1−32−22−23−0−11−2−19−9−2
Colorado
1−2−10−3−11−2−12−21−1−25−10−5
Edmonton
1−31−1−21−2−11−32−1−16−10−4
St. Louis
3−13−0−11−2−12−1−13−112−5−3
Vancouver
2−21−1−21−2−11−1−23−0−18−6−6
Winnipeg
0−2−20−40−41−1−22−23−13−4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Chicago
1−1−23−0−10−2−22−23−19−6−5
Colorado
1−2−11−2−10−3−10−41−33−14−3
Edmonton
2−1−12−1−10−2−22−22−1−18−7−5
St. Louis
4−03−0−12−0−21−1−22−212−3−5
Vancouver
2−1−11−1−20−40−2−23−0−16−8−6
Winnipeg
0−3−10−3−10−41−30−41−17−2 :

## Schedule and results

1980–81 Game Log :

## Playoffs

In Game One of the series versus Montreal, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.
1981 Stanley Cup playoffs :

## Season stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 80 | 55 | 109 | 164 | 28 |
| Jari Kurri | 75 | 32 | 43 | 75 | 40 |
| Mark Messier | 72 | 23 | 40 | 63 | 102 |
| Brett Callighen | 55 | 25 | 35 | 60 | 32 |
| Glenn Anderson | 58 | 30 | 23 | 53 | 24 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | T | GA | SO | GAA |
| Gary Edwards | 15 | 729 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 44 | 0 | 3.62 |
| Andy Moog | 7 | 313 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 3.83 |
| Eddie Mio | 43 | 2393 | 16 | 15 | 9 | 155 | 0 | 3.89 |
| Ron Low | 24 | 1260 | 5 | 13 | 3 | 93 | 0 | 4.43 |
| Pete LoPresti | 2 | 105 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 4.57 |

## Playoff stats
### Scoring leaders

| Player | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
| Wayne Gretzky | 9 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 4 |
| Glenn Anderson | 9 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 12 |
| Jari Kurri | 9 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 4 |
| Brett Callighen | 9 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 6 |
| Paul Coffey | 9 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 22 |

### Goaltending

| Player | GP | TOI | W | L | GA | SO | GAA |
| Andy Moog | 9 | 526 | 5 | 4 | 32 | 0 | 3.65 |
| Gary Edwards | 1 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6.00 |

## Awards and records
### Records

* 164: an NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.
      * 153: A new NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on March 29, 1981.
* 109: an NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.
      * 103: A new NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on April 1, 1981.

### Milestones

Regular Season :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1980 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Game | October 10, 1980 |
| Jari Kurri | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 10, 1980 |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 12, 1980 |
| Jari Kurri | 1st NHL Goal | October 18, 1980 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | October 19, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 100th NHL Point | October 19, 1980 |
| Dave Semenko | 1st NHL Hat-trick | October 19, 1980 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Goal | October 22, 1980 |
| Doug Hicks | 300th NHL PIM | October 22, 1980 |
| Matti Hagman | 100th NHL Game | November 3, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 100th NHL Assist | November 7, 1980 |
| Charlie Huddy | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | November 15, 1980 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick | November 16, 1980 |
| Charlie Huddy | 1st NHL Goal | November 16, 1980 |
| Don Murdoch | 100th NHL Assist | November 16, 1980 |
| Dave Lumley | 100th NHL Game | November 25, 1980 |
| Blair MacDonald | 100th NHL Game | November 25, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 100th NHL Game | November 26, 1980 |
| Dave Hunter | 100th NHL Game | November 26, 1980 |
| Jari Kurri | 1st NHL Hat-trick | November 26, 1980 |
| John Hughes | 200th NHL PIM | November 28, 1980 |
| Kevin Lowe | 100th NHL PIM | December 7, 1980 |
| Mark Messier | 100th NHL Game | December 10, 1980 |
| Tom Roulston | 1st NHL Game | December 10, 1980 |
| Curt Brackenbury | 100th NHL PIM | December 16, 1980 |
| Don Murdoch | 100th NHL Assist | December 16, 1980 |
| Tom Roulston | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | December 16, 1980 |
| Lee Fogolin | 100th NHL Point | December 20, 1980 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 3rd NHL Hat-trick | December 23, 1980 |
| Andy Moog | 1st NHL Game | December 23, 1980 |
| Andy Moog | 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | December 28, 1980 |
| Lee Fogolin | 600th NHL PIM | December 30, 1980 |
| Dave Semenko | 100th NHL Game | December 30, 1980 |
| Kevin Lowe | 100th NHL Game | January 2, 1981 |
| Risto Siltanen | 100th NHL Game | January 2, 1981 |
| Andy Moog | 1st NHL Win | January 2, 1981 |
| Pat Price | 100th NHL Point | January 2, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 200th NHL Point | January 7, 1981 |
| Jari Kurri | 2nd NHL Hat-trick | January 11, 1981 |
| Doug Hicks | 100th NHL Assist | January 17, 1981 |
| Stan Weir | 500th NHL Game | January 23, 1981 |
| Jari Kurri | 3rd NHL Hat-trick | January 28, 1981 |
| Roy Sommer | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | January 28, 1981 |
| Pat Price | 300th NHL Game | January 30, 1981 |
| Curt Brackenbury | 100th NHL Game | February 1, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 4th NHL Hat-trick 2nd NHL Natural Hat-trick | February 6, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 5th NHL Hat-trick 3rd NHL Natural Hat-trick 1st Five-Goal NHL Game | February 18, 1981 |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Hat-trick 1st NHL Natural Hat-trick | February 21, 1981 |
| Mark Messier | 200th NHL PIM | February 25, 1981 |
| Curt Brackenbury | 200th NHL PIM | February 27, 1981 |
| Dave Lumley | 200th NHL PIM | February 28, 1981 |
| Brett Callighen | 100th NHL Point | March 3, 1981 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick | March 4, 1981 |
| Tom Roulston | 1st NHL Assist | March 4, 1981 |
| Brett Callighen | 100th NHL Game | March 7, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 100th NHL Goal 6th NHL Hat-trick 1st Four-Goal NHL Game | March 7, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 50th Goal in 69 Games | March 15, 1981 |
| Brett Callighen | 100th NHL PIM | March 16, 1981 |
| Mark Messier | 1st NHL Hat-trick | March 16, 1981 |
| Glenn Anderson | 2nd NHL Hat-trick | March 25, 1981 |
| Dave Hunter | 200th NHL PIM | March 29, 1981 |
| Dave Semenko | 200th NHL PIM | March 29, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 300th NHL Point | April 4, 1981 |
| Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Hat-trick | April 4, 1981 |
Playoffs :
| Player | Milestone | Reached |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1981 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1981 |
| Jari Kurri | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1981 |
| Garry Lariviere | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point | April 8, 1981 |
| Andy Moog | 1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win | April 8, 1981 |
| Risto Siltanen | 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point | April 9, 1981 |
| Glenn Anderson | 1st NHL Assist | April 11, 1981 |
| Paul Coffey | 1st NHL Assist | April 11, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 1st NHL Hat-trick | April 11, 1981 |
| Matti Hagman | 1st NHL Goal | April 11, 1981 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 2nd NHL Hat-trick | April 19, 1981 |
| Doug Hicks | 1st NHL Assist | April 20, 1981 |
| Curt Brackenbury | 1st NHL Game | April 22, 1981 |

## Transactions
### Trades

| Date | Details | Details |
| June 11, 1980 (1980-06-11) | To Philadelphia FlyersRon Areshenkoff 10th round pick in 1980 – Bob O'Brien | To Edmonton OilersBarry Dean |
| June 20, 1980 (1980-06-20) | To Minnesota North StarsCash | To Edmonton OilersJim Corsi |
| July 10, 1980 (1980-07-10) | To Pittsburgh PenguinsFuture considerations | To Edmonton OilersTom Bladon |
| February 2, 1981 (1981-02-02) | To Minnesota North Stars3rd round pick in 1982 – Wally Chapman | To Edmonton OilersGary Edwards |
| March 10, 1981 (1981-03-10) | To Los Angeles Kings7th round pick in 1981 – Craig Hurley | To Edmonton OilersGarry Unger |
| March 10, 1981 (1981-03-10) | To New York RangersJohn Hughes | To Edmonton OilersRay Markham |
| March 10, 1981 (1981-03-10) | To Pittsburgh PenguinsPat Price | To Edmonton OilersPat Hughes |
| March 10, 1981 (1981-03-10) | To Vancouver CanucksBlair MacDonald Lars-Gunnar Pettersson | To Edmonton OilersGarry Lariviere Ken Berry |

### Waivers

| Date | Player | Team |
| July 2, 1980 (1980-07-02) | Ron Carter | to Buffalo Sabres |
| October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10) | Curt Brackenbury | from Quebec Nordiques |
| October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10) | Colin Campbell | to Vancouver Canucks |
| October 13, 1980 (1980-10-13) | John Hughes | from Vancouver Canucks |

### Signings

| Date | Player | Term |
| | Andy Moog | |
| August 6, 1980 (1980-08-06) | Paul Coffey | 4-year |
| August 6, 1980 (1980-08-06) | Jari Kurri | 2-year |
| August 6, 1980 (1980-08-06) | Pat Price | 2-year |
| August 18, 1980 (1980-08-18) | Shawn Babcock | |
| August 20, 1980 (1980-08-20) | Ron Low | 2-year |
| September 9, 1980 (1980-09-09) | Glenn Anderson | 3-year |
| September 15, 1980 (1980-09-15) | Tom Bladon | 1-year |
| September 15, 1980 (1980-09-15) | Blair MacDonald | 1-year |
| September 29, 1980 (1980-09-29) | Walt Poddubny | |

### Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 6 | Paul Coffey | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 48 | Shawn Babcock | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
| 4 | 69 | Jari Kurri | Finland | Jokerit (SM-liiga) |
| 5 | 90 | Walt Poddubny | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 111 | Mike Winther | Canada | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 7 | 132 | Andy Moog | Canada | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
| 8 | 153 | Rob Polman-Tuin | Canada | Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA) |
| 9 | 174 | Lars-Gunnar Pettersson | Sweden | IF Björklöven (Elitserien) |