# 1981–82 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1981–82 Detroit Red Wings season was the 50th season as the Red Wings, 56th overall for the franchise. They missed the playoffs for the fourth straight season.

## Offseason

The National Hockey League realigned their divisions into geographically closer groupings. The Red Wings were the only team to remain in the Norris Division from the previous season, while the division itself was moved from the Prince of Wales Conference to the Campbell Conference, trading places with the Patrick Division. The Red Wings were joined in the Norris by the Chicago Black Hawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Minnesota North Stars, and Winnipeg Jets.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 37 | 23 | 20 | 346 | 288 | 94 |
| Winnipeg Jets | 80 | 33 | 33 | 14 | 319 | 332 | 80 |
| St. Louis Blues | 80 | 32 | 40 | 8 | 315 | 349 | 72 |
| Chicago Black Hawks | 80 | 30 | 38 | 12 | 332 | 363 | 72 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 20 | 44 | 16 | 298 | 380 | 56 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 21 | 47 | 12 | 270 | 351 | 54 |
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.

### Record vs. opponents

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CHI
DET
MIN
STL
TOR
WIN
Total
Chicago
—3−3−13−3−12−4−13−42−3−213−17−5
Detroit
3−3−1—1−62−53−3−12−3−211−20−4
Minnesota
3−3−16−1—3−3−14−0−33−3−119−10−6
St. Louis
4−2−15−23−3−1—5−21−4−218−13−4
Toronto
4−33−3−10−4−32−5—2−4−111−19−5
Winnipeg
3−2−23−2−23−3−14−1−24−2−1—17−10−8
Vs. Smythe Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
CGY
COL
EDM
LAK
VAN
Total
Chicago
2−0−11−21−1−13−01−28−5−2
Detroit
1−1−13−00−2−11−21−1−16−6−3
Minnesota
1−0−21−0−20−2−12−0−11−1−15−3−7
St. Louis
2−12−10−31−22−17−8−0
Toronto
0−1−21−0−21−22−10−2−14−6−5
Winnipeg
2−12−11−23−01−29−6−0
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
HFD
MTL
QUE
Total
Chicago
2−11−21−1−10−2−11−25−8−2
Detroit
0−2−10−30−2−11−20−31−12−2
Minnesota
2−11−1−12−10−1−22−0−17−4−4
St. Louis
1−1−11−21−20−2−11−24−9−2
Toronto
0−30−2−10−30−2−11−1−11−11−3
Winnipeg
0−30−1−21−20−1−20−2−11−9−5
Vs. Patrick Division
1981–82 NHL records
Team
NYI
NYR
PHI
PIT
WSH
Total
Chicago
0−30−31−1−11−0−22−14−8−3
Detroit
0−31−20−2−12−10−1−23−9−3
Minnesota
0−2−11−21−1−12−12−0−16−6−3
St. Louis
0−2−10−2−10−32−11−23−10−2
Toronto
0−31−1−11−21−0−21−24−8−3
Winnipeg
1−21−1−12–11–21−26–8–1 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | W | October 6, 1981 | 5–2 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 1–0–0 |
| 2 | T | October 9, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 1–0–1 |
| 3 | L | October 10, 1981 | 3–6 | @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 1–1–1 |
| 4 | W | October 15, 1981 | 6–3 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 2–1–1 |
| 5 | L | October 17, 1981 | 1–8 | @ Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 2–2–1 |
| 6 | W | October 18, 1981 | 3–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 3–2–1 |
| 7 | T | October 22, 1981 | 2–2 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 3–2–2 |
| 8 | L | October 24, 1981 | 3–8 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 3–3–2 |
| 9 | L | October 25, 1981 | 1–4 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 3–4–2 |
| 10 | W | October 29, 1981 | 12–4 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 4–4–2 |
| 11 | L | October 31, 1981 | 4–5 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 4–5–2 |
| 12 | W | November 1, 1981 | 3–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 5–5–2 |
| 13 | W | November 5, 1981 | 10–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 6–5–2 |
| 14 | L | November 7, 1981 | 2–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 6–6–2 |
| 15 | L | November 9, 1981 | 3–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 6–7–2 |
| 16 | T | November 11, 1981 | 5–5 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 6–7–3 |
| 17 | T | November 13, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 6–7–4 |
| 18 | W | November 14, 1981 | 6–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 7–7–4 |
| 19 | L | November 18, 1981 | 1–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 7–8–4 |
| 20 | L | November 19, 1981 | 3–8 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 7–9–4 |
| 21 | T | November 21, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 7–9–5 |
| 22 | L | November 23, 1981 | 4–8 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 7–10–5 |
| 23 | L | November 25, 1981 | 1–3 | Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 7–11–5 |
| 24 | L | November 28, 1981 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 7–12–5 |
| 25 | L | November 29, 1981 | 3–6 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 7–13–5 |
| 26 | L | December 1, 1981 | 5–7 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 7–14–5 |
| 27 | W | December 3, 1981 | 4–3 | Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 8–14–5 |
| 28 | L | December 5, 1981 | 2–5 | Philadelphia Flyers (1981–82) | 8–15–5 |
| 29 | W | December 10, 1981 | 4–1 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 9–15–5 |
| 30 | L | December 12, 1981 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 9–16–5 |
| 31 | W | December 13, 1981 | 2–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 10–16–5 |
| 32 | L | December 17, 1981 | 2–3 | Quebec Nordiques (1981–82) | 10–17–5 |
| 33 | L | December 19, 1981 | 1–5 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 10–18–5 |
| 34 | L | December 20, 1981 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (1981–82) | 10–19–5 |
| 35 | L | December 22, 1981 | 2–3 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 10–20–5 |
| 36 | L | December 26, 1981 | 3–8 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 10–21–5 |
| 37 | T | December 27, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 10–21–6 |
| 38 | L | December 31, 1981 | 2–5 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 10–22–6 |
| 39 | W | January 2, 1982 | 3–1 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 11–22–6 |
| 40 | L | January 3, 1982 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 11–23–6 |
| 41 | L | January 6, 1982 | 2–5 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1981–82) | 11–24–6 |
| 42 | W | January 7, 1982 | 5–4 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1981–82) | 12–24–6 |
| 43 | L | January 9, 1982 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 12–25–6 |
| 44 | W | January 14, 1982 | 3–1 | Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 13–25–6 |
| 45 | T | January 16, 1982 | 5–5 | Washington Capitals (1981–82) | 13–25–7 |
| 46 | T | January 17, 1982 | 4–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 13–25–8 |
| 47 | W | January 20, 1982 | 5–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 14–25–8 |
| 48 | L | January 21, 1982 | 4–7 | Calgary Flames (1981–82) | 14–26–8 |
| 49 | T | January 23, 1982 | 2–2 | Hartford Whalers (1981–82) | 14–26–9 |
| 50 | T | January 26, 1982 | 3–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 14–26–10 |
| 51 | L | January 27, 1982 | 6–8 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 14–27–10 |
| 52 | L | January 30, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1981–82) | 14–28–10 |
| 53 | W | February 4, 1982 | 6–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 15–28–10 |
| 54 | L | February 6, 1982 | 2–6 | @ New York Islanders (1981–82) | 15–29–10 |
| 55 | W | February 7, 1982 | 8–5 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 16–29–10 |
| 56 | T | February 11, 1982 | 4–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1981–82) | 16–29–11 |
| 57 | L | February 13, 1982 | 1–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 16–30–11 |
| 58 | T | February 17, 1982 | 3–3 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 16–30–12 |
| 59 | W | February 18, 1982 | 4–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 17–30–12 |
| 60 | L | February 20, 1982 | 5–7 | Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 17–31–12 |
| 61 | L | February 21, 1982 | 3–7 | Edmonton Oilers (1981–82) | 17–32–12 |
| 62 | W | February 23, 1982 | 6–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1981–82) | 18–32–12 |
| 63 | L | February 24, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1981–82) | 18–33–12 |
| 64 | L | February 27, 1982 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 18–34–12 |
| 65 | L | February 28, 1982 | 4–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 18–35–12 |
| 66 | L | March 3, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 18–36–12 |
| 67 | L | March 5, 1982 | 0–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 18–37–12 |
| 68 | L | March 6, 1982 | 1–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 18–38–12 |
| 69 | L | March 8, 1982 | 3–6 | @ New York Rangers (1981–82) | 18–39–12 |
| 70 | L | March 11, 1982 | 1–4 | New York Rangers (1981–82) | 18–40–12 |
| 71 | L | March 13, 1982 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1981–82) | 18–41–12 |
| 72 | L | March 18, 1982 | 4–7 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 18–42–12 |
| 73 | L | March 20, 1982 | 3–4 | Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 18–43–12 |
| 74 | L | March 21, 1982 | 2–8 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 18–44–12 |
| 75 | L | March 24, 1982 | 4–6 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1981–82) | 18–45–12 |
| 76 | L | March 25, 1982 | 3–4 | Minnesota North Stars (1981–82) | 18–46–12 |
| 77 | W | March 27, 1982 | 2–1 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 19–46–12 |
| 78 | W | March 28, 1982 | 6–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1981–82) | 20–46–12 |
| 79 | W | March 31, 1982 | 4–2 | Winnipeg Jets (1981–82) | 21–46–12 |
| 80 | L | April 4, 1982 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1981–82) | 21–47–12 |

## Player statistics
### Regular season
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Mark Osborne | LW | 80 | 26 | 41 | 67 | 61 | -7 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Reed Larson | D | 80 | 21 | 39 | 60 | 112 | -17 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| Mike Blaisdell | RW | 80 | 23 | 32 | 55 | 48 | -15 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Walt McKechnie | C | 74 | 18 | 37 | 55 | 35 | -1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| John Ogrodnick | LW | 80 | 28 | 26 | 54 | 28 | -15 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Willie Huber | D | 74 | 15 | 30 | 45 | 98 | -16 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Mark Kirton | C | 74 | 14 | 28 | 42 | 62 | -18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vaclav Nedomansky | RW | 68 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 22 | -15 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Smith | D | 69 | 10 | 22 | 32 | 79 | -22 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Dale McCourt | C | 26 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 6 | -3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Woods | LW | 75 | 10 | 17 | 27 | 48 | -5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Mike Foligno | RW | 26 | 13 | 13 | 26 | 28 | -2 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Eric Vail | LW | 52 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 35 | -21 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Danny Gare | RW | 36 | 13 | 9 | 22 | 74 | -4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Don Murdoch | RW | 49 | 9 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Derek Smith | C/LW | 49 | 6 | 14 | 20 | 10 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jody Gage | RW | 31 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Ted Nolan | C | 41 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 45 | -6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Jim Schoenfeld | D | 39 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 69 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Barrett | D | 69 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 93 | -31 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Korn | D/LW | 59 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 104 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Lofthouse | RW/C | 12 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 13 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Joly | D | 37 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 30 | -5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| George Lyle | LW | 11 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Smith | RW | 33 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 80 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Claude Loiselle | C | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Peterson | C | 15 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rejean Cloutier | D | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | | |
| Gilles Gilbert | G | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Legris | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Corrado Micalef | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Paterson | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bob Sauve | G | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Stefan | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Bob Sauve | 2365 | 41 | 11 | 25 | 4 | 165 | 4.19 | 0 |
| Gilles Gilbert | 1478 | 27 | 6 | 10 | 6 | 105 | 4.26 | 0 |
| Corrado Micalef | 809 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 1 | 63 | 4.67 | 0 |
| Claude Legris | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0 |
| Greg Stefan | 120 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 5.00 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 21 | 47 | 12 | 343 | 4.29 | 0 |
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;  MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts;

## Draft picks

Detroit's draft picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 2 | 23 | Claude Loiselle | Canada | Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 44 | Corrado Micalef | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 5 | 86 | Larry Trader | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 107 | Gerard Gallant | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 7 | 128 | Greg Stefan | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OMJHL) |
| 8 | 149 | Rick Zombo | United States | Austin Mavericks (USHL) |
| 9 | 170 | Don LeBlanc | United States | Moncton Hawks (NBJHL) |
| 10 | 191 | Robert Nordmark | Sweden | Frolunda (Sweden) |