# 1979–80 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1979–80 season was the first season that the Red Wings played at their at the time newly built arena, the Joe Louis Arena. The Red Wings failed to qualify for the playoffs.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 47 | 20 | 13 | 328 | 240 | 107 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 30 | 36 | 14 | 290 | 313 | 74 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 251 | 303 | 73 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 27 | 34 | 19 | 303 | 312 | 73 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 268 | 306 | 63 |
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

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Detroit
—1–2–10–3–10–3–12–23–10–3
Hartford
2–1–1—2–1–10–1–32–1–16–4–6
Los Angeles
3–0–11–2–1—0–41–1–25–7–4
Montreal
3–0–11–0–34–0—2–1–110–1–5
Pittsburgh
2–21–2–11–1–21–2–1—5–7–4
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Detroit
1–2–11–32–1–12–1–10–46–11–3
Hartford
1–2–11–30–41–1–22–25–12–3
Los Angeles
1–2–10–3–12–0–23–13–0–19–6–5
Montreal
3–11–1–23–12–1–13–112–5–3
Pittsburgh
2–20–41–32–22–27–13–0
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Detroit
1–2–13–11–30–3–12–1–17–10–3
Hartford
3–11–31–2–10–2–21–2–16–10–4
Los Angeles
1–2–11–2–11–30–41–34–14–2
Montreal
3–0–10–3–13–0–12–1–12–1–110–5–5
Pittsburgh
2–1–11–0–32–20–3–13–18–7–5
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Detroit
1−31−32−1–11−2−12−23−110−12−2
Hartford
1–1–22−1−12–1–12–21−1−22−210−8−6
Los Angeles
3−0−14−01−2−11−32−21−2−112−9−3
Montreal
2−23−13−12−22−23−115−9−0
Pittsburgh
0−2–22−21−31−2–12−1–14−010−10−4 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | T | October 10, 1979 | 4–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 0–0–1 |
| 2 | L | October 12, 1979 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 0–1–1 |
| 3 | T | October 13, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 0–1–2 |
| 4 | W | October 17, 1979 | 5–1 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 1–1–2 |
| 5 | L | October 20, 1979 | 3–7 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 1–2–2 |
| 6 | W | October 25, 1979 | 4–0 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 2–2–2 |
| 7 | L | October 27, 1979 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 2–3–2 |
| 8 | L | October 28, 1979 | 4–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 2–4–2 |
| 9 | L | October 31, 1979 | 3–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 2–5–2 |
| 10 | W | November 3, 1979 | 2–0 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 3–5–2 |
| 11 | L | November 4, 1979 | 1–5 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 3–6–2 |
| 12 | W | November 7, 1979 | 5–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 4–6–2 |
| 13 | L | November 10, 1979 | 1–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 4–7–2 |
| 14 | L | November 14, 1979 | 2–3 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 4–8–2 |
| 15 | W | November 16, 1979 | 4–2 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 5–8–2 |
| 16 | W | November 17, 1979 | 5–4 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 6–8–2 |
| 17 | L | November 21, 1979 | 1–4 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 6–9–2 |
| 18 | L | November 23, 1979 | 2–5 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 6–10–2 |
| 19 | T | November 24, 1979 | 3–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 6–10–3 |
| 20 | T | November 27, 1979 | 5–5 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 6–10–4 |
| 21 | W | December 1, 1979 | 6–3 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 7–10–4 |
| 22 | T | December 2, 1979 | 4–4 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 7–10–5 |
| 23 | W | December 5, 1979 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 8–10–5 |
| 24 | W | December 8, 1979 | 5–1 | Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 9–10–5 |
| 25 | L | December 10, 1979 | 0–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 9–11–5 |
| 26 | L | December 11, 1979 | 1–2 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 9–12–5 |
| 27 | T | December 13, 1979 | 6–6 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 9–12–6 |
| 28 | T | December 15, 1979 | 4–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 9–12–7 |
| 29 | L | December 16, 1979 | 3–7 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 9–13–7 |
| 30 | W | December 19, 1979 | 6–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 10–13–7 |
| 31 | L | December 22, 1979 | 1–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 10–14–7 |
| 32 | L | December 26, 1979 | 4–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 10–15–7 |
| 33 | L | December 27, 1979 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 10–16–7 |
| 34 | W | December 30, 1979 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 11–16–7 |
| 35 | L | December 31, 1979 | 3–5 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 11–17–7 |
| 36 | L | January 2, 1980 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 11–18–7 |
| 37 | W | January 4, 1980 | 6–3 | @ Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 12–18–7 |
| 38 | W | January 6, 1980 | 2–1 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 13–18–7 |
| 39 | W | January 9, 1980 | 4–0 | New York Rangers (1979–80) | 14–18–7 |
| 40 | L | January 12, 1980 | 4–6 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 14–19–7 |
| 41 | L | January 13, 1980 | 2–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 14–20–7 |
| 42 | W | January 16, 1980 | 5–1 | Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 15–20–7 |
| 43 | W | January 18, 1980 | 5–0 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 16–20–7 |
| 44 | W | January 19, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 17–20–7 |
| 45 | L | January 23, 1980 | 3–5 | New York Islanders (1979–80) | 17–21–7 |
| 46 | L | January 26, 1980 | 3–4 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 17–22–7 |
| 47 | W | January 27, 1980 | 7–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 18–22–7 |
| 48 | L | January 30, 1980 | 4–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 18–23–7 |
| 49 | W | January 31, 1980 | 4–3 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 19–23–7 |
| 50 | W | February 2, 1980 | 3–0 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 20–23–7 |
| 51 | L | February 3, 1980 | 2–4 | St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 20–24–7 |
| 52 | T | February 6, 1980 | 2–2 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 20–24–8 |
| 53 | L | February 9, 1980 | 5–6 | Philadelphia Flyers (1979–80) | 20–25–8 |
| 54 | L | February 10, 1980 | 1–4 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 20–26–8 |
| 55 | T | February 13, 1980 | 2–2 | Atlanta Flames (1979–80) | 20–26–9 |
| 56 | L | February 16, 1980 | 3–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 20–27–9 |
| 57 | L | February 18, 1980 | 2–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 20–28–9 |
| 58 | L | February 20, 1980 | 5–7 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 20–29–9 |
| 59 | L | February 23, 1980 | 1–5 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 20–30–9 |
| 60 | W | February 24, 1980 | 7–5 | Minnesota North Stars (1979–80) | 21–30–9 |
| 61 | W | February 28, 1980 | 4–1 | Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 22–30–9 |
| 62 | W | March 1, 1980 | 4–3 | @ New York Islanders (1979–80) | 23–30–9 |
| 63 | L | March 2, 1980 | 3–6 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1979–80) | 23–31–9 |
| 64 | L | March 5, 1980 | 3–5 | Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 23–32–9 |
| 65 | T | March 8, 1980 | 2–2 | @ St. Louis Blues (1979–80) | 23–32–10 |
| 66 | W | March 9, 1980 | 6–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1979–80) | 24–32–10 |
| 67 | T | March 12, 1980 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 24–32–11 |
| 68 | L | March 13, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1979–80) | 24–33–11 |
| 69 | L | March 15, 1980 | 2–5 | @ Washington Capitals (1979–80) | 24–34–11 |
| 70 | L | March 16, 1980 | 2–6 | Winnipeg Jets (1979–80) | 24–35–11 |
| 71 | L | March 19, 1980 | 3–4 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1979–80) | 24–36–11 |
| 72 | W | March 21, 1980 | 5–2 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1979–80) | 25–36–11 |
| 73 | L | March 22, 1980 | 1–5 | @ Colorado Rockies (1979–80) | 25–37–11 |
| 74 | L | March 26, 1980 | 2–5 | Edmonton Oilers (1979–80) | 25–38–11 |
| 75 | L | March 27, 1980 | 1–10 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1979–80) | 25–39–11 |
| 76 | W | March 29, 1980 | 9–7 | Quebec Nordiques (1979–80) | 26–39–11 |
| 77 | L | March 31, 1980 | 5–7 | @ New York Rangers (1979–80) | 26–40–11 |
| 78 | L | April 2, 1980 | 2–7 | Montreal Canadiens (1979–80) | 26–41–11 |
| 79 | L | April 5, 1980 | 1–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1979–80) | 26–42–11 |
| 80 | L | April 6, 1980 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1979–80) | 26–43–11 |
* Game 28 would be the last game ever played in the Detroit Olympia.
* Game 33 would be the first ice hockey game ever played in the Joe Louis Arena.
As a result, the Red Wings were forced on a four-game road trip from December 16 to 26.

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Dale McCourt | C | 80 | 30 | 51 | 81 | 12 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 3 |
| Vaclav Nedomansky | RW | 79 | 35 | 39 | 74 | 13 | -5 | 11 | 0 | 5 |
| Mike Foligno | RW | 80 | 36 | 35 | 71 | 109 | -2 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Reed Larson | D | 80 | 22 | 44 | 66 | 101 | -7 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| Pete Mahovlich | C | 80 | 16 | 50 | 66 | 69 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Dan Labraaten | LW | 76 | 30 | 27 | 57 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 5 |
| Errol Thompson | LW | 77 | 34 | 14 | 48 | 22 | -10 | 8 | 2 | 3 |
| Willie Huber | D | 76 | 17 | 23 | 40 | 164 | -26 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
| John Ogrodnick | LW | 41 | 8 | 24 | 32 | 8 | -4 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Paul Woods | LW | 79 | 6 | 20 | 26 | 24 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Korn | D/LW | 63 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 108 | -4 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Barry Long | D | 80 | 0 | 17 | 17 | 38 | -28 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Hogaboam | C | 42 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 10 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Greg Joly | D | 59 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 45 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Lyle | LW | 27 | 7 | 4 | 11 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dan Bolduc | LW | 44 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 19 | -14 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dennis Sobchuk | C | 33 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 0 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dennis Polonich | C/RW | 66 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 127 | -15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thommie Bergman | D | 28 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 45 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean Hamel | D | 49 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 43 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Hicks | LW | 50 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 43 | -21 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brent Peterson | C | 18 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Miller | D | 16 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 41 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rogie Vachon | G | 59 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Alex Pirus | RW | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rejean Cloutier | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Hilworth | D | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | G | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kevin Schamehorn | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Vasko | D | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Webster | RW | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Rogie Vachon | 3474 | 59 | 20 | 30 | 8 | 209 | 3.61 | 4 |
| Jim Rutherford | 1326 | 23 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 92 | 4.16 | 1 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 26 | 43 | 11 | 301 | 3.76 | 5 |
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 1979 NHL Entry Draft held at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 3 | Mike Foligno | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 3 | 45 | Jody Gage | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Boris Fistric | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
| 4 | 66 | John Ogrodnick | Canada | New Westminster Bruins (WHL) |
| 5 | 87 | Joe Paterson | Canada | London Knights (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 108 | Carmine Cirella | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |