# 1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season

The 1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season was the Red Wings' 49th season, the first full season at Joe Louis Arena, and 55th overall for the franchise.

## Regular season
### Final standings

Norris Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 45 | 22 | 13 | 332 | 232 | 103 |
| Los Angeles Kings | 80 | 43 | 24 | 13 | 337 | 290 | 99 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 80 | 30 | 37 | 13 | 302 | 345 | 73 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 21 | 41 | 18 | 292 | 372 | 60 |
| Detroit Red Wings | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 252 | 339 | 56 |
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

Norris Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Detroit
—0−2−21−31−31−2−13−10−3
Hartford
2−0−2—0−3−11−32−25−8−3
Los Angeles
3−13−0−1—1−30−2−27−6−3
Montreal
3−13−13−1—2−211−5−0
Pittsburgh
2−1−12−22−0−22−2—8−5−3
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Detroit
0−2−20−3−10−2−20−3−13−13−11−6
Hartford
1−1−21−2−11−32−21−1−26−9−5
Los Angeles
2−21−2−14−03−13−0−113−5−2
Montreal
3−13−11−2−11−1−23−111−6−3
Pittsburgh
0−3−10−3−11−32−1−11−2−14−12−4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Detroit
1−2−10−42−1−11−31−2−15−12−3
Hartford
1−30−2−21−30−3−11−33−14−3
Los Angeles
1−32−23−10−42−1−18−11−1
Montreal
2−1−11−2−12−1−12−1−12−0−29−5−6
Pittsburgh
1−2−12−1−12−1−10−42−1−17−9−4
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Detroit
1−1−22−1−11−2−10−41−2−13−0−18−10−6
Hartford
0−3−12−1−11−2−10−3−11−1−23−0−17−10−7
Los Angeles
2−0−23−0−12−0−20−2−24−04−015−2−7
Montreal
2−24−02−21−1−22−0−23−114−6−4
Pittsburgh
1−33−11−2−12−20−3−14−011−11−2 :

## Schedule and results

| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record |
| 1 | L | October 10, 1980 | 3–5 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 0–1–0 |
| 2 | L | October 11, 1980 | 1–8 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 0–2–0 |
| 3 | L | October 15, 1980 | 4–6 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 0–3–0 |
| 4 | L | October 16, 1980 | 4–6 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 0–4–0 |
| 5 | L | October 18, 1980 | 2–4 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 0–5–0 |
| 6 | W | October 23, 1980 | 5–1 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 1–5–0 |
| 7 | W | October 25, 1980 | 4–2 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 2–5–0 |
| 8 | L | October 26, 1980 | 6–7 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 2–6–0 |
| 9 | T | October 28, 1980 | 2–2 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 2–6–1 |
| 10 | L | October 29, 1980 | 3–5 | @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 2–7–1 |
| 11 | L | November 1, 1980 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 2–8–1 |
| 12 | L | November 4, 1980 | 4–6 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 2–9–1 |
| 13 | W | November 6, 1980 | 3–2 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 3–9–1 |
| 14 | L | November 8, 1980 | 3–5 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 3–10–1 |
| 15 | T | November 11, 1980 | 4–4 | Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 3–10–2 |
| 16 | T | November 12, 1980 | 4–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 3–10–3 |
| 17 | L | November 15, 1980 | 2–5 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 3–11–3 |
| 18 | L | November 19, 1980 | 1–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 3–12–3 |
| 19 | L | November 20, 1980 | 3–7 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 3–13–3 |
| 20 | L | November 22, 1980 | 2–6 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 3–14–3 |
| 21 | T | November 26, 1980 | 7–7 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 3–14–4 |
| 22 | L | November 29, 1980 | 1–5 | @ New York Islanders (1980–81) | 3–15–4 |
| 23 | L | December 2, 1980 | 3–5 | @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 3–16–4 |
| 24 | L | December 4, 1980 | 1–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 3–17–4 |
| 25 | W | December 6, 1980 | 4–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 4–17–4 |
| 26 | T | December 7, 1980 | 1–1 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 4–17–5 |
| 27 | L | December 11, 1980 | 1–2 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 4–18–5 |
| 28 | W | December 13, 1980 | 7–3 | Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 5–18–5 |
| 29 | W | December 14, 1980 | 5–4 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 6–18–5 |
| 30 | W | December 16, 1980 | 4–3 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 7–18–5 |
| 31 | W | December 18, 1980 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 8–18–5 |
| 32 | T | December 20, 1980 | 3–3 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 8–18–6 |
| 33 | L | December 23, 1980 | 2–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 8–19–6 |
| 34 | T | December 27, 1980 | 4–4 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 8–19–7 |
| 35 | W | December 28, 1980 | 4–3 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 9–19–7 |
| 36 | W | December 31, 1980 | 3–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 10–19–7 |
| 37 | T | January 2, 1981 | 2–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 10–19–8 |
| 38 | L | January 3, 1981 | 4–6 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 10–20–8 |
| 39 | L | January 6, 1981 | 2–6 | Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 10–21–8 |
| 40 | L | January 8, 1981 | 4–7 | @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 10–22–8 |
| 41 | W | January 10, 1981 | 4–1 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 11–22–8 |
| 42 | T | January 13, 1981 | 3–3 | Boston Bruins (1980–81) | 11–22–9 |
| 43 | L | January 15, 1981 | 0–10 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 11–23–9 |
| 44 | L | January 16, 1981 | 1–3 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 11–24–9 |
| 45 | L | January 20, 1981 | 4–11 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 11–25–9 |
| 46 | L | January 22, 1981 | 0–3 | New York Islanders (1980–81) | 11–26–9 |
| 47 | W | January 24, 1981 | 6–2 | Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 12–26–9 |
| 48 | W | January 26, 1981 | 4–2 | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 13–26–9 |
| 49 | T | January 28, 1981 | 2–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 13–26–10 |
| 50 | T | January 29, 1981 | 3–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 13–26–11 |
| 51 | L | February 1, 1981 | 1–4 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 13–27–11 |
| 52 | W | February 3, 1981 | 5–3 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) | 14–27–11 |
| 53 | W | February 5, 1981 | 6–4 | Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) | 15–27–11 |
| 54 | L | February 6, 1981 | 3–7 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 15–28–11 |
| 55 | W | February 8, 1981 | 3–2 | Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) | 16–28–11 |
| 56 | T | February 12, 1981 | 2–2 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 16–28–12 |
| 57 | L | February 14, 1981 | 1–3 | Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 16–29–12 |
| 58 | W | February 17, 1981 | 6–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 17–29–12 |
| 59 | W | February 19, 1981 | 7–3 | New York Rangers (1980–81) | 18–29–12 |
| 60 | L | February 21, 1981 | 1–4 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) | 18–30–12 |
| 61 | L | February 25, 1981 | 2–3 | St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 18–31–12 |
| 62 | L | February 27, 1981 | 2–5 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 18–32–12 |
| 63 | T | March 1, 1981 | 4–4 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 18–32–13 |
| 64 | T | March 4, 1981 | 3–3 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 18–32–14 |
| 65 | T | March 8, 1981 | 4–4 | @ New York Rangers (1980–81) | 18–32–15 |
| 66 | T | March 10, 1981 | 4–4 | Hartford Whalers (1980–81) | 18–32–16 |
| 67 | L | March 12, 1981 | 4–9 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) | 18–33–16 |
| 68 | L | March 14, 1981 | 3–5 | @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) | 18–34–16 |
| 69 | L | March 17, 1981 | 3–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) | 18–35–16 |
| 70 | L | March 19, 1981 | 3–6 | Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 18–36–16 |
| 71 | W | March 21, 1981 | 5–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) | 19–36–16 |
| 72 | L | March 22, 1981 | 3–9 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) | 19–37–16 |
| 73 | L | March 24, 1981 | 4–7 | @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) | 19–38–16 |
| 74 | L | March 26, 1981 | 0–2 | Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 19–39–16 |
| 75 | L | March 28, 1981 | 2–4 | Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) | 19–40–16 |
| 76 | L | March 29, 1981 | 3–4 | @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) | 19–41–16 |
| 77 | T | March 31, 1981 | 5–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) | 19–41–17 |
| 78 | T | April 2, 1981 | 1–1 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) | 19–41–18 |
| 79 | L | April 4, 1981 | 4–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) | 19–42–18 |
| 80 | L | April 5, 1981 | 2–7 | @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) | 19–43–18 |

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Dale McCourt | C | 80 | 30 | 56 | 86 | 50 | -17 | 11 | 2 | 2 |
| John Ogrodnick | LW | 80 | 35 | 35 | 70 | 14 | -17 | 9 | 2 | 2 |
| Mike Foligno | RW | 80 | 28 | 35 | 63 | 210 | -13 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| Reed Larson | D | 78 | 27 | 31 | 58 | 153 | -35 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Willie Huber | D | 80 | 15 | 34 | 49 | 130 | -28 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vaclav Nedomansky | RW | 74 | 12 | 20 | 32 | 30 | -35 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Kirton | C | 50 | 18 | 13 | 31 | 24 | -30 | 6 | 1 | 3 |
| Errol Thompson | LW | 39 | 14 | 12 | 26 | 52 | -4 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| George Lyle | LW | 31 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 28 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Woods | LW | 67 | 8 | 16 | 24 | 45 | -10 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Brent Peterson | C | 53 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Jim Korn | D/LW | 63 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 246 | -5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gary McAdam | LW | 40 | 5 | 14 | 19 | 27 | -14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Glenn Hicks | LW | 58 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 84 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| John Barrett | D | 56 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 60 | -21 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jean Hamel | D | 68 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 57 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Labraaten | LW | 44 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 12 | -19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Vasko | D | 20 | 3 | 7 | 10 | 20 | -3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Blaisdell | RW | 32 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Perry Miller | D | 64 | 1 | 8 | 9 | 70 | -18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brad Smith | RW | 20 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 93 | -12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joe Paterson | LW | 38 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pete Mahovlich | C | 24 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 26 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jody Gage | RW | 16 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 22 | -10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dennis Polonich | C/RW | 32 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 77 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Earl Ingarfield | C | 22 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mal Davis | LW | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Joly | D | 17 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 10 | -8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Smith | D | 11 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | -5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gilles Gilbert | G | 48 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Larry Lozinski | G | 30 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | G | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Bladon | D | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Claude Legris | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Gilles Gilbert | 2618 | 48 | 11 | 24 | 9 | 175 | 4.01 | 0 |
| Larry Lozinski | 1459 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 7 | 105 | 4.32 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | 600 | 10 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 43 | 4.30 | 0 |
| Al Jensen | 60 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 7.00 | 0 |
| Claude Legris | 63 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3.81 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 19 | 43 | 18 | 334 | 4.17 | 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 1980 NHL Entry Draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal.
| Round | # | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) |
| 1 | 11 | Mike Blaisdell | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 3 | 46 | Mark Osborne | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 5 | 88 | Mike Corrigan | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 6 | 109 | Wayne Crawford | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 7 | 130 | Mike Braun | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |
| 8 | 151 | Jeff Beukeboom | Canada | Peterborough Petes (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 172 | Dave Miles | Canada | Brantford Alexanders (OMJHL) |
| 10 | 193 | Brian Rorabeck | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) |