# 1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season

The 1980–81 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the Toronto Maple Leafs 64th season of the franchise, 54th season as the Maple Leafs.

## Offseason
### NHL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team |
| 2 | 25 | Craig Muni | Canada | Kingston Canadians (OHA) |
| 2 | 26 | Bob McGill | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 3 | 43 | Fred Boimistruck | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 4 | 74 | Stewart Gavin | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 5 | 95 | Hugh Larkin | United States | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OMJHL) |
| 6 | 116 | Ron Dennis | Canada | Princeton University (ECAC) |
| 7 | 137 | Russ Adam | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL) |
| 8 | 158 | Fred Perlini | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 9 | 179 | Darwin McCutcheon | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OMJHL) |
| 10 | 200 | Paul Rothbart | United States | University of Wisconsin NCAA |

## Regular season
### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 39 | 20 | 21 | 327 | 250 | 99 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 30 | 13 | 316 | 272 | 87 |
| Minnesota North Stars | 80 | 35 | 28 | 17 | 291 | 263 | 87 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 30 | 32 | 18 | 314 | 318 | 78 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 322 | 367 | 71 |
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

Adams Division record vs. opponents :
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Boston
—2–1–12–1–11–31–1–26–6–4
Buffalo
1–2–1—0–1–33–0–13–17–4–5
Minnesota
1–2–11–0–3—2–20–44–8–4
Quebec
3–10–3–12–2—0–2–25–8–3
Toronto
1–1–21–34–02–0–2—8–4–4
Vs. Norris Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Boston
2−0−21−1−22−21−33−0−19–6–5
Buffalo
3−0−12−1−12−1−11−33−0−111–5–4
Minnesota
2−0−23−10−42−1−13−110–7–3
Quebec
3−0−12−21−31−1−21−2–18–8–4
Toronto
1−31–1−20−3−11−32−1–15–11–4
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Patrick Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CGY
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Boston
1–32–22–22–22–1–19–10–1
Buffalo
2–1–12–22–1–12–0–22–0–210–4–6
Minnesota
2–20–2–21–1–21–2–13–0–17–7–6
Quebec
1–1–21–31–1–22–1–14–09–6–5
Toronto
2–21–32–22–0–21–38–10–2
Vs. Smythe Division
1980–81 NHL records
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Boston
3−12−1−13−11−32−22−0−213−8−3
Buffalo
2−23–0−11−1−20−3−11−1−24−011−7−6
Minnesota
2−22−1–12−1−12−1–12−1−14−014−6−4
Quebec
0−3−12−23−11−2–11–1−21–1−28−10−6
Toronto
2−1–11−1−21−2−11−30–3−12−27−12−5 :

## Playoffs

The Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs as one of the top sixteen teams. In the preliminary round, the Maple Leafs faced the New York Islanders, the eventual Stanley Cup champion. The Maple Leafs were swept in three games, to date the last time the franchise was swept in a postseason series.

## Schedule and results

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

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

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Wilf Paiement | RW | 77 | 40 | 57 | 97 | 145 | -7 | 13 | 3 | 2 |
| Darryl Sittler | C | 80 | 43 | 53 | 96 | 77 | -8 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| Bill Derlago | C | 80 | 35 | 39 | 74 | 26 | -11 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Ian Turnbull | D | 80 | 19 | 47 | 66 | 104 | -17 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Borje Salming | D | 72 | 5 | 61 | 66 | 154 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rick Vaive | RW | 75 | 33 | 29 | 62 | 229 | -16 | 8 | 2 | 1 |
| Pat Hickey | LW | 72 | 16 | 33 | 49 | 49 | -16 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| John Anderson | RW | 75 | 17 | 26 | 43 | 31 | -11 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Dan Maloney | LW | 65 | 20 | 21 | 41 | 183 | -10 | 13 | 0 | 2 |
| Terry Martin | LW | 69 | 23 | 14 | 37 | 32 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Laurie Boschman | C | 53 | 14 | 19 | 33 | 178 | -10 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
| Rocky Saganiuk | RW/C | 71 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 52 | -16 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Robert Picard | D | 59 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 68 | -32 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Boudreau | C | 39 | 10 | 14 | 24 | 18 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Farrish | D | 74 | 2 | 18 | 20 | 90 | -7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Sedlbauer | LW | 21 | 10 | 4 | 14 | 14 | -3 | 5 | 0 | 2 |
| Rene Robert | RW | 14 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Vitezslav Duris | D | 57 | 1 | 12 | 13 | 50 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Melrose | D | 57 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 166 | -18 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ron Ellis | RW | 27 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Shand | D | 47 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 60 | -14 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Zanussi | RW | 12 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | -7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stew Gavin | LW | 14 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greg Hotham | D | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Kaszycki | C | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Marshall | LW | 13 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill McCreary | RW | 12 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | -6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jiri Crha | G | 54 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Burrows | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kim Davis | C | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Kirton | C | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Curt Ridley | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | G | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vincent Tremblay | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | T | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jiri Crha | 3112 | 54 | 20 | 20 | 11 | 211 | 4.07 | 0 |
| Jim Rutherford | 961 | 18 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 82 | 5.12 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | 460 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 40 | 5.22 | 0 |
| Curt Ridley | 124 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 5.81 | 0 |
| Vincent Tremblay | 143 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 | 6.71 | 0 |
| Team: | 4800 | 80 | 28 | 37 | 15 | 361 | 4.51 | 0 |

### Playoffs
#### Scoring

| Player | Pos | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | PPG | SHG | GWG |
| Rene Robert | RW | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Borje Salming | D | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce Boudreau | C | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bill Derlago | C | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Ian Turnbull | D | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rick Vaive | RW | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitezslav Duris | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Barry Melrose | D | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Sedlbauer | LW | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| John Anderson | RW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Laurie Boschman | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jiri Crha | G | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Farrish | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul Harrison | G | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Pat Hickey | LW | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | G | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Maloney | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terry Martin | LW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wilf Paiement | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dave Shand | D | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Darryl Sittler | C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ron Zanussi | RW | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

#### Goaltending

| Player | MIN | GP | W | L | GA | GAA | SO |
| Jiri Crha | 65 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 10.15 | 0 |
| Paul Harrison | 40 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.50 | 0 |
| Michel Larocque | 75 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 6.40 | 0 |
| Team: | 180 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 6.67 | 0 |
    Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
    Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

## Transactions

The Maple Leafs have been involved in the following transactions during the 1980-81 season.

### Trades

| November 18, 1980 | To Pittsburgh PenguinsPaul Gardner Dave Burrows | To Toronto Maple LeafsPaul Marshall Kim Davis |
| December 2, 1980 | To Winnipeg JetsRichard Mulhern | To Toronto Maple LeafsCash |
| December 4, 1980 | To Detroit Red WingsMark Kirton | To Toronto Maple LeafsJim Rutherford |
| January 30, 1981 | To Colorado Rockies3rd round pick in 1981 - Uli Heimer | To Toronto Maple LeafsRene Robert |
| February 18, 1981 | To Chicago Black HawksCash | To Toronto Maple LeafsRon Sedlbauer |
| March 10, 1981 | To Los Angeles KingsJim Rutherford | To Toronto Maple Leafs5th round pick in 1981 - Barry Brigley |
| March 10, 1981 | To Montreal CanadiensRobert Picard 8th round pick in 1982 - Steve Smith | To Toronto Maple LeafsMichel Larocque |
| March 10, 1981 | To Minnesota North Stars2nd round pick in 1981 - Dave Donnelly | To Toronto Maple LeafsRon Zanussi 3rd round pick in 1981 - Ernie Godden |

### Waivers

| November 30, 1980 | From Winnipeg JetsBarry Melrose |

### Free agents

| Player | Former Team |
| Vitezslav Duris | Czechoslovakia |
| Serge Boisvert | Undrafted Free Agent |
| Bill Riley | Winnipeg Jets |