1979–80 NHL season

The 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. This season saw the addition of four teams from the collapse of the World Hockey Association (WHA) the previous season as expansion teams. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers (later renamed "Hartford Whalers" at the insistence of the Boston Bruins), and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL bringing a new total of 21 teams. The other two WHA teams (Birmingham Bulls and Cincinnati Stingers) were paid to disband.

Regular season

Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold
Prince of Wales Conference
 Adams Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Buffalo Sabres 80 47 17 16  110 318 201 967 Boston Bruins  80 46 21 13  105 310 234 1460 Minnesota North Stars 8036 28 16  88 311 253 1064 Toronto Maple Leafs 8035 40 5  75 304 327 1158 Quebec Nordiques  80 25 44 11  61 248 313 1062

 Norris Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Montreal Canadiens 80 47 20 13  107 328 240 874 Los Angeles Kings 80 30 36 14  74 290 313 1124 Pittsburgh Penguins 8030 37 13  73 251 303 1038 Hartford Whalers  80 27 34 19  73 303 312 875 Detroit Red Wings  80  26 4311  63 268 306 1114

Clarence Campbell Conference
 Patrick Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Philadelphia Flyers 80  48 12 20  116 327 254 1844 New York Islanders 80 39 28 13  91 281 247 1298 New York Rangers  80 38 32 10  86 308 284 1342 Atlanta Flames 8035 32 13  83 282 269 1048 Washington Capitals 80 27 40 13  67 261 293 1198

 Smythe Division GP W L T Pts GF GA PIM Chicago Black Hawks 8034 27 19  87 241 250 1325 St. Louis Blues 80  34 34 12  80 266 278 1037 Vancouver Canucks 8027 37 16  70 256 281 1808 Edmonton Oilers  80 28 39 13  69 301 322 1528 Winnipeg Jets  80 20 49 11  51 214 314 1251 Colorado Rockies  80 19 48 13  51 234 308 1020

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points
 Player Team GP G A Pts PIM Marcel Dionne  Los Angeles Kings  80  53  84  137  32 Wayne Gretzky  Edmonton Oilers  79  51  86  137  21 Guy Lafleur  Montreal Canadiens  74  50  75  125  12 Gilbert Perreault  Buffalo Sabres  80  40  66  106  57 Mike Rogers  Hartford Whalers  80  44  61  105  10 Bryan Trottier  New York Islanders  78  42  62  104  68 Charlie Simmer  Los Angeles Kings  64  56  45  101  65 Blaine Stoughton  Hartford Whalers  80  56  44  100  16 Darryl Sittler  Toronto Maple Leafs  73  40  57  97  62 Blair MacDonald  Edmonton Oilers  80  46  48  96  24

Stanley Cup playoffs
Playoff bracket

NHL awards
Prince of Wales Trophy:  Buffalo SabresClarence S. Campbell Bowl:  Philadelphia FlyersArt Ross Memorial Trophy:  Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles KingsBill Masterton Memorial Trophy:  Al MacAdam, Minnesota North StarsCalder Memorial Trophy:  Ray Bourque, Boston BruinsConn Smythe Trophy:  Bryan Trottier, New York IslandersFrank J. Selke Trophy:  Bob Gainey, Montreal CanadiensHart Memorial Trophy:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton OilersJack Adams Award:  Pat Quinn, Philadelphia FlyersJames Norris Memorial Trophy:  Larry Robinson, Montreal CanadiensLady Byng Memorial Trophy:  Wayne Gretzky, Edmonton OilersLester B. Pearson Award:  Marcel Dionne, Los Angeles KingsNHL Plus/Minus Award:  Jim Schoenfeld, Buffalo Sabres & Jimmy Watson, Philadelphia FlyersVezina Trophy:  Don Edwards & Bob Sauve, Buffalo SabresLester Patrick Trophy:  Bobby Clarke, Edward M. Snider, Frederick A. Shero

All-Star teams
 First Team    Position    Second TeamTony Esposito, Chicago Black Hawks GDon Edwards, Buffalo SabresLarry Robinson, Montreal Canadiens DBorje Salming, Toronto Maple LeafsRay Bourque, Boston Bruins DJim Schoenfeld, Buffalo SabresMarcel Dionne, Los Angeles Kings CWayne Gretzky, Edmonton OilersGuy Lafleur, Montreal Canadiens RWDanny Gare, Buffalo SabresCharlie Simmer, Los Angeles Kings LWSteve Shutt, Montreal Canadiens

References

Hockey Database
NHL.com

Category:1979 in North America
Category:1980s in North America
Category:National Hockey League seasons