1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1980–81 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' second season in the NHL, and they finished with 74 points, a 5-point improvement from their first season.

1980–81 Edmonton Oilers
Division	4th Smythe
Conference	8th Campbell
1980–81 record	29–35–16
Home record	17–13–10
Road record	12–22–6
Goals for	328 (6th)
Goals against	327 (15th)
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	Bryan Watson (Oct-Nov) Glen Sather (Nov-Apr)
Captain	Blair MacDonald (Oct-Mar) Lee Fogolin (Mar-Apr)
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Northlands Coliseum
Average attendance	17,423 (99.7%)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Wichita Wind (CHL) Milwaukee Admirals (IHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Wayne Gretzky (55)
Assists	Wayne Gretzky (109)
Points	Wayne Gretzky (164)
Penalty minutes	Pat Price (193)
Plus/minus	Wayne Gretzky (+41)
Wins	Eddie Mio (16)
Goals against average	Gary Edwards (3.62)
← 1979–80 1981–82 →

Wayne Gretzky ran away with the Art Ross Trophy, awarded to the leading scorer, as he finished with 164 points, 29 points ahead of runner-up Marcel Dionne of the Los Angeles Kings. Gretzky also won his second consecutive Hart Memorial Trophy, awarded to the MVP of the NHL. His 164 points were an NHL record, previously held by Phil Esposito of the Boston Bruins in the 1970–71 NHL season when he scored 152 points. Youngsters Jari Kurri and Mark Messier have very good offensive seasons, finishing 2nd and 3rd on the Oilers scoring list.

Eddie Mio got the majority of the action in the Oilers' goal, playing in a team-high 43 games and having 16 wins, which set a franchise record.

In the playoffs, the Oilers faced the heavily favoured Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and they shocked the hockey world by sweeping Montreal in 3 games. In the quarter-finals, the Oilers played the defending Stanley Cup champion and heavily favored New York Islanders and took them to 6 games before being eliminated.

The season also saw one of their roster players, Don Ashby died in a car accident in the Okanagan Valley. The vehicle that he was driving was hit head-on by a pickup truck. Ashby was critically injured in the accident and died afterward from massive internal injuries in the hospital in Kelowna, British Columbia.^[1]

Season standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	Pts
St. Louis Blues	80	45	18	17	352	281	107
Chicago Black Hawks	80	31	33	16	304	315	78
Vancouver Canucks	80	28	32	20	289	301	76
Edmonton Oilers	80	29	35	16	328	327	74
Colorado Rockies	80	22	45	13	258	344	57
Winnipeg Jets	80	9	57	14	246	400	32

^[2]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^[3]

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

Smythe Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Campbell Conference Vs. Smythe Division 1980–81 NHL records[4] Team CHI COL EDM STL VAN WIN Total Chicago — 2−2 1−3 1−2−1 2−2 3−1 9−10−1 Colorado 2−2 — 3−0−1 1−3 0−2−2 1−2−1 7−9−4 Edmonton 3−1 0−3−1 — 1−2−1 2−2 4−0 10−8−2 St. Louis 2−1−1 3−1 2−1−1 — 4−0 2−0−2 13−3−4 Vancouver 2−2 2−0−2 2−2 0−4 — 2−0−2 8−8−4 Winnipeg 1−3 2−1−1 0−4 0−2−2 0−2−2 — 3−12−5 Vs. Patrick Division 1980–81 NHL records Team CGY NYI NYR PHI WSH Total Chicago 1−0−3 0−4 1−2−1 1−1−2 1−1−2 4−8−8 Colorado 3−1 1−3 3−1 0−4 0−3−1 7−12−1 Edmonton 1−2−1 0−2−2 1−2−1 2−2 1−2−1 5−10−5 St. Louis 2−2 0−2−2 4−0 0−3−1 2−0−2 8−7−5 Vancouver 1−3 1−3 1−2−1 2−1−1 1−1−2 6−10−4 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 1−3 1−3 0−3−1 2−15−3 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1980–81 NHL records Team BOS BUF MIN QUE TOR Total Chicago 1−3 2−2 2−2 3−0−1 1−2−1 9−9−2 Colorado 1−2−1 0−3−1 1−2−1 2−2 1−1−2 5−10−5 Edmonton 1−3 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−3 2−1−1 6−10−4 St. Louis 3−1 3−0−1 1−2−1 2−1−1 3−1 12−5−3 Vancouver 2−2 1−1−2 1−2−1 1−1−2 3−0−1 8−6−6 Winnipeg 0−2−2 0−4 0−4 1−1−2 2−2 3−13−4 Vs. Norris Division 1980–81 NHL records Team DET HFD LAK MTL PIT Total Chicago 1−1−2 3−0−1 0−2−2 2−2 3−1 9−6−5 Colorado 1−2−1 1−2−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 3−14−3 Edmonton 2−1−1 2−1−1 0−2−2 2−2 2−1−1 8−7−5 St. Louis 4−0 3−0−1 2−0−2 1−1−2 2−2 12−3−5 Vancouver 2−1−1 1−1−2 0−4 0−2−2 3−0−1 6−8−6 Winnipeg 0−3−1 0−3−1 0−4 1−3 0−4 1−17−2

Schedule and results

1980–81 regular season[5]
October: 2–4–3 (home: 1–3–2; road: 1–1–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 10 Quebec Nordiques 7 – 4 Edmonton Oilers LoPresti 17,334 0–1–0 0 [6] 2 October 12 Colorado Rockies 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,500 0–2–0 0 [7] 3 October 15 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 2 Buffalo Sabres Low 16,433 0–3–0 0 [8] 4 October 18 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 New York Islanders Low 15,782 0–3–1 1 [9] 5 October 19 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 New York Rangers Low 17,425 1–3–1 3 [10] 6 October 22 Calgary Flames 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,396 2–3–1 5 [11] 7 October 24 Minnesota North Stars 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,314 2–4–1 5 [12] 8 October 26 Los Angeles Kings 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,290 2–4–2 6 [13] 9 October 29 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,475 2–4–3 7 [14]
November: 4–8–2 (home: 2–2–2; road: 2–6–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 Washington Capitals 2 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,308 2–4–4 8 [15] 11 November 3 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,211 2–4–5 9 [16] 12 November 5 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Vancouver Canucks Low 12,364 2–5–5 9 [17] 13 November 7 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 Winnipeg Jets Low 12,744 3–5–5 11 [18] 14 November 9 St. Louis Blues 6 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 3–6–5 11 [19] 15 November 13 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 8 Philadelphia Flyers Low 17,077 3–7–5 11 [20] 16 November 15 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 4 Toronto Maple Leafs Low 16,485 3–8–5 11 [21] 17 November 16 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Chicago Black Hawks Mio 10,105 4–8–5 13 [22] 18 November 19 Vancouver Canucks 6 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,341 4–9–5 13 [23] 19 November 23 Buffalo Sabres 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 5–9–5 15 [24] 20 November 25 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Colorado Rockies Low 6,107 5–10–5 15 [25] 21 November 26 Chicago Black Hawks 3 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,283 6–10–5 17 [26] 22 November 28 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Hartford Whalers Mio 11,073 6–11–5 17 [27] 23 November 29 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Boston Bruins Low 10,362 6–12–5 17 [28]
December: 2–9–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 0–6–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 24 December 5 New York Rangers 5 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,300 6–13–5 17 [29] 25 December 7 Hartford Whalers 4 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,215 7–13–5 19 [30] 26 December 10 New York Islanders 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,474 7–14–5 19 [31] 27 December 13 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 4 Montreal Canadiens Low 16,149 7–15–5 19 [32] 28 December 14 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 6 Quebec Nordiques Mio 9,346 7–16–5 19 [33] 29 December 16 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 Detroit Red Wings Mio 11,307 7–17–5 19 [34] 30 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Washington Capitals Low 7,596 7–18–5 19 [35] 31 December 20 Montreal Canadiens 3 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 8–18–5 21 [36] 32 December 23 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 7 Los Angeles Kings Mio 8,513 8–19–5 21 [37] 33 December 27 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,447 8–19–6 22 [38] 34 December 28 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,474 8–20–6 22 [39] 35 December 30 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 5 Calgary Flames Mio 7,243 8–21–6 22 [40]
January: 7–4–3 (home: 5–1–2; road: 2–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 36 January 2 Boston Bruins 5 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,474 9–21–6 24 [41] 37 January 3 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 10–21–6 26 [42] 38 January 7 Washington Capitals 3 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,310 11–21–6 28 [43] 39 January 9 Hartford Whalers 6 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 11–21–7 29 [44] 40 January 11 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Quebec Nordiques Mio 10,532 12–21–7 31 [45] 41 January 12 Edmonton Oilers 0 – 5 Montreal Canadiens Mio 15,922 12–22–7 31 [46] 42 January 14 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 4 Toronto Maple Leafs Mio 16,485 13–22–7 33 [47] 43 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 Buffalo Sabres Mio 16,433 13–22–8 34 [48] 44 January 17 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 7 St. Louis Blues Mio 15,266 13–23–8 34 [49] 45 January 21 Vancouver Canucks 1 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 14–23–8 36 [50] 46 January 23 New York Rangers 7 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 14–24–8 36 [51] 47 January 24 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 6 Minnesota North Stars Low 15,651 14–25–8 36 [52] 48 January 28 Montreal Canadiens 1 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,474 15–25–8 38 [53] 49 January 30 Chicago Black Hawks 2 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,574 16–25–8 40 [54]
February: 5–7–2 (home: 4–3–1; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 7 Washington Capitals Mio 15,889 16–26–8 40 [55] 51 February 3 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 St. Louis Blues Mio 11,260 16–26–9 41 [56] 52 February 4 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 Chicago Black Hawks Mio 10,397 16–27–9 41 [57] 53 February 6 Winnipeg Jets 4 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,455 17–27–9 43 [58] 54 February 8 Calgary Flames 10 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 17–28–9 43 [59] 55 February 13 Quebec Nordiques 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 17–29–9 43 [60] 56 February 15 Buffalo Sabres 2 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,077 17–29–10 44 [61] 57 February 18 St. Louis Blues 2 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 18–29–10 46 [62] 58 February 20 Boston Bruins 5 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 18–30–10 46 [63] 59 February 21 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 1 Winnipeg Jets Mio 14,873 19–30–10 48 [64] 60 February 24 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Los Angeles Kings Edwards 9,066 19–31–10 48 [65] 61 February 25 Philadelphia Flyers 2 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 20–31–10 50 [66] 62 February 27 Detroit Red Wings 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 21–31–10 52 [67] 63 February 28 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 3 Colorado Rockies Mio 8,837 21–32–10 52 [68]
March: 6–3–5 (home: 1–1–2; road: 5–2–3) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 8 – 8 New York Islanders Mio 15,008 21–32–11 53 [69] 65 March 4 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 New York Rangers Mio 17,418 21–32–12 54 [70] 66 March 7 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Philadelphia Flyers Edwards 17,077 22–32–12 56 [71] 67 March 8 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Pittsburgh Penguins Mio 12,099 22–33–12 56 [72] 68 March 12 New York Islanders 5 – 0 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 22–34–12 56 [73] 69 March 15 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Calgary Flames Mio 7,226 22–34–13 57 [74] 70 March 16 Pittsburgh Penguins 6 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Mio 17,490 23–34–13 59 [75] 71 March 18 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 Minnesota North Stars Edwards 12,261 24–34–13 61 [76] 72 March 20 Minnesota North Stars 1 – 1 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 24–34–14 62 [77] 73 March 21 Los Angeles Kings 6 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 24–34–15 63 [78] 74 March 23 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 7 Boston Bruins Moog 9,909 24–35–15 63 [79] 75 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Hartford Whalers Edwards 11,405 25–35–15 65 [80] 76 March 28 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 2 Detroit Red Wings Edwards 15,041 26–35–15 66 [81] 77 March 29 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 2 Pittsburgh Penguins Moog 12,966 27–35–15 68 [82]
April: 2–0–1 (home: 1–0–1; road: 1–0–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 Colorado Rockies 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 27–35–16 70 [83] 79 April 3 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Vancouver Canucks Moog 16,413 28–35–16 72 [84] 80 April 4 Winnipeg Jets 2 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Edwards 17,490 29–35–16 74 [85]
Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

In Game One of the series versus Montreal, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.^[86]

1981 Stanley Cup playoffs[5]
Preliminary Round vs. (3) Montreal Canadiens – Oilers win 3–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 8 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Montreal Canadiens Moog 15,792 1–0 2 April 9 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Montreal Canadiens Moog 15,527 2–0 3 April 11 Montreal Canadiens 2 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 3–0
Quarterfinals vs. (1) New York Islanders – Islanders win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 16 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 8 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 0–1 2 April 17 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 6 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 0–2 3 April 19 New York Islanders 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 1–2 4 April 20 New York Islanders 5 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 1–3 5 April 22 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 New York Islanders Moog 15,008 2–3 6 April 24 New York Islanders 5 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 2–4
Legend:   Win   Loss

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	80	55	109	164	28
Jari Kurri	75	32	43	75	40
Mark Messier	72	23	40	63	102
Brett Callighen	55	25	35	60	32
Glenn Anderson	58	30	23	53	24

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	GAA
Gary Edwards	15	729	5	3	4	44	0	3.62
Andy Moog	7	313	3	3	0	20	0	3.83
Eddie Mio	43	2393	16	15	9	155	0	3.89
Ron Low	24	1260	5	13	3	93	0	4.43
Pete LoPresti	2	105	0	1	0	8	0	4.57

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	9	7	14	21	4
Glenn Anderson	9	5	7	12	12
Jari Kurri	9	5	7	12	4
Brett Callighen	9	4	4	8	6
Paul Coffey	9	4	3	7	22

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	GAA
Andy Moog	9	526	5	4	32	0	3.65
Gary Edwards	1	20	0	0	2	0	6.00

Awards and records

Records

• 164: an NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 153: A new NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on March 29, 1981.

• 109: an NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 103: A new NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on April 1, 1981.

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Game	October 10, 1980
Paul Coffey
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 12, 1980
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Goal	October 18, 1980
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 19, 1980
Blair MacDonald	100th NHL Point
Dave Semenko	1st NHL Hat-trick
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Goal	October 22, 1980
Doug Hicks	300th NHL PIM
Matti Hagman	100th NHL Game	November 3, 1980
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Assist	November 7, 1980
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	November 15, 1980
Paul Coffey	1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick	November 16, 1980
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Goal
Don Murdoch	100th NHL Assist
Dave Lumley	100th NHL Game	November 25, 1980
Blair MacDonald
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Game	November 26, 1980
Dave Hunter
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Hat-trick
John Hughes	200th NHL PIM	November 28, 1980
Kevin Lowe	100th NHL PIM	December 7, 1980
Mark Messier	100th NHL Game	December 10, 1980
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Game
Curt Brackenbury	100th NHL PIM	December 16, 1980
Don Murdoch	100th NHL Assist
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Lee Fogolin	100th NHL Point	December 20, 1980
Wayne Gretzky	3rd NHL Hat-trick	December 23, 1980
Andy Moog	1st NHL Game
Andy Moog	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	December 28, 1980
Lee Fogolin	600th NHL PIM	December 30, 1980
Dave Semenko	100th NHL Game
Kevin Lowe	100th NHL Game	January 2, 1981
Risto Siltanen
Andy Moog	1st NHL Win
Pat Price	100th NHL Point
Wayne Gretzky	200th NHL Point	January 7, 1981
Jari Kurri	2nd NHL Hat-trick	January 11, 1981
Doug Hicks	100th NHL Assist	January 17, 1981
Stan Weir	500th NHL Game	January 23, 1981
Jari Kurri	3rd NHL Hat-trick	January 28, 1981
Roy Sommer	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Pat Price	300th NHL Game	January 30, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	100th NHL Game	February 1, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	4th NHL Hat-trick 2nd NHL Natural Hat-trick	February 6, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	5th NHL Hat-trick 3rd NHL Natural Hat-trick 1st Five-Goal NHL Game	February 18, 1981
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Hat-trick 1st NHL Natural Hat-trick	February 21, 1981
Mark Messier	200th NHL PIM	February 25, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	200th NHL PIM	February 27, 1981
Dave Lumley	200th NHL PIM	February 28, 1981
Brett Callighen	100th NHL Point	March 3, 1981
Mark Messier	1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick	March 4, 1981
Tom Roulston	1st NHL Assist
Brett Callighen	100th NHL Game	March 7, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	100th NHL Goal 6th NHL Hat-trick 1st Four-Goal NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	50th Goal in 69 Games	March 15, 1981
Brett Callighen	100th NHL PIM	March 16, 1981
Mark Messier	1st NHL Hat-trick
Glenn Anderson	2nd NHL Hat-trick	March 25, 1981
Dave Hunter	200th NHL PIM	March 29, 1981
Dave Semenko
Wayne Gretzky	300th NHL Point	April 4, 1981
Risto Siltanen	1st NHL Hat-trick

Playoffs
Player	Milestone	Reached
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	April 8, 1981
Paul Coffey
Jari Kurri	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Garry Lariviere	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Andy Moog	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win
Risto Siltanen	1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point	April 9, 1981
Glenn Anderson	1st NHL Assist	April 11, 1981
Paul Coffey
Wayne Gretzky	1st NHL Hat-trick
Matti Hagman	1st NHL Goal
Wayne Gretzky	2nd NHL Hat-trick	April 19, 1981
Doug Hicks	1st NHL Assist	April 20, 1981
Curt Brackenbury	1st NHL Game	April 22, 1981

Transactions

Trades

Date	Details
June 11, 1980 (1980-6-11)	To Philadelphia Flyers Ron Areshenkoff 10th round pick in 1980 – Bob O'Brien	To Edmonton Oilers Barry Dean
June 20, 1980 (1980-6-20)	To Minnesota North Stars Cash	To Edmonton Oilers Jim Corsi
July 10, 1980 (1980-7-10)	To Pittsburgh Penguins Future considerations	To Edmonton Oilers Tom Bladon
February 2, 1981 (1981-2-2)	To Minnesota North Stars 3rd round pick in 1982 – Wally Chapman	To Edmonton Oilers Gary Edwards
March 10, 1981 (1981-3-10)	To Los Angeles Kings 7th round pick in 1981 – Craig Hurley	To Edmonton Oilers Garry Unger
March 10, 1981 (1981-3-10)	To New York Rangers John Hughes	To Edmonton Oilers Ray Markham
March 10, 1981 (1981-3-10)	To Pittsburgh Penguins Pat Price	To Edmonton Oilers Pat Hughes
March 10, 1981 (1981-3-10)	To Vancouver Canucks Blair MacDonald Lars-Gunnar Pettersson	To Edmonton Oilers Garry Lariviere Ken Berry

Players acquired Date Player Former team Term August 18, 1980 (1980-8-18) Matti Hagman HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga) 1-year

Players lost Date Player New team Larry Brown Retired Bob Kelly Max Kostovich Poul Popiel July 14, 1980 (1980-7-14) Al Hamilton Wayne Bianchin Asiago Hockey (Serie A) September 1980 Don Cutts Vancouver Canucks November 11, 1980 (1980-11-11) Tom Bladon Released December 13, 1980 (1980-12-13) Tom Bladon Winnipeg Jets Alec Tidey Los Angeles Kings

Waivers

Date	Player	Team
July 2, 1980 (1980-7-2)	Ron Carter	to Buffalo Sabres
October 10, 1980 (1980-10-10)	Curt Brackenbury	from Quebec Nordiques
	Colin Campbell	to Vancouver Canucks
October 13, 1980 (1980-10-13)	John Hughes	from Vancouver Canucks

Signings

Date	Player	Term
	Andy Moog
August 6, 1980 (1980-8-6)	Paul Coffey	4-year
	Jari Kurri	2-year
	Pat Price	2-year
August 18, 1980 (1980-8-18)	Shawn Babcock
August 20, 1980 (1980-8-20)	Ron Low	2-year
September 9, 1980 (1980-9-9)	Glenn Anderson	3-year
September 15, 1980 (1980-9-15)	Tom Bladon	1-year
	Blair MacDonald	1-year
September 29, 1980 (1980-9-29)	Walt Poddubny

Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	6	Paul Coffey	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OMJHL)
3	48	Shawn Babcock	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OMJHL)
4	69	Jari Kurri	Finland	Jokerit (SM-liiga)
5	90	Walt Poddubny	Canada	Kingston Canadians (OMJHL)
6	111	Mike Winther	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
7	132	Andy Moog	Canada	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
8	153	Rob Polman-Tuin	Canada	Michigan Tech Huskies (WCHA)
9	174	Lars-Gunnar Pettersson	Sweden	IF Björklöven (Elitserien)