1980–81 Detroit Red Wings season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1980–81 1980 Detroit Red Wings 19–43–18 16–15–9 3–28–9 Wales 10th Norris 5th 252 339 Jimmy Skinner Ted Lindsay,Wayne Maxner Errol Thompson and Reed Larson None Joe Louis Arena 13,325 John Ogrodnick (35) Dale McCourt (56) Dale McCourt (86) Jim Korn (246) Gilles Gilbert (11) Gilles Gilbert (4.02) 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. The team missed the playoffs for the third year in a row since the 1974–75 season and the 1976–77 season it is also the first time since the 1978–79 season that they finished last in the conference. 2 Regular season Final standings DET DET Record vs. opponents DET Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 5px solid; 1980–81 regular season1980-81 Detroit Red Wings Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1981_games.html Hockey-Reference.com April 2, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; October Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |1||L||October 10, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||0–1–0 |- |2||L||October 11, 1980||1–8 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||0–2–0 |- |3||L||October 15, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||0–3–0 |- |4||L||October 16, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||0–4–0 |- |5||L||October 18, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||0–5–0 |- |6||W||October 23, 1980||5–1 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||1–5–0 |- |7||W||October 25, 1980||4–2 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||2–5–0 |- |8||L||October 26, 1980||6–7 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||2–6–0 |- |9||T||October 28, 1980||2–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||2–6–1 |- |10||L||October 29, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||2–7–1 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; November Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |11||L||November 1, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||2–8–1 |- |12||L||November 4, 1980||4–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||2–9–1 |- |13||W||November 6, 1980||3–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||3–9–1 |- |14||L||November 8, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||3–10–1 |- |15||T||November 11, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||3–10–2 |- |16||T||November 12, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||3–10–3 |- |17||L||November 15, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||3–11–3 |- |18||L||November 19, 1980||1–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||3–12–3 |- |19||L||November 20, 1980||3–7 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||3–13–3 |- |20||L||November 22, 1980||2–6 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||3–14–3 |- |21||T||November 26, 1980||7–7 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||3–14–4 |- |22||L||November 29, 1980||1–5 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||3–15–4 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; December Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |23||L||December 2, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||3–16–4 |- |24||L||December 4, 1980||1–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||3–17–4 |- |25||W||December 6, 1980||4–2 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||4–17–4 |- |26||T||December 7, 1980||1–1 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||4–17–5 |- |27||L||December 11, 1980||1–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||4–18–5 |- |28||W||December 13, 1980||7–3 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||5–18–5 |- |29||W||December 14, 1980||5–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||6–18–5 |- |30||W||December 16, 1980||4–3 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||7–18–5 |- |31||W||December 18, 1980||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||8–18–5 |- |32||T||December 20, 1980||3–3 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||8–18–6 |- |33||L||December 23, 1980||2–6 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||8–19–6 |- |34||T||December 27, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||8–19–7 |- |35||W||December 28, 1980||4–3 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||9–19–7 |- |36||W||December 31, 1980||3–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||10–19–7 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; January Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |37||T||January 2, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||10–19–8 |- |38||L||January 3, 1981||4–6 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||10–20–8 |- |39||L||January 6, 1981||2–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||10–21–8 |- |40||L||January 8, 1981||4–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||10–22–8 |- |41||W||January 10, 1981||4–1 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||11–22–8 |- |42||T||January 13, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||11–22–9 |- |43||L||January 15, 1981||0–10 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||11–23–9 |- |44||L||January 16, 1981||1–3 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||11–24–9 |- |45||L||January 20, 1981||4–11 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||11–25–9 |- |46||L||January 22, 1981||0–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||11–26–9 |- |47||W||January 24, 1981||6–2 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||12–26–9 |- |48||W||January 26, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||13–26–9 |- |49||T||January 28, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||13–26–10 |- |50||T||January 29, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||13–26–11 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; February Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |51||L||February 1, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||13–27–11 |- |52||W||February 3, 1981||5–3 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||14–27–11 |- |53||W||February 5, 1981||6–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||15–27–11 |- |54||L||February 6, 1981||3–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||15–28–11 |- |55||W||February 8, 1981||3–2 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||16–28–11 |- |56||T||February 12, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||16–28–12 |- |57||L||February 14, 1981||1–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||16–29–12 |- |58||W||February 17, 1981||6–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||17–29–12 |- |59||W||February 19, 1981||7–3 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||18–29–12 |- |60||L||February 21, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||18–30–12 |- |61||L||February 25, 1981||2–3 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||18–31–12 |- |62||L||February 27, 1981||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||18–32–12 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; March Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |63||T||March 1, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||18–32–13 |- |64||T||March 4, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||18–32–14 |- |65||T||March 8, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||18–32–15 |- |66||T||March 10, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||18–32–16 |- |67||L||March 12, 1981||4–9 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||18–33–16 |- |68||L||March 14, 1981||3–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||18–34–16 |- |69||L||March 17, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||18–35–16 |- |70||L||March 19, 1981||3–6 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||18–36–16 |- |71||W||March 21, 1981||5–4 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1980–81) ||19–36–16 |- |72||L||March 22, 1981||3–9 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||19–37–16 |- |73||L||March 24, 1981||4–7 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||19–38–16 |- |74||L||March 26, 1981||0–2 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||19–39–16 |- |75||L||March 28, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||19–40–16 |- |76||L||March 29, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||19–41–16 |- |77||T||March 31, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||19–41–17 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#CE1126 2px solid; April Game Result Date Score Opponent Record |- |78||T||April 2, 1981||1–1 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||19–41–18 |- |79||L||April 4, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||19–42–18 |- |80||L||April 5, 1981||2–7 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||19–43–18 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Player statistics Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG Dale McCourt C 80 30 56 86 50-171122 John Ogrodnick LW 80 35 35 70 14-17922 Mike Foligno RW 80 28 35 63 210-13305 Reed Larson D 78 27 31 58 153-35800 Willie Huber D 80 15 34 49 130-28300 Vaclav Nedomansky RW 74 12 20 32 30-35600 Mark Kirton C 50 18 13 31 24-30613 Errol Thompson Errol Thompson (ice hockey) LW 39 14 12 26 52-4502 George Lyle George Lyle (ice hockey) LW 31 10 14 24 280300 Paul Woods ice hockey LW 67 8 16 24 45-10111 Brent Peterson C 53 6 18 24 242101 Jim Korn D/LW 63 5 15 20 246-5111 Gary McAdam LW 40 5 14 19 27-14100 Glenn Hicks LW 58 5 10 15 840100 John Barrett ice hockey D 56 3 10 13 60-21001 Jean Hamel D 68 5 7 12 57-1000 Dan Labraaten LW 44 3 8 11 12-19000 Rick Vasko D 20 3 7 10 20-3100 Mike Blaisdell RW 32 3 6 9 10-7000 Perry Miller Perry Miller (ice hockey) D 64 1 8 9 70-18000 Brad Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) RW 20 5 2 7 93-12000 Joe Paterson ice hockey LW 38 2 5 7 534000 Pete Mahovlich C 24 1 4 5 26-8001 Jody Gage RW 16 2 2 4 22-10000 Dennis Polonich C/RW 32 2 2 4 77-14000 Earl Ingarfield Earl Ingarfield Jr. C 22 2 1 3 162000 Mal Davis LW 5 2 0 2 05000 Greg Joly D 17 0 2 2 10-8000 Rick Smith Rick Smith (ice hockey) D 11 0 2 2 6-5000 Gilles Gilbert G 48 0 1 1 120000 Larry Lozinski G 30 0 1 1 00000 Jim Rutherford G 10 0 1 1 00000 Tom Bladon D 2 0 0 0 20000 Al Jensen G 1 0 0 0 00000 Claude Legris G 3 0 0 0 00000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA 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 hockey-reference.com 2009-06-02 1980-81 Detroit Red Wings Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/DET/1981.html 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; Transactions The Red Wings were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Red+wings&BeginDate=1980-05-01&EndDate=1981-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0 Hockey Transactions Search Results Trades June 6, 1980To Detroit Red WingsCashTo Minnesota North StarsAlex Pirus July 15, 1980To Detroit Red WingsGilles GilbertTo Boston BruinsRogie Vachon October 31, 1980To Detroit Red WingsCashTo Winnipeg JetsBarry Long December 4, 1980To Detroit Red WingsMark KirtonTo Toronto Maple LeafsJim Rutherford January 8, 1981To Detroit Red WingsGary McAdamTo Pittsburgh PenguinsErrol Thompson February 3, 1981To Detroit Red WingsEarl Ingarfield Jr.To Calgary FlamesDan Labraaten February 24, 1981To Detroit Red WingsBrad SmithTo Calgary FlamesFuture considerations Waivers June 8, 1980From Minnesota North StarsDavid Hanson October 10, 1980From Boston BruinsRick Smith November 7, 1980To Washington CapitalsRick Smith Free agent signings January 14, 1981From Pittsburgh PenguinsTom Bladon 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)111Mike BlaisdellCanadaRegina Pats (WHL)346Mark OsborneCanadaNiagara Falls Flyers (OHA)588Mike CorriganCanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)6109Wayne CrawfordCanadaToronto Marlboros (OMJHL)7130Mike BraunCanadaNiagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)8151John BeukeboomCanadaPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)9172Dave MilesCanadaBrantford Alexanders (OMJHL)10193Brian RorabeckCanadaNiagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL) See also 1980–81 NHL season References Category:Detroit Red Wings seasons Detroit Detroit Red Detroit Red Category:1980 in Detroit Category:1981 in Detroit