1980–81 Colorado Rockies season

NHL hockey team season March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1980–81 1980 Colorado Rockies (NHL)Colorado Rockies 22–45–13 15–16–9 7–29–4 Campbell 10th Smythe 5th 258 344 Ray Miron Bill MacMillan Rene Robert (Oct.–Jan.)Lanny McDonald (Jan.–Apr.) None McNichols Sports Arena 8,889 Lanny McDonald (35) Lanny McDonald (46) Lanny McDonald (81) Rob Ramage (193) Al Smith (9) Phil Myre (3.44) 1979–80 1981–82 The 1980–81 Colorado Rockies season was the Rockies' fifth season, and seventh season of the franchise. Bill MacMillan was hired to coach the team, replacing Don Cherry. Like five of the previous six seasons, the Rockies did not qualify for the playoffs. 2 Regular season Final standings COL COL Record vs. opponents COL Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 5px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 5px solid; 1980–81 regular season1980-81 Colorado Rockies Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLR/1981_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 23, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; October: 4–4–2 (home: 3–1–2; road: 1–3–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 1 || October 11, 1980 || Calgary || 2–6 || Colorado || Smith ||7,564|| 1–0–0 || 2 || |- | 2 || October 12, 1980 || Colorado || 3–2 || Edmonton || Smith ||17,500|| 2–0–0 || 4 || |- | 3 || October 14, 1980 || Quebec || 1–4 || Colorado || Smith ||4,627|| 3–0–0 || 6 || |- | 4 || October 17, 1980 || Minnesota || 5–5 || Colorado || Smith ||10,202|| 3–0–1 || 7 || |- | 5 || October 18, 1980 || Colorado || 3–4 || Los Angeles || Smith ||8,776|| 3–1–1 || 7 || |- | 6 || October 22, 1980 || Colorado || 0–3 || Hartford || Smith ||9,595|| 3–2–1 || 7 || |- | 7 || October 23, 1980 || Colorado || 1–5 || Detroit || Åström ||9,024|| 3–3–1 || 7 || |- | 8 || October 25, 1980 || Chicago || 3–5 || Colorado || Smith ||11,672|| 4–3–1 || 9 || |- | 9 || October 28, 1980 || Los Angeles || 8–4 || Colorado || Smith ||6,284|| 4–4–1 || 9 || |- | 10 || October 30, 1980 || Washington || 5–5 || Colorado || Åström ||5,207|| 4–4–2 || 10 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; November: 5–6–2 (home: 2–2–2; road: 3–4–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 11 || November 1, 1980 || Colorado || 5–4 || Toronto || Smith || || 5–4–2 || 12 || |- | 12 || November 2, 1980 || Colorado || 5–4 || Quebec || Smith || || 6–4–2 || 14 || |- | 13 || November 5, 1980 || Colorado || 3–5 || Buffalo || Smith || || 6–5–2 || 14 || |- | 14 || November 6, 1980 || Hartford || 3–3 || Colorado || Åström || || 6–5–3 || 15 || |- | 15 || November 8, 1980 || Toronto || 3–3 || Colorado || Smith || || 6–5–4 || 16 || |- | 16 || November 11, 1980 || Montreal || 8–2 || Colorado || Smith || || 6–6–4 || 16 || |- | 17 || November 14, 1980 || St. Louis || 1–5 || Colorado || Åström || || 7–6–4 || 18 || |- | 18 || November 16, 1980 || Colorado || 4–3 || Calgary || Smith || || 8–6–4 || 20 || |- | 19 || November 20, 1980 || Colorado || 2–4 || Boston || Smith || || 8–7–4 || 20 || |- | 20 || November 22, 1980 || Colorado || 2–4 || Pittsburgh || Åström || || 8–8–4 || 20 || |- | 21 || November 25, 1980 || Edmonton || 3–4 || Colorado || Smith || || 9–8–4 || 22 || |- | 22 || November 28, 1980 || Philadelphia || 7–4 || Colorado || Smith || || 9–9–4 || 22 || |- | 23 || November 30, 1980 || Colorado || 1–4 || Buffalo || Åström || || 9–10–4 || 22 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; December: 4–9–2 (home: 2–1–2; road: 2–8–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 24 || December 2, 1980 || Colorado || 1–5 || N.Y. Islanders || Smith || || 9–11–4 || 22 || |- | 25 || December 4, 1980 || N.Y. Islanders || 3–4 || Colorado || Åström || || 10–11–4 || 24 || |- | 26 || December 6, 1980 || Colorado || 6–8 || Washington || Smith || || 10–12–4 || 24 || |- | 27 || December 7, 1980 || Colorado || 2–4 || Philadelphia || Åström || || 10–13–5 || 25 || |- | 28 || December 9, 1980 || Buffalo || 4–4 || Colorado || Åström || || 10–13–5 || 25 || |- | 29 || December 12, 1980 || N.Y. Rangers || 4–3 || Colorado || Åström || || 10–14–5 || 25 || |- | 30 || December 13, 1980 || Colorado || 4–9 || St. Louis || Smith || || 10–15–5 || 25 || |- | 31 || December 17, 1980 || Colorado || 6–1 || Chicago || Åström || || 11–15–5 || 27 || |- | 32 || December 18, 1980 || Colorado || 0–2 || Philadelphia || Åström || || 11–16–5 || 27 || |- | 33 || December 20, 1980 || Detroit || 3–3 || Colorado || Åström || || 11–16–6 || 28 || |- | 34 || December 23, 1980 || Colorado || 4–5 || Winnipeg || Smith || || 11–17–6 || 28 || |- | 35 || December 26, 1980 || Calgary || 2–5 || Colorado || Åström || || 12–17–6 || 30 || |- | 36 || December 27, 1980 || Colorado || 4–6 || Minnesota || Smith || || 12–18–6 || 30 || |- | 37 || December 30, 1980 || Colorado || 3–9 || N.Y. Islanders || Åström || || 12–19–6 || 30 || |- | 38 || December 31, 1980 || Colorado || 6–4 || N.Y. Rangers || Kaarela || || 13–18–6 || 32 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; January: 3–8–2 (home: 3–4–1; road: 0–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 39 || January 3, 1981 || Boston || 1–4 || Colorado || Kaarela || || 14–19–6 || 34 || |- | 40 || January 6, 1981 || Vancouver || 7–3 || Colorado || Kaarela || || 14–20–6 || 34 || |- | 41 || January 7, 1981 || Colorado || 2–6 || Chicago || Åström || || 14–21–6 || 34 || |- | 42 || January 9, 1981 || Minnesota || 2–4 || Colorado || Åström || || 15–21–6 || 36 || |- | 43 || January 12, 1981 || Washington || 2–1 || Colorado || Åström || || 15–22–6 || 36 || |- | 44 || January 13, 1981 || Colorado || 3–3 || Vancouver || Smith || || 15–22–7 || 37 || |- | 45 || January 15, 1981 || N.Y. Rangers || 3–4 || Colorado || Åström || || 16–22–7 || 39 || |- | 46 || January 17, 1981 || Vancouver || 5–2 || Colorado || Smith || || 16–23–7 || 39 || |- | 47 || January 23, 1981 || Winnipeg || 2–2 || Colorado || Åström || || 16–23–8 || 40 || |- | 48 || January 24, 1981 || Colorado || 2–6 || Detroit || Smith || || 16–24–8 || 40 || |- | 49 || January 26, 1981 || Colorado || 3–5 || Boston || Åström || || 16–25–8 || 40 || |- | 50 || January 28, 1981 || Colorado || 3–6 || Hartford || Smith || || 16–26–8 || 40 || |- | 51 || January 30, 1981 || Philadelphia || 7–4 || Colorado || Åström || || 16–27–8 || 40 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; February: 2–8–2 (home: 2–3–2; road: 0–5–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 52 || February 3, 1981 || Montreal || 5–2 || Colorado || Åström || || 16–28–8 || 40 || |- | 53 || February 6, 1981 || Pittsburgh || 4–6 || Colorado || Smith || || 17–28–8 || 42 || |- | 54 || February 8, 1981 || Toronto || 6–6 || Colorado || Åström || || 17–28–9 || 43 || |-style=background:#bbbfff |colspan="10"|33rd All-Star Game in Inglewood, CA |- | 55 || February 12, 1981 || Boston || 3–3 || Colorado || Smith || || 17–28–10 || 44 || |- | 56 || February 14, 1981 || Chicago || 4–3 || Colorado || Smith || || 17–29–10 || 44 || |- | 57 || February 17, 1981 || Quebec || 6–3 || Colorado || Smith || || 17–30–10 || 44 || |- | 58 || February 18, 1981 || Colorado || 2–6 || Minnesota || Åström || || 17–31–10 || 44 || |- | 59 || February 21, 1981 || Colorado || 1–4 || St. Louis || Smith || || 17–32–10 || 44 || |- | 60 || February 22, 1981 || Colorado || 4–9 || Pittsburgh || Smith || || 17–33–10 || 44 || |- | 61 || February 25, 1981 || Colorado || 5–9 || Toronto || Kaarela || || 17–34–10 || 44 || |- | 62 || February 26, 1981 || Colorado || 0–6 || Montreal || Åström || || 17–35–10 || 44 || |- | 63 || February 28, 1981 || Edmonton || 1–3 || Colorado || Myre || || 18–35–10 || 46 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; March: 4–9–1 (home: 3–5–0; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 64 || March 3, 1981 || Hartford || 4–5 || Colorado || Myre || || 19–35–10 || 48 || |- | 65 || March 6, 1981 || Los Angeles || 3–1 || Colorado || Myre || || 19–36–10 || 48 || |- | 66 || March 8, 1981 || St. Louis || 7–0 || Colorado || Myre || || 19–37–10 || 48 || |- | 67 || March 10, 1981 || Colorado || 3–4 || Washington || Myre || || 19–38–10 || 48 || |- | 68 || March 11, 1981 || Colorado || 4–3 || N.Y. Rangers || Resch || || 20–38–10 || 50 || |- | 69 || March 14, 1981 || Colorado || 1–2 || Montreal || Resch || || 20–39–10 || 50 || |- | 70 || March 15, 1981 || Colorado || 0–3 || Quebec || Myre || || 20–40–10 || 50 || |- | 71 || March 18, 1981 || Colorado || 3–4 || Winnipeg || Resch || || 20–41–10 || 50 || |- | 72 || March 20, 1981 || N.Y. Islanders || 5–3 || Colorado || Resch || || 20–42–10 || 50 || |- | 73 || March 21, 1981 || Pittsburgh || 3–1 || Colorado || Myre || || 20–43–10 || 50 || |- | 74 || March 24, 1981 || Detroit || 4–7 || Colorado || Resch || || 21–43–10 || 52 || |- | 75 || March 25, 1981 || Colorado || 4–4 || Vancouver || Myre || || 21–43–11 || 53 || |- | 76 || March 27, 1981 || Buffalo || 5–3 || Colorado || Resch || || 21–44–11 || 53 || |- | 77 || March 29, 1981 || Winnipeg || 1–2 || Colorado || Myre || || 22–44–11 || 55 || |- y background:#fff; border-top:#0033A0 2px solid; border-bottom:#C8102E 2px solid; April: 0–1–2 (home: 0–0–0; road: 0–1–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home Decision Attendance Record Points Recap |- | 78 || April 1, 1981 || Colorado || 4–4 || Edmonton || Resch || || 22–44–12 || 56 || |- | 79 || April 2, 1981 || Colorado || 5–3 || Calgary || Myre || || 22–45–12 || 56 || |- | 80 || April 4, 1981 || Colorado || 5–5 || Los Angeles || Resch || || 22–45–13 || 57 || |- |- | 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 Lanny McDonald RW 80 35 46 81 56-271102 Merlin Malinowski C 69 25 37 62 61-24401 Rob Ramage D 79 20 42 62 193-461213 Mike McEwen Mike McEwen (ice hockey) D 65 11 35 46 84-33501 Lucien DeBlois C 74 26 16 42 78-42912 Paul Gagne Paul Gagné LW 61 25 16 41 12-24902 Walt McKechnie C 53 15 23 38 18-7222 Yvon Vautour RW 74 15 19 34 143-20300 Joel Quenneville D 71 10 24 34 86-24301 Randy Pierce ice hockey RW 55 9 21 30 52-28303 Ron Delorme C 65 11 16 27 70-11300 Rene Robert René Robert RW 28 8 11 19 30-13400 Mike Gillis LW 51 11 7 18 54-21102 Steve Tambellini C 13 6 12 18 2-1201 Ed Cooper ice hockey LW 47 7 7 14 46-6102 Craig Norwich D 11 3 11 14 104100 Doug Berry Doug Berry (ice hockey) C 46 3 10 13 9-15010 Jack Valiquette C 25 3 9 12 7-12000 Barry Smith Barry Smith (ice hockey, born 1955) C 62 4 4 8 4-2000 Mike Kitchen D 75 1 7 8 100-38000 Jack Hughes Jack Hughes (ice hockey, born 1957) D 38 2 5 7 91-22100 Trevor Johansen D 35 0 7 7 18-20000 Bob Miller Bob Miller (ice hockey) C 22 5 1 6 15-19200 Bobby Crawford Bobby Crawford (ice hockey) RW 15 1 3 4 64000 Bobby Sheehan Bobby Sheehan (ice hockey) C 41 1 3 4 10-5000 Bob Attwell RW 15 0 4 4 01000 Les Auge D 6 0 3 3 4-3000 Bill Baker Bill Baker (ice hockey, born 1956) D 13 0 3 3 120000 Gary Dillon C 13 1 1 2 29-6000 Mario Giallonardo D 15 0 2 2 41000 Terry Harper D 15 0 2 2 8-3000 Al Smith Al Smith (ice hockey) G 37 0 2 2 510000 Hardy Astrom Hardy Åström G 30 0 1 1 20000 Peter Sturgeon LW 4 0 1 1 20000 Dave Watson Dave Watson (ice hockey) LW 13 0 1 1 8-2000 Aaron Broten LW/C 2 0 0 0 00000 Mike Christie Mike Christie (ice hockey) D 1 0 0 0 01000 Jari Kaarela G 5 0 0 0 20000 Phil Myre G 10 0 0 0 00000 Chico Resch G 8 0 0 0 00000 Dean Turner Dean Turner (ice hockey) D 4 0 0 0 4-4000 Joe Ward Joe Ward (ice hockey) C 4 0 0 0 2-2000 Goaltending PlayerMINGPW LTGAGAA SO Al Smith Al Smith (ice hockey) 1909 37 9 18 4 151 4.75 0 Hardy Astrom Hardy Åström 1642 30 6 15 6 103 3.76 0 Phil Myre 580 10 3 6 1 33 3.41 0 Jari Kaarela 220 5 2 2 0 22 6.00 0 Chico Resch 449 8 2 4 2 28 3.74 0 Team: 4800 80 22 45 13 337 4.21 0 hockey-reference.com 2009-05-28 1980-81 Colorado Rockies Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CLR/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; Draft picks Colorado's draft picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)119Paul GagneCanadaWindsor Spitfires (OHA)222Joe WardCanadaSeattle Breakers (WHL)464Rick LaFerriereCanadaPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)585Ed CooperCanadaPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)6106Aaron BrotenUnited StatesUniversity of Minnesota (WCHA)7127Dan FascinatoCanadaOttawa 67's (OMJHL)8148Andre HidiCanadaPeterborough Petes (OMJHL)9169Shawn MacKenzieCanadaWindsor Spitfires (OMJHL)10190Bob JanschCanadaVictoria Cougars (WHL) See also 1980–81 NHL season References Category:Colorado Rockies (NHL) seasons Colorado Colorado Rockies Colorado Rockies