1980–81 Calgary Flames season

NHL team season (first season in Calgary) March 2026 August 2023 NHL 1980–81 1980 Calgary Flames Campbell 4th Patrick 3rd 39–27–14 25–5–10 14–22–4 329 298 Cliff Fletcher Al MacNeil Brad Marsh None Stampede Corral 7,217 Kent Nilsson (49) Kent Nilsson (82) Kent Nilsson (131) Willi Plett (239) Pat Riggin (21) Rejean Lemelin (3.83) 1979–80 (Atlanta) The 1980–81 Calgary Flames season was the first season in Calgary and ninth for the Flames in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Flames moved to southern Alberta from Atlanta, where the franchise was known as the Atlanta Flames for the first eight years of its existence. The Flames became the third major-league team to represent the city of Calgary after the Calgary Tigers of the 1920s, and the Calgary Cowboys, which had folded in 1977. The Flames were purchased for $16 million USD by Nelson Skalbania in the spring of 1980. Before the sale was even announced, he had already sold 50% of the franchise to a group of Calgary-based investors including Harley Hotchkiss and Normie Kwong. In May 1980, it was announced that the franchise was moving to Calgary.Zeman, p. 92.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u3VkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O34NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3818%2C6998864 Calgary Herald Canadian Press Flames will be here soon May 20, 1980 D6https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=D3hVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Ij8NAAAAIBAJ&pg=3378%2C2468816 Leader-Post (Regina, Saskatchewan) Canadian Press Skalbania, Calgary back in professional hockey May 24, 1980 23https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gRBZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oW0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5811%2C4924921 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette local and wire dispatches Flames to move to Calgary May 24, 1980 10 While the Cowboys could not manage 2,000 season tickets three years previous, the Flames sold 10,000 full and half-season ticket packages in 1980, selling out the Stampede Corral for every game played there.Zeman, p. 94. Despite the move west, the Flames remained in the East-coast-centered Patrick Division. For practical purposes however, the anomaly was academic. At the time, the league played a balanced schedule and used a league-wide playoff format. This arrangement would only last one more season before the league re-aligned to reflect its geography. Calgary's first NHL game was played October 9, ending as a 5–5 tie to the Quebec Nordiques. The Flames finished third in their division and qualified for the playoffs. The franchise, which had won just two playoff games in Atlanta, won two playoff series in their first year in Calgary. After sweeping the Chicago Black Hawks, Calgary then downed the Philadelphia Flyers in seven games before falling to the Minnesota North Stars in the league semi-final. Kent Nilsson led the Flames in scoring, and his 82 assists and 131 points remain franchise records to this day. Nilsson was also the Flames lone representative at the 1981 All-Star Game.All-Star Selections, 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 22. 2 Regular season Season standings CAL CAL Record vs. opponents CGY Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 5px solid; 1980–81 regular season1980-81 Calgary Flames Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/CGY/1981_games.html Hockey-Reference.com March 24, 2025 y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; October: 5–4–2 (home: 3–1–1; road: 2–3–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 1 || October 9 || Quebec || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 0–0–1 || 1 || 7,243 |- | 2 || October 11 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Colorado || || 0–1–1 || 1 || 7,564 |- | 3 || October 12 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Chicago || OT || 0–1–2 || 2 || 10,923 |- | 4 || October 14 || Los Angeles || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 1–1–2 || 4 || 7,126 |- | 5 || October 16 || Boston || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || 2–1–2 || 6 || 7,229 |- | 6 || October 18 || Minnesota || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || 3–1–2 || 8 || 7,139 |- | 7 || October 22 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Edmonton || || 3–2–2 || 8 || 17,396 |- | 8 || October 23 || Toronto || 5 – 4 || Calgary || || 3–3–2 || 8 || 7,243 |- | 9 || October 25 || Calgary || 8 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || 4–3–2 || 10 || 9,363 |- | 10 || October 28 || Calgary || 0 – 8 || Philadelphia || || 4–4–2 || 10 || 17,077 |- | 11 || October 30 || Calgary || 3 – 1 || Boston || || 5–4–2 || 12 || 8,774 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; November: 5–5–3 (home: 2–1–1; road: 3–4–2) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 12 || November 1 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || St. Louis || || 6–4–2 || 14 || 12,559 |- | 13 || November 2 || Calgary || 3 – 8 || Minnesota || || 6–5–2 || 14 || 11,531 |- | 14 || November 5 || Calgary || 5 – 5 || Winnipeg || OT || 6–5–3 || 15 || 10,500 |- | 15 || November 8 || St. Louis || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 7–5–3 || 17 || 7,243 |- | 16 || November 11 || NY Rangers || 3 – 7 || Calgary || || 8–5–3 || 19 || 7,243 |- | 17 || November 13 || Chicago || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 8–5–4 || 20 || 7,243 |- | 18 || November 16 || Colorado || 4 – 3 || Calgary || || 8–6–4 || 20 || 7,243 |- | 19 || November 20 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Washington || || 8–7–4 || 20 || 8,721 |- | 20 || November 22 || Calgary || 3 – 3 || Quebec || OT || 8–7–5 || 21 || 10,185 |- | 21 || November 25 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Montreal || || 9–7–5 || 23 || 16,020 |- | 22 || November 27 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || Buffalo || || 9–8–5 || 23 || 16,433 |- | 23 || November 29 || Calgary || 3 – 9 || St. Louis || || 9–9–5 || 23 || 15,541 |- | 24 || November 30 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Winnipeg || || 10–9–5 || 25 || 12,867 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; December: 6–3–3 (home: 4–2–2; road: 2–1–1) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 25 || December 4 || Winnipeg || 3 – 1 || Calgary || || 11–9–5 || 27 || 7,077 |- | 26 || December 6 || Hartford || 5 – 3 || Calgary || || 11–10–5 || 27 || 7,083 |- | 27 || December 8 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Los Angeles || || 12–10–5 || 29 || 7,673 |- | 28 || December 11 || Buffalo || 4 – 8 || Calgary || || 13–10–5 || 31 || 7,226 |- | 29 || December 13 || NY Islanders || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 13–10–6 || 32 || 7,243 |- | 30 || December 18 || Montreal || 4 – 0 || Calgary || || 13–11–6 || 32 || 7,243 |- | 31 || December 20 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 13–11–7 || 33 || 7,123 |- | 32 || December 22 || Calgary || 3 – 2 || NY Rangers || || 14–11–7 || 35 || 17,418 |- | 33 || December 23 || Calgary || 2 – 2|| NY Islanders || OT || 14–11–8 || 36 || 14,950 |- | 34 || December 26 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Colorado || || 14–12–8 || 36 || 11,849 |- | 35 || December 27 || Philadelphia || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || 15–12–8 || 38 || 7,243 |- | 36 || December 30 || Edmonton || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 16–12–8 || 40 || 7,243 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; January: 6–7–3 (home: 5–0–3; road: 1–7–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 37 || January 2 || Los Angeles || 6 – 7 || Calgary || || 17–12–8 || 42 || 7,243 |- | 38 || January 4 || Toronto || 5 – 8 || Calgary || || 18–12–8 || 44 || 7,243 |- | 39 || January 5 || Calgary || 2 – 5 || Los Angeles || || 18–13–8 || 44 || 8,256 |- | 40 || January 8 || Washington || 0 – 6 || Calgary || || 19–13–8 || 46 || 7,243 |- | 41 || January 10 || Calgary || 1 – 4 || Detroit || || 19–14–8 || 46 || 16,014 |- | 42 || January 11 || Calgary || 1 – 2 || Chicago || || 19–15–8 || 46 || 8,667 |- | 43 || January 13 || NY Rangers || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 19–15–9 || 47 || 7,226 |- | 44 || January 15 || Detroit || 0 – 10 || Calgary || || 20–15–9 || 49 || 7,226 |- | 45 || January 17 || Winnipeg || 2 – 4 || Calgary || || 21–15–9 || 51 || 7,243 |- | 46 || January 19 || Calgary || 3 – 6 || NY Rangers || || 21–16–9 || 51 || 17,415 |- | 47 || January 20 || Calgary || 0 – 5 || NY Islanders || || 21–17–9 || 51 || 15,008 |- | 48 || January 23 || Calgary || 4 – 2 || Hartford || || 22–17–9 || 53 || 10,206 |- | 49 || January 24 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Pittsburgh || || 22–18–9 || 53 || 9,360 |- | 50 || January 26 || Calgary || 2 – 3 || Minnesota || || 22–19–9 || 53 || 11,971 |- | 51 || January 29 || Montreal || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 22–19–10 || 54 || 7,243 |- | 52 || January 31 || Chicago || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 22–19–11 || 55 || 7,223 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; February: 9–2–1 (home: 7–1–1; road: 2–1–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 53 || February 1 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Vancouver || || 22–20–11 || 55 || 15,716 |- | 54 || February 5 || Washington || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 23–20–11 || 57 || 7,226 |- | 55 || February 7 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 24–20–11 || 59 || 7,222 |- | 56 || February 8 || Calgary || 10 – 4 || Edmonton || || 25–20–11 || 61 || 17,490 |- | 57 || February 12 || Quebec || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 26–20–11 || 63 || 7,225 |- | 58 || February 14 || Buffalo || 4 – 4 || Calgary || OT || 26–20–12 || 64 || 7,226 |- | 59 || February 17 || St. Louis || 5 – 2 || Calgary || || 26–21–12 || 64 || 7,226 |- | 60 || February 19 || Philadelphia || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || 27–21–12 || 66 || 7,225 |- | 61 || February 21 || Boston || 2 – 7 || Calgary || || 28–21–12 || 68 || 7,226 |- | 62 || February 22 || Calgary || 5 – 3 || Vancouver || || 29–21–12 || 70 || 13,456 |- | 63 || February 25 || NY Islanders || 4 – 11 || Calgary || || 30–21–12 || 72 || 7,226 |- | 64 || February 27 || Hartford || 1 – 5 || Calgary || || 31–21–12 || 74 || 7,226 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; March: 6–6–2 (home: 2–0–2; road: 4–6–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 65 || March 3 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Washington || || 32–21–12 || 76 || 8,164 |- | 66 || March 4 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Buffalo || || 32–22–12 || 76 || 16,298 |- | 67 || March 7 || Calgary || 6 – 4 || Toronto || || 32–22–12 || 78 || 16,485 |- | 68 || March 8 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Hartford || || 33–22–12 || 80 || 10,171 |- | 69 || March 10 || Vancouver || 2 – 11 || Calgary || || 35–22–12 || 82 || 7,226 |- | 70 || March 12 || Minnesota || 3 – 6 || Calgary || || 36–22–12 || 84 || 7,226 |- | 71 || March 15 || Edmonton || 3 – 3 || Calgary || OT || 36–22–13 || 85 || 7,226 |- | 72 || March 19 || Calgary || 6 – 3 || Detroit || || 37–22–13 || 87 || 12,117 |- | 73 || March 21 || Calgary || 3 – 4 || Boston || || 37–23–13 || 87 || 11,452 |- | 74 || March 22 || Calgary || 2 – 6 || Philadelphia || || 37–24–13 || 87 || 17,077 |- | 75 || March 25 || Calgary || 2 – 4 || Quebec || || 37–25–13 || 87 || 14,970 |- | 76 || March 26 || Calgary || 2 – 8 || Montreal || || 37–26–13 || 87 || 16,464 |- | 77 || March 28 || Calgary || 5 – 9 || Toronto || || 37–27–13 || 87 || 16,485 |- | 78 || March 31 || Detroit || 5 – 5 || Calgary || OT || 37–27–14 || 88 || 7,226 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; April: 2–0–0 (home: 2–0–0; road: 0–0–0) Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Record Pts Attendance |- | 79 || April 2 || Colorado || 3 – 5 || Calgary || || 38–27–14 || 90 || 7,226 |- | 80 || April 4 || Vancouver || 5 – 6 || Calgary || || 39–27–14 || 92 || 7,226 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black Playoffs background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 5px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 5px solid; 1981 Stanley Cup playoffs y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; Preliminary Round vs. Chicago Black Hawks – Flames win 3–0 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series Attendance |- | 1 || April 8 || Chicago || 3 – 4 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 1–0 || 7,226 |- | 2 || April 9 || Chicago || 2 – 6 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 2–0 || 7,226 |- | 3 || April 11 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Chicago || 2OT || Calgary wins 3–0 || 12,482 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; Quarterfinals vs. Philadelphia Flyers – Flames win 4–3 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series Attendance |- | 1 || April 16 || Calgary || 0 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Philadelphia leads 1–0 || 17,077 |- | 2 || April 17 || Calgary || 5 – 4 || Philadelphia || || Series tied 1–1 || 17,077 |- | 3 || April 19 || Philadelphia || 1 – 2 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 2–1 || 7,226 |- | 4 || April 20 || Philadelphia || 4 – 5 || Calgary || || Calgary leads 3–1 || 7,226 |- | 5 || April 22 || Calgary || 4 – 9 || Philadelphia || || Calgary leads 3–2 || 17,077 |- | 6 || April 24 || Philadelphia || 3 – 2 || Calgary || || Series tied 3–3 || 7,226 |- | 7 || April 26 || Calgary || 4 – 1 || Philadelphia || || Calgary wins 4–3 || 17,077 |- y background:#fff; border-top:#CE1126 2px solid; border-bottom:#F3BC52 2px solid; Semifinals vs. Minnesota North Stars – North Stars win 4–2 Game Date Visitor Score Home OT Series Attendance |- | 1 || April 28 || Minnesota || 4 – 1 || Calgary || || Minnesota leads 1–0 || 7,226 |- | 2 || April 30 || Minnesota || 2 – 3 || Calgary || || Series tied 1–1 || 7,226 |- | 3 || May 3 || Calgary || 4 – 6 || Minnesota || || Minnesota leads 2–1 || 15,784 |- | 4 || May 5 || Calgary || 4 – 7 || Minnesota || || Minnesota leads 3–1 || 15,784 |- | 5 || May 7 || Minnesota || 1 – 3 || Calgary || || Minnesota leads 3–2 || 7,226 |- | 6 || May 9 || Calgary || 3 – 5 || Minnesota || || Minnesota wins 4–2 || 15,784 |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win 1px solid black #fcc Loss 1px solid black Player statistics Skaters Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM Kent Nilsson 14 8049821312616314174 Guy Chouinard 16 523152832416314174 Willi Plett 25 7838306823915841289 Paul Reinhart 23 7418496752161141516 Eric Vail 27 642836642360000 Bob MacMillan 11 77283563471686147 Don Lever 12 622631575616471120 Pekka Rautakallio 4 7611455664162466 Jim Peplinski 24 801325381081623511 Kevin LaVallee 15 771520351682354 Bill Clement 10 7812203233162136 Ken Houston 6 421515309316781530 Phil Russell 5 80623291041627929 Bob Murdoch 20 7431922541614536 Dan Labraaten† 21 2797161351014 Jamie Hislop† 17 29691511163035 Brad Marsh 22 801121387160558 Bert Wilson 8 5057129410000 Brad Smith 18 45741165 – – – – – Alex McKendry 26 3636919 – – – – – Earl Ingarfield‡ 21 162356 – – – – – Denis Cyr 9 101450 – – – – – Randy Holt 7 480551651322452 Dan Bouchard‡ 30 140446 – – – – – Dave Hindmarch 18 1101060002 Greg Meredith 29 31010 – – – – – Mike Dwyer 29 4011411010 Gord Wappel 2 70114 – – – – – Rejean Lemelin 1 29011260000 Pat Riggin 31 420117110000 Tony Curtale 3 20000 – – – – – Bobby Gould 19 30000113144 Steve Konroyd 3 40004 – – – – – †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Calgary. Stats reflect time with the Flames only. ‡Traded mid-season. Bold denotes franchise record. Goaltenders Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals against average     Regular season   Playoffs Player # GP TOI W L T GA SO GAA GP TOI W L GA SO GAA Rejean Lemelin 129162914678823.246366332203.61 Pat Riggin 314224112116415403.8311629633703.53 Dan Bouchard 30147604535104.06 – – – – – – –.-- Transactions The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season. Trades June 2, 1980 To Calgary Flames 2nd round pick in 1980 Entry Draft(Steve Konroyd)2nd round pick in 1981 Entry Draft(Mike Vernon) To Boston Bruins Jim Craig June 8, 1980Maki Alan https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tXRkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=eH4NAAAAIBAJ&pg=1406%2C404057 No Kings' ransom paid to land Unger Calgary Herald 1980-06-11 2011-01-10 D1 To Calgary Flames Randy HoltBert Wilson To Los Angeles Kings Garry Unger June 10, 1980 To Calgary Flames 2nd round pick in 1980 Entry Draft(Kevin LaVallee) To Toronto Maple Leafs Dave Shand3rd round pick in 1980 Entry Draft(traded to Washington Capitals;Capitals selected Torrie Robertson) July 1, 1980 To Calgary Flames Cash To Washington Capitals Jean Pronovost October 9, 1980 To Calgary Flames Alex McKendry To New York Islanders 3rd round pick in 1981 Entry Draft(Ron Handy) January 30, 1981 To Calgary Flames Jamie Hislop To Quebec Nordiques Dan Bouchard February 3, 1981 To Calgary Flames Dan Labraaten To Detroit Red Wings Earl Ingarfield February 24, 1981 To Calgary Flames Future Considerations To Detroit Red Wings Brad Smith Free agents Player Former team LW Mike Dwyer Colorado Rockies C Bob Francis University of New Hampshire (NCAA) D Charlie Bourgeois Université de Moncton (CIAU) Player New team October 2021 Draft picks List of Calgary Flames draft picks Calgary's picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft, held in Montreal.Calgary Flames draft history, hockeydb.com, accessed October 8, 2007. RndPickPlayerNationalityPositionTeam (league)NHL statisticsGPGAPtsPIM113Denis CyrCanadaRWMontreal Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)19341438436231Tony CurtaleUnited StatesDBrantford Alexanders (OHA)20000232Kevin LaValleeCanadaFBrantford Alexanders (OHA)36611012523585239Steve KonroydCanadaDOshawa Generals (OHA)89541195236863476Marc RoyCanadaRWChicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) 597Randy TurnbullCanadaDPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)100026118John MultanCanadaRWPortland Winter Hawks (WHL) 7139Dave NewsomCanadaLWBrantford Alexanders (OHA) 8160Claude DrouinCanadaCQuebec Remparts (QMJHL) 9181Hakan LoobSwedenFFärjestad BK (SEL)45019323642918910202Steven FletcherCanadaLWHull Olympiques (QMJHL)30005 See also 1980–81 NHL season References Zeman Gary Alberta on Ice 1986 0-9692320-0-4 Player stats: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 131. Game log: 2006–07 Calgary Flames Media Guide, p. 141. Team standings: 1980–81 NHL standings @hockeydb.com Trades: Individual player pages at hockeydb.com Category:Calgary Flames seasons Category:1980 in sports in Alberta Calgary Flames season, 1980-81 Cal Calgary Flames Category:1980s in Calgary