The 1979–80 Winnipeg Jets season was the organization's eighth season since its inception in 1972, and its first season in the

National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

Offseason

After spending seven seasons in the

World Hockey Association The World Hockey Association () was a professional ice hockey major league that operated in North America from 1972–73 WHA season, 1972 to 1978–79 WHA season, 1979. It was the first major league to compete with the National Hockey League (N ...

, in which the team won three

Avco Cup The Avco World Trophy, also known as the Avco Cup, is the playoff championship trophy of the defunct World Hockey Association, which operated from 1972 until 1979. The trophy's naming rights were sold to the former Avco Corporation (a name origin ...

championships, the

Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...

joined the

, as did the

Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

Hartford Whalers The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its 25-year existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1 ...

and

Quebec Nordiques The Quebec Nordiques (, pronounced in Quebec French, in Canadian English; translated "Northmen" or "Northerners") were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association (1972–1979) an ...

, as the WHA disbanded. On June 13, 1979, the Jets participated in the

1979 NHL expansion draft The 1979 NHL expansion draft was held on June 13, 1979. The draft took place to fill the rosters of the National Hockey League's new teams for the 1979–80 season: the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques and Winnipeg Jets. These ...

to fill out their roster, while on June 28, 1979, Winnipeg made their first ever trade, as the Jets sent Jamie Hislop to the

in exchange for Barry Legge. On August 8, 1979, the Jets selected Jimmy Mann of the

Sherbrooke Castors The Sherbrooke Castors or Beavers (in English) was the name of two different junior ice hockey teams in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and another team in the Quebec Eastern Provincial Hockey League. Both later franchises played at the Pal ...

of the

QMJHL The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...

with their first ever draft pick at the 1979 NHL entry draft. In the fifth round, the Jets selected

Thomas Steen Anders Thomas Steen (born June 8, 1960) is a Swedes, Swedish former professional ice hockey player and coach. Steen is the former city councillor for the Winnipeg ward of Elmwood, Winnipeg, Elmwood-East Kildonan. Steen played professional ice hock ...

from

Leksands IF Leksands Idrottsförening is a Swedish professional ice hockey team from the town of Leksand in the region of Dalarna. The team plays in the top-tier league, Swedish Hockey League (SHL), after succeeding through the 2019 SHL qualifiers and thus ...

of the

SEL __NOTOC__ SEL may refer to: *Signalling Equipment Ltd, a trading name used by the British toy manufacturer J & L Randall *Finnish Food Workers' Union, a trade union in Finland *Left Ecology Freedom (''Sinistra Ecologia Libertà''), Italian political ...

. During the off-season, the club announced that

Tom McVie Thomas McVie (6 June 1935 – 19 January 2025) was a Canadian professional ice hockey coach in the National Hockey League. Biography McVie grew up in a poor family and, upon signing his first junior league contract, is said to have left home wi ...

would be retained as head coach. McVie became the Jets head coach late in the 1978–79 season, going 11-8-0 in nineteen games, followed by a record of 8–2 in the playoffs to lead Winnipeg to the

. McVie had head coaching experience in the

NHL The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...

, as he coached the

Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...

to a 49-122-33 record from 1975 to 1978. Lars-Erik Sjoberg was named captain of the team, as former captain Barry Long joined the

Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...

for the 1979–80 season. Sjoberg captained Winnipeg from 1975 to 1978 in the WHA.

Regular season

The Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs, as their record of 20-49-11 earned them 51 points, good for fifth in the

Smythe Division The National Hockey League's Smythe Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honour of Conn Smythe, who was a longtime owner, general manager, and he ...

, 18 points behind the fourth place

for the final playoff position.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 10, 1979, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins (colloquially known as the Pens) are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh. The Penguins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), E ...

( 1979–80) , , 0–1–0 , , 8,752 , - , 2, , L, , October 11, 1979, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...

( 1979–80) , , 0–2–0 , , 10,613 , - , 3, , W, , October 14, 1979, , 4–2 , , align="left",

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

( 1979–80) , , 1–2–0 , , 12,648 , - , 4, , L, , October 17, 1979, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 1–3–0 , , 12,145 , - , 5, , W, , October 19, 1979, , 3–2 , , align="left",

Minnesota North Stars The Minnesota North Stars were a professional ice hockey team in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 26 seasons, from 1967 to 1993. The North Stars played their home games at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, and the team's colors for ...

( 1979–80) , , 2–3–0 , , 11,035 , - , 6, , L, , October 20, 1979, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 2–4–0 , , 7,758 , - , 7, , L, , October 24, 1979, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

Chicago Black Hawks Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

( 1979–80) , , 2–5–0 , , 9,726 , - , 8, , W, , October 26, 1979, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 3–5–0 , , 13,699 , - , 9, , T, , October 28, 1979, , 2–2 , , align="left",

St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...

( 1979–80) , , 3–5–1 , , 11,763 , - , 10, , W, , October 31, 1979, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 4–5–1 , , 10,430 , - , - , 11, , T, , November 2, 1979, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 4–5–2 , , 11,512 , - , 12, , T, , November 4, 1979, , 4–4 , , align="left",

New York Islanders The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (N ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–5–3 , , 12,478 , - , 13, , L, , November 6, 1979, , 0–8 , , align="left", @

Atlanta Flames The Atlanta Flames were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta from 1972 until 1980. They played home games in the Omni Coliseum and were members of the West and later Patrick divisions of the National Hockey League (NHL). Along with t ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–6–3 , , 7,296 , - , 14, , L, , November 7, 1979, , 3–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 4–7–3 , , 6,308 , - , 15, , L, , November 10, 1979, , 4–8 , , align="left",

Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...

( 1979–80) , , 4–8–3 , , 14,347 , - , 16, , W, , November 14, 1979, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 5–8–3 , , 12,736 , - , 17, , L, , November 16, 1979, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 5–9–3 , , 12,401 , - , 18, , L, , November 18, 1979, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 5–10–3 , , 12,668 , - , 19, , W, , November 21, 1979, , 6–4 , , align="left", @

New York Rangers The New York Rangers are a professional ice hockey team based in New York City. The Rangers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team plays ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–10–3 , , 17,406 , - , 20, , L, , November 22, 1979, , 0–7 , , align="left", @

Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...

( 1979–80) , , 6–11–3 , , 16,921 , - , 21, , W, , November 24, 1979, , 5–3 , , align="left",

Vancouver Canucks The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. The Canucks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conferenc ...

( 1979–80) , , 7–11–3 , , 13,110 , - , 22, , L, , November 27, 1979, , 3–5 , , align="left", @

Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...

( 1979–80) , , 7–12–3 , , 7,914 , - , 23, , L, , November 28, 1979, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 7–13–3 , , 12,584 , - , - , 24, , T, , December 1, 1979, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 7–13–4 , , 12,763 , - , 25, , L, , December 2, 1979, , 0–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 7–14–4 , , 14,041 , - , 26, , W, , December 4, 1979, , 4–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 8–14–4 , , 8,383 , - , 27, , L, , December 5, 1979, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 8–15–4 , , 12,278 , - , 28, , W, , December 7, 1979, , 8–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 9–15–4 , , 11,772 , - , 29, , L, , December 9, 1979, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 9–16–4 , , 12,579 , - , 30, , L, , December 12, 1979, , 0–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 9–17–4 , , 10,326 , - , 31, , W, , December 15, 1979, , 6–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 10–17–4 , , 15,723 , - , 32, , W, , December 16, 1979, , 4–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 11–17–4 , , 15,423 , - , 33, , L, , December 19, 1979, , 2–3 , , align="left",

Buffalo Sabres The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. The Sabres compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Con ...

( 1979–80) , , 11–18–4 , , 12,696 , - , 34, , W, , December 21, 1979, , 4–1 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 12–18–4 , , 13,406 , - , 35, , L, , December 26, 1979, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–19–4 , , 15,623 , - , 36, , L, , December 28, 1979, , 3–5 , , align="left",

Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia. The Flyers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The team play ...

( 1979–80) , , 12–20–4 , , 16,038 , - , 37, , L, , December 29, 1979, , 1–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–21–4 , , 16,485 , - , 38, , L, , December 31, 1979, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–22–4 , , 16,433 , - , - , 39, , L, , January 4, 1980, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 12–23–4 , , 15,040 , - , 40, , T, , January 6, 1980, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 12–23–5 , , 12,250 , - , 41, , L, , January 8, 1980, , 0–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–24–5 , , 6,138 , - , 42, , L, , January 10, 1980, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 12–25–5 , , 17,077 , - , 43, , L, , January 12, 1980, , 0–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 12–26–5 , , 13,848 , - , 44, , W, , January 13, 1980, , 5–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 13–26–5 , , 13,598 , - , 45, , L, , January 15, 1980, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–27–5 , , 14,256 , - , 46, , L, , January 16, 1980, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–28–5 , , 17,416 , - , 47, , L, , January 18, 1980, , 0–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 13–29–5 , , 12,708 , - , 48, , L, , January 21, 1980, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–30–5 , , 7,627 , - , 49, , L, , January 22, 1980, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 13–31–5 , , 7,028 , - , 50, , L, , January 25, 1980, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 13–32–5 , , 15,122 , - , 51, , T, , January 27, 1980, , 6–6 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 13–32–6 , , 12,938 , - , 52, , W, , January 29, 1980, , 7–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–32–6 , , 7,165 , - , - , 53, , L, , February 1, 1980, , 2–9 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–33–6 , , 15,423 , - , 54, , T, , February 2, 1980, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–33–7 , , 13,308 , - , 55, , L, , February 8, 1980, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 14–34–7 , , 11,917 , - , 56, , T, , February 10, 1980, , 2–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 14–34–8 , , 11,588 , - , 57, , T, , February 12, 1980, , 0–0 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–34–9 , , 13,898 , - , 58, , L, , February 14, 1980, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–35–9 , , 17,077 , - , 59, , L, , February 15, 1980, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 14–36–9 , , 10,136 , - , 60, , W, , February 17, 1980, , 6–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–36–9 , , 12,328 , - , 61, , L, , February 20, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 15–37–9 , , 16,433 , - , 62, , L, , February 21, 1980, , 0–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 15–38–9 , , 15,799 , - , 63, , L, , February 23, 1980, , 3–9 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–39–9 , , 15,171 , - , 64, , L, , February 27, 1980, , 2–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 15–40–9 , , 8,977 , - , 65, , T, , February 29, 1980, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–40–10 , , 13,667 , - , - , 66, , L, , March 2, 1980, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–41–10 , , 13,669 , - , 67, , L, , March 4, 1980, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 15–42–10 , , 15,085 , - , 68, , L, , March 9, 1980, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–43–10 , , 12,412 , - , 69, , T, , March 12, 1980, , 3–3 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–43–11 , , 14,299 , - , 70, , L, , March 14, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 15–44–11 , , N/A , - , 71, , W, , March 16, 1980, , 6–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 16–44–11 , , 12,014 , - , 72, , L, , March 19, 1980, , 1–9 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 16–45–11 , , 16,485 , - , 73, , W, , March 21, 1980, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 17–45–11 , , 15,170 , - , 74, , L, , March 23, 1980, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 17–46–11 , , 12,377 , - , 75, , W, , March 26, 1980, , 7–0 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 18–46–11 , , 13,151 , - , 76, , L, , March 28, 1980, , 1–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 18–47–11 , , 13,100 , - , 77, , L, , March 30, 1980, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 18–48–11 , , 11,686 , - , - , 78, , W, , April 2, 1980, , 5–2 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 19–48–11 , , 9,374 , - , 79, , L, , April 5, 1980, , 0–6 , , align="left", @

( 1979–80) , , 19–49–11 , , 13,261 , - , 80, , W, , April 6, 1980, , 3–2 , , align="left",

( 1979–80) , , 20–49–11 , , 14,236 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Transactions

Trades

Waivers

Free agents

Draft picks

NHL amateur draft

Winnipeg's picks at the 1979 NHL entry draft, which was held at the

Queen Elizabeth Hotel Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth () is a historic grand hotel in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. With 950 rooms and 21 floors it is the largest hotel in Quebec, and the second largest Fairmont hotel in Canada after the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Lo ...

Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

on August 9, 1979.

Expansion Draft

Reclaimed Players

Reclaiming of Players: The 17 existing NHL teams were allowed to reclaim any rights to former WHA players they held. The four incoming franchises, however, were allowed to protect up to two goaltenders and two skaters, voiding their NHL rights. These players were considered "priority selections" in the expansion draft.

Gordie Howe Gordon Howe (March 31, 1928 – June 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. From 1946 to 1980, he played 26 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) and six seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA); his first 25 seaso ...

was one of two special cases (the other being Wayne Gretzky), as a gentlemen's agreement between the

and the

, which held his rights, led to the Wings declining to reclaim Howe. ''These are Winnipeg players whose NHL rights were reclaimed when the WHA merged with the NHL. This list is incomplete.''

Jets selections

References

External links

Jets on Hockey Database
{{DEFAULTSORT:1979-80 Season Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) seasons

1979 in sports in Manitoba 1980 in sports in Manitoba 1970s in Winnipeg 1980s in Winnipeg