The 1980–81 Calgary Flames season was the first

season A season is a division of the year based on changes in weather, ecology, and the number of daylight hours in a given region. On Earth, seasons are the result of the axial parallelism of Earth's axial tilt, tilted orbit around the Sun. In temperat ...

Calgary Calgary () is a major city in the Canadian province of Alberta. As of 2021, the city proper had a population of 1,306,784 and a metropolitan population of 1,481,806 making it the third-largest city and fifth-largest metropolitan area in C ...

and ninth for the Flames 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 ...

. The Flames moved to southern

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

from

Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...

, where the franchise was known as the

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 ...

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 The Calgary Tigers, often nicknamed the ''Bengals'', were an ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, from 1920 until 1927 as members of the Big-4 League, Western Canada Hockey League and Prairie Hockey League. The Tigers were reviv ...

of the 1920s, and the

Calgary Cowboys The Calgary Cowboys were an ice hockey team that played two seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1975 to 1977. The Cowboys played at the Stampede Corral in Calgary. The franchise was founded in 1972 as the Miami Screaming Eagles ...

, which had folded in 1977. The Flames were purchased for $16 million

USD The United States dollar (symbol: $; currency code: USD) is the official currency of the United States and several other countries. The Coinage Act of 1792 introduced the U.S. dollar at par with the Spanish silver dollar, divided it int ...

Nelson Skalbania Nelson Mathew Skalbania (born February 12, 1938) is an engineer and businessman from Vancouver, British Columbia, who is best known for signing a then 17-year-old Wayne Gretzky to the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association, and for h ...

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 Harley Norman Hotchkiss, (July 12, 1927 – June 22, 2011) was a Canadian business and community leader who was best known for his contributions to health and sports development in Canada. He was part of the consortium that brought the Atlanta ...

and Normie Kwong. On May 21, 1980, it was announced that the franchise was moving to Calgary. 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 The Stampede Corral was a multi-purpose venue (ice hockey, professional wrestling, rodeo, tennis) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Located on the grounds of Calgary Stampede#Stampede Park, Stampede Park, the arena was completed in 1950 at a cost ...

for every game played there. Despite the move west, the Flames remained in the East-coast-centered

Patrick Division The National Hockey League's Patrick Division was formed in 1974 as part of the Clarence Campbell Conference. The division moved to the Prince of Wales Conference in 1981. The division existed for 19 seasons until 1993. It was named in honor of ...

. 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 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 ...

. 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 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 ...

, Calgary then downed the

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 ...

in seven games before falling to the

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 ...

in the league semi-final.

Kent Nilsson Kent Åke Nilsson (born 31 August 1956) is a Swedish former professional ice hockey centre. He played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Winnipeg Jets, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Atlanta and Calgary Flames, Minnes ...

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.

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1 , , October 9 , ,

Quebec Quebec is Canada's List of Canadian provinces and territories by area, largest province by area. Located in Central Canada, the province shares borders with the provinces of Ontario to the west, Newfoundland and Labrador to the northeast, ...

, , 5 – 5 , , Calgary , , OT , , 0–0–1 , , 1 , , 7,243 , - , 2 , , October 11 , , Calgary , , 2 – 6 , ,

Colorado Colorado is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States. It is one of the Mountain states, sharing the Four Corners region with Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. It is also bordered by Wyoming to the north, Nebraska to the northeast, Kansas ...

, , , , 0–1–1 , , 1 , , 7,564 , - , 3 , , October 12 , , Calgary , , 3 – 3 , ,

Chicago 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 ...

, , OT , , 0–1–2 , , 2 , , 10,923 , - , 4 , , October 14 , ,

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, , 2 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 1–1–2 , , 4 , , 7,126 , - , 5 , , October 16 , ,

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, , 1 – 2 , , Calgary , , , , 2–1–2 , , 6 , , 7,229 , - , 6 , , October 18 , ,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, , 2 – 6 , , Calgary , , , , 3–1–2 , , 8 , , 7,139 , - , 7 , , October 22 , , Calgary , , 3 – 5 , ,

Edmonton Edmonton is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Alberta. It is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Central Alberta ...

, , , , 3–2–2 , , 8 , , 17,396 , - , 8 , , October 23 , ,

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, , 5 – 4 , , Calgary , , , , 3–3–2 , , 8 , , 7,243 , - , 9 , , October 25 , , Calgary , , 8 – 2 , ,

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, , , , 4–3–2 , , 10 , , 9,363 , - , 10 , , October 28 , , Calgary , , 0 – 8 , ,

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

, , , , 4–4–2 , , 10 , , 17,077 , - , 11 , , October 30 , , Calgary , , 3 – 1 , , Boston , , , , 5–4–2 , , 12 , , 8,774 , - , - , 12 , , November 1 , , Calgary , , 3 – 2 , ,

St. Louis St. Louis ( , sometimes referred to as St. Louis City, Saint Louis or STL) is an independent city in the U.S. state of Missouri. It lies near the confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers. In 2020, the city proper had a populatio ...

, , , , 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 Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Manitoba. It is centred on the confluence of the Red River of the North, Red and Assiniboine River, Assiniboine rivers. , Winnipeg h ...

, , 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 Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

, , , , 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 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 ...

, , , , 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 , - , - , 25 , , December 4 , , Winnipeg , , 3 – 1 , , Calgary , , , , 11–9–5 , , 27 , , 7,077 , - , 26 , , December 6 , ,

Hartford Hartford is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The city, located in Hartford County, Connecticut, Hartford County, had a population of 121,054 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 ce ...

, , 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 , - , - , 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 Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, , , , 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 , - , - , 53 , , February 1 , , Calgary , , 2 – 6 , ,

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, , , , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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'':

Playoffs

, - , 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 , - , - , 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 , - , - , 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'':

Player statistics

Skaters

''Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes'' ^†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''

Transactions

The Flames were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.

Trades

Free agents

Draft picks

Calgary's picks at the 1980 NHL entry draft, held in

.Calgary Flames draft history
hockeydb.com, accessed October 8, 2007.

References

* *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 a
hockeydb.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Calgary Flames season Calgary Flames seasons 1980 in sports in Alberta Calgary Flames season, 1980-81

Cal Cal or CAL may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Cal'' (novel), a 1983 novel by Bernard MacLaverty * "Cal" (short story), a science fiction short story by Isaac Asimov * ''Cal'' (1984 film), an Irish drama starring John Lynch and Helen Mir ...

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

1980s in Calgary