The 1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season was 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 ...

' second 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 ...

. In the 1980–81 season they finished fifth (and last) 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 ...

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 ...

. The team scored 246 goals and conceded 400 goals. The Jets won 9 games, lost 57 games and tied 14 games. They scored 32 points. The team also endured an NHL-record 30-game winless streak (23 losses and 7 ties) which included the entire month of November and most of December. The Jets were coached by

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 ...

(1 win, 20 losses and 7 ties), Bill Sutherland (6 wins, 20 losses and 3 ties), and Mike Smith (2 wins, 17 losses and 4 ties).

Offseason

The Jets named Morris Lukowich as team captain during the off-season, as former captain Lars-Erik Sjöberg announced his retirement at the end of the 1979–80 season. Lukowich had been with Winnipeg since their final season in the WHA, helping the club win the

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 ...

in 1979. On June 11, 1980, Winnipeg selected defenseman Dave Babych with the second overall pick in the 1980 NHL entry draft. Babych was a high scoring defenseman with the

Portland Winterhawks The Portland Winterhawks are a junior ice hockey team based in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1950 as the Edmonton Oil Kings, the team relocated to Portland in 1976 and was known as the Winter Hawks until 2009. The team plays in the U.S. Divisio ...

of the WHL, recording 22 goals and 82 points in 50 games with Portland. With their second pick, the Jets selected Moe Mantha from the

Toronto Marlboros The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was an ice hockey franchise in Toronto, Canada. Founded in 1903, it operated junior ice hockey and senior ice hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey Association and la ...

of the OMJHL, and in the seventh round, the team selected Brian Mullen from the

United States national ice hockey team United States national hockey team may refer to: * United States men's national ball hockey team * United States women's national ball hockey team * United States men's national field hockey team * United States women's national field hockey team ...

. Winnipeg made a few small trades during the off-season, most notably acquiring

Rick Bowness Richard Gary Bowness (born January 25, 1955) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey coach and player. He was selected in the second round, 26th overall, by the Atlanta Flames in the 1975 NHL Amateur Draft. Bowness has also played for the D ...

from the

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 ...

in exchange for Craig Norwich. The Jets also acquired Norm Dupont from the

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 ...

for the Jets second round pick in the 1982 NHL entry draft. Dupont was selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the

1977 NHL amateur draft The 1977 NHL amateur draft was the 15th NHL entry draft. It was held at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec. It was notable for the inclusion of players being drafted at 20 years of age. This was the only draft in which the Cleveland Bar ...

, however, he picked up only a goal and four points in 35 games with Montreal in the 1979–80 season.

Regular season

For the second straight season, the Jets failed to qualify for the playoffs, as they had an

worst record of 9–57–14, earning 32 points, 39 points behind the Toronto Maple Leafs for the final playoff position.

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

, - , 1, , L, , October 10, 1980, , 1–4 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 0–1–0 , , 12,984 , - , 2, , L, , October 11, 1980, , 4–5 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 0–2–0 , , 9,240 , - , 3, , W, , October 17, 1980, , 6–2 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–2–0 , , 12,236 , - , 4, , T, , October 19, 1980, , 4–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–2–1 , , 12,728 , - , 5, , L, , October 22, 1980, , 4–7 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–3–1 , , 16,433 , - , 6, , L, , October 25, 1980, , 1–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–4–1 , , 15,383 , - , 7, , T, , October 26, 1980, , 7–7 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–4–2 , , 15,198 , - , 8, , L, , October 29, 1980, , 4–8 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–5–2 , , 8,136 , - , 9, , L, , October 31, 1980, , 5–6 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–6–2 , , 11,536 , - , - , 10, , T, , November 2, 1980, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–6–3 , , 12,095 , - , 11, , T, , November 5, 1980, , 5–5 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–6–4 , , 10,500 , - , 12, , L, , November 7, 1980, , 2–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–7–4 , , 12,744 , - , 13, , L, , November 9, 1980, , 4–7 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–8–4 , , 15,743 , - , 14, , L, , November 12, 1980, , 1–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–9–4 , , N/A , - , 15, , T, , November 13, 1980, , 5–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–9–5 , , 8,089 , - , 16, , L, , November 16, 1980, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–10–5 , , 15,744 , - , 17, , L, , November 18, 1980, , 1–6 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–11–5 , , 12,176 , - , 18, , L, , November 19, 1980, , 2–7 , , 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. ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–12–5 , , 7,572 , - , 19, , L, , November 21, 1980, , 2–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–13–5 , , 12,837 , - , 20, , L, , November 23, 1980, , 1–3 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–14–5 , , 17,077 , - , 21, , T, , November 25, 1980, , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–14–6 , , 14,087 , - , 22, , L, , November 26, 1980, , 4–8 , , align="left", @

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–15–6 , , 10,741 , - , 23, , T, , November 28, 1980, , 1–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–15–7 , , 11,200 , - , 24, , L, , November 30, 1980, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–16–7 , , 12,867 , - , - , 25, , L, , December 3, 1980, , 3–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 1–17–7 , , 13,380 , - , 26, , L, , December 4, 1980, , 1–3 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–18–7 , , 7,077 , - , 27, , L, , December 6, 1980, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–19–7 , , 14,546 , - , 28, , L, , December 10, 1980, , 5–8 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–20–7 , , 11,623 , - , 29, , L, , December 13, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–21–7 , , 12,371 , - , 30, , L, , December 14, 1980, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 1–22–7 , , 14,549 , - , 31, , L, , December 16, 1980, , 2–6 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–23–7 , , 14,106 , - , 32, , L, , December 17, 1980, , 2–8 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–24–7 , , 17,361 , - , 33, , L, , December 20, 1980, , 2–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 1–25–7 , , 11,115 , - , 34, , W, , December 23, 1980, , 5–4 , , 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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 2–25–7 , , 11,587 , - , 35, , L, , December 26, 1980, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 2–26–7 , , 15,776 , - , 36, , L, , December 28, 1980, , 3–4 , , align="left",

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 ...

( 1980–81) , , 2–27–7 , , 14,040 , - , 37, , L, , December 31, 1980, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 2–28–7 , , 14,167 , - , - , 38, , W, , January 2, 1981, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 3–28–7 , , 15,481 , - , 39, , L, , January 5, 1981, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 3–29–7 , , 13,405 , - , 40, , W, , January 7, 1981, , 8–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 4–29–7 , , 16,485 , - , 41, , T, , January 9, 1981, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 4–29–8 , , 13,239 , - , 42, , L, , January 10, 1981, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 4–30–8 , , 11,233 , - , 43, , T, , January 13, 1981, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 4–30–9 , , 9,425 , - , 44, , L, , January 15, 1981, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 4–31–9 , , 15,386 , - , 45, , L, , January 17, 1981, , 2–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 4–32–9 , , 7,243 , - , 46, , L, , January 18, 1981, , 4–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 4–33–9 , , 15,286 , - , 47, , W, , January 21, 1981, , 5–1 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 5–33–9 , , 12,010 , - , 48, , T, , January 23, 1981, , 2–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 5–33–10 , , 8,048 , - , 49, , L, , January 27, 1981, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 5–34–10 , , 7,440 , - , 50, , L, , January 29, 1981, , 6–7 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 5–35–10 , , 8,023 , - , 51, , W, , January 31, 1981, , 2–0 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 6–35–10 , , 16,485 , - , - , 52, , L, , February 1, 1981, , 0–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 6–36–10 , , 16,370 , - , 53, , L, , February 4, 1981, , 2–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 6–37–10 , , 11,968 , - , 54, , L, , February 6, 1981, , 4–10 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 6–38–10 , , 17,455 , - , 55, , L, , February 8, 1981, , 1–9 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 6–39–10 , , 12,329 , - , 56, , L, , February 12, 1981, , 6–8 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 6–40–10 , , 17,343 , - , 57, , W, , February 15, 1981, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 7–40–10 , , 13,352 , - , 58, , L, , February 17, 1981, , 4–6 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 7–41–10 , , 10,235 , - , 59, , T, , February 18, 1981, , 3–3 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 7–41–11 , , 14,096 , - , 60, , L, , February 20, 1981, , 3–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 7–42–11 , , 13,498 , - , 61, , L, , February 21, 1981, , 1–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 7–43–11 , , 14,873 , - , 62, , L, , February 25, 1981, , 3–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 7–44–11 , , 6,655 , - , 63, , L, , February 27, 1981, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 7–45–11 , , 14,302 , - , - , 64, , T, , March 1, 1981, , 4–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 7–45–12 , , 12,815 , - , 65, , L, , March 4, 1981, , 3–9 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 7–46–12 , , 16,790 , - , 66, , L, , March 5, 1981, , 1–10 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 7–47–12 , , 17,077 , - , 67, , W, , March 7, 1981, , 4–2 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 8–47–12 , , 15,648 , - , 68, , L, , March 8, 1981, , 1–4 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 8–48–12 , , 13,992 , - , 69, , L, , March 11, 1981, , 3–6 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 8–49–12 , , 12,035 , - , 70, , L, , March 13, 1981, , 2–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 8–50–12 , , 12,936 , - , 71, , L, , March 15, 1981, , 2–8 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 8–51–12 , , 11,913 , - , 72, , W, , March 18, 1981, , 4–3 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 9–51–12 , , 10,936 , - , 73, , L, , March 21, 1981, , 4–5 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 9–52–12 , , 12,232 , - , 74, , L, , March 22, 1981, , 5–7 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 9–53–12 , , 12,849 , - , 75, , L, , March 27, 1981, , 2–10 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 9–54–12 , , 14,022 , - , 76, , L, , March 29, 1981, , 1–2 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 9–55–12 , , 7,875 , - , 77, , L, , March 31, 1981, , 3–7 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 9–56–12 , , 9,748 , - , - , 78, , T, , April 1, 1981, , 4–4 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 9–56–13 , , 12,209 , - , 79, , L, , April 4, 1981, , 2–7 , , align="left", @

( 1980–81) , , 9–57–13 , , 17,490 , - , 80, , T, , April 5, 1981, , 5–5 , , align="left",

( 1980–81) , , 9–57–14 , , 14,173 , - , - , ''Legend'':

Player statistics

Regular season

;Scoring ;Goaltending

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Waivers

Free agents

Draft picks

Winnipeg selected the following players at the 1980 NHL entry draft, which was held at the

Montreal Forum Montreal Forum () is a historic building located facing Cabot Square, Montreal, Cabot Square in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Called "the most storied building in hockey history" by ''Sporting News'', it was an indoor arena which served as the home o ...

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 June 11, 1980.

NHL amateur draft

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Winnipeg Jets Season Winnipeg Jets season, 1980-81 Winnipeg Jets (1972–1996) seasons Winn 1980 in sports in Manitoba 1981 in sports in Manitoba 1980s in Winnipeg

Offseason

Regular season

Final standings

Record vs. opponents

Schedule and results

Player statistics

Regular season

Awards and records

Transactions

Trades

Waivers

Free agents

Draft picks

NHL amateur draft

See also

References