The 1979–80 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' eighth season and their first season in the National Hockey League (NHL). The Oilers were one of four WHA organizations that were granted NHL expansion franchises under the terms of an expansion agreement that took effect on June 22, 1979.
The Oilers were led offensively by rookie superstar Wayne Gretzky, as he tied for the lead league in points at 137, however lost the Art Ross Trophy due to scoring 2 fewer goals than winner Marcel Dionne. Gretzky, however, won the Hart Memorial Trophy as MVP of the NHL but was declared ineligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy due to his playing days in the WHA.
Edmonton played six goaltenders during the season and was led by Eddie Mio's nine wins, while Ron Low, who came over in a trade with the Quebec Nordiques, would go 8–2–1 in 11 games with the Oilers.
They made the playoffs; however, they were quickly swept out by the powerful Philadelphia Flyers in 3 games. Despite this, Oilers fans were very excited about being part of the NHL, and of the future of the team.
Regular season
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
| 1 || October 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Dryden || 10,138 || 0–1–0 || 0 ||
| 2 || October 13 || Detroit Red Wings || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,248 || 0–1–1 || 1 ||
| 3 || October 14 || Vancouver Canucks || 4 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Dryden || 15,300 || 0–1–2 || 2 ||
| 4 || October 19 || Quebec Nordiques || 3 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,386 || 1–1–2 || 4 ||
| 5 || October 21 || Minnesota North Stars || 5 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 1–1–3 || 5 ||
| 6 || October 23 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 3 || New York Islanders || || Mio || 13,751 || 1–1–4 || 6 ||
| 7 || October 24 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 10 || New York Rangers || || Mio || 17,407 || 1–2–4 || 6 ||
| 8 || October 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 7 || Atlanta Flames || || Dryden || 8,420 || 1–3–4 || 6 ||
| 9 || October 28 || Washington Capitals || 6 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,393 || 1–4–4 || 6 ||
| 10 || October 30 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 2 || St. Louis Blues || || Mio || 8,262 || 1–5–4 || 6 ||
| 11 || November 2 || New York Islanders || 5 – 7 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,418 || 2–5–4 || 8 ||
| 12 || November 4 || Boston Bruins || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,415 || 2–6–4 || 8 ||
| 13 || November 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Detroit Red Wings || || Mio || 12,197 || 2–7–4 || 8 ||
| 14 || November 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 4 || Boston Bruins || || Dryden || 9,859 || 2–8–4 || 8 ||
| 15 || November 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 6 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 2–9–4 || 8 ||
| 16 || November 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Washington Capitals || || Dryden || 5,214 || 3–9–4 || 10 ||
| 17 || November 15 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Dryden || 17,077 || 3–10–4 || 10 ||
| 18 || November 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 0 – 4 || Hartford Whalers || || Dryden || 7,627 || 3–11–4 || 10 ||
| 19 || November 18 || Edmonton Oilers || 7 – 9 || Buffalo Sabres || || Dryden || 16,433 || 3–12–4 || 10 ||
| 20 || November 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Dryden || 16,485 || 3–12–5 || 11 ||
| 21 || November 24 || Philadelphia Flyers || 2 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Dryden || 15,423 || 3–12–6 || 12 ||
| 22 || November 28 || Chicago Black Hawks || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Dryden || 15,423 || 4–12–6 || 14 ||
| 23 || November 30 || New York Islanders || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 5–12–6 || 16 ||
| 24 || December 5 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 6 || Minnesota North Stars || || Mio || 8,752 || 5–13–6 || 16 ||
| 25 || December 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 8 || Winnipeg Jets || || Dryden || 11,772 || 5–14–6 || 16 ||
| 26 || December 9 || Hartford Whalers || 0 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 6–14–6 || 18 ||
| 27 || December 12 || Atlanta Flames || 5 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 6–14–7 || 19 ||
| 28 || December 14 || Montreal Canadiens || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 7–14–7 || 21 ||
| 29 || December 16 || Winnipeg Jets || 4 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 7–15–7 || 21 ||
| 30 || December 19 || Detroit Red Wings || 6 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 7–16–7 || 21 ||
| 31 || December 21 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 5 || Colorado Rockies || || Corsi || 7,280 || 7–17–7 || 21 ||
| 32 || December 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 9 || Los Angeles Kings || || Mio || 9,384 || 7–18–7 || 21 ||
| 33 || December 26 || Colorado Rockies || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 16,148 || 8–18–7 || 23 ||
| 34 || December 28 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Vancouver Canucks || || Corsi || 15,414 || 9–18–7 || 25 ||
| 35 || December 30 || Quebec Nordiques || 2 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 9–19–7 || 25 ||
| 36 || January 2 || Hartford Whalers || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 9–19–8 || 26 ||
| 37 || January 5 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 9–19–9 || 27 ||
| 38 || January 7 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Montreal Canadiens || || Corsi || 15,896 || 9–20–9 || 27 ||
| 39 || January 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || Quebec Nordiques || || Corsi || 10,480 || 9–21–9 || 27 ||
| 40 || January 11 || New York Rangers || 6 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 9–22–9 || 27 ||
| 41 || January 13 || Buffalo Sabres || 5 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 10–22–9 || 29 ||
| 42 || January 16 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || Washington Capitals || || Mio || 9,352 || 11–22–9 || 31 ||
| 43 || January 17 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 7 || Boston Bruins || || Corsi || 10,047 || 11–23–9 || 31 ||
| 44 || January 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Mio || 12,896 || 12–23–9 || 33 ||
| 45 || January 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 4 || Buffalo Sabres || || Mio || 16,433 || 12–23–10 || 34 ||
| 46 || January 23 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 13–23–10 || 36 ||
| 47 || January 26 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 3 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 14–23–10 || 38 ||
| 48 || January 27 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 14–24–10 || 38 ||
| 49 || January 29 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 3 || St. Louis Blues || || Cutts || 10,169 || 14–25–10 || 38 ||
| 50 || January 30 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 1 || Los Angeles Kings || || Cutts || 6,747 || 15–25–10 || 40 ||
| 51 || February 1 || Winnipeg Jets || 2 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 16–25–10 || 42 ||
| 52 || February 3 || Los Angeles Kings || 3 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 17–25–10 || 44 ||
| 53 || February 6 || St. Louis Blues || 6 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 17–26–10 || 44 ||
| 54 || February 8 || Atlanta Flames || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Cutts || 15,423 || 17–27–10 || 44 ||
| 55 || February 10 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 2 || Winnipeg Jets || || Cutts || 11,588 || 17–27–11 || 45 ||
| 56 || February 13 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 3 || Minnesota North Stars || || Corsi || 10,126 || 18–27–11 || 47 ||
| 57 || February 15 || Washington Capitals || 2 – 8 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 19–27–11 || 49 ||
| 58 || February 17 || St. Louis Blues || 5 – 5 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 19–27–12 || 50 ||
| 59 || February 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 2 – 6 || Hartford Whalers || || Mio || 9,955 || 19–28–12 || 50 ||
| 60 || February 20 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 4 || New York Rangers || || Corsi || 17,417 || 19–29–12 || 50 ||
| 61 || February 22 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 3 || Colorado Rockies || || Corsi || 8,028 || 19–30–12 || 50 ||
| 62 || February 24 || Boston Bruins || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 19–31–12 || 50 ||
| 63 || February 27 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || Chicago Black Hawks || || Mio || 8,652 || 20–31–12 || 52 ||
| 64 || February 29 || Buffalo Sabres || 4 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Mio || 15,423 || 20–32–12 || 52 ||
| 65 || March 1 || Vancouver Canucks || 5 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || || Corsi || 15,423 || 20–33–12 || 52 ||
| 66 || March 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 6 || New York Islanders || || Corsi || 14,408 || 20–34–12 || 52 ||
| 67 || March 6 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 5 || Montreal Canadiens || || Corsi || 16,981 || 20–35–12 || 52 ||
| 68 || March 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 4 – 5 || Pittsburgh Penguins || || Corsi || 10,660 || 20–36–12 || 52 ||
| 69 || March 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Dupuis || 17,077 || 20–37–12 || 52 ||
| 70 || March 12 || Edmonton Oilers || 6 – 3 || Quebec Nordiques || || Low || 10,619 || 21–37–12 || 54 ||
| 71 || March 14 || Chicago Black Hawks || 4 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 22–37–12 || 56 ||
| 72 || March 15 || Montreal Canadiens || 7 – 3 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 22–38–12 || 56 ||
| 73 || March 19 || New York Rangers || 2 – 4 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 23–38–12 || 58 ||
| 74 || March 21 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 2 – 9 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 24–38–12 || 60 ||
| 75 || March 25 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 4 || Atlanta Flames || || Low || 7,914 || 25–38–12 || 62 ||
| 76 || March 26 || Edmonton Oilers || 5 – 2 || Detroit Red Wings || || Low || 14,137 || 26–38–12 || 64 ||
| 77 || March 29 || Edmonton Oilers || 8 – 5 || Toronto Maple Leafs || || Low || 13,578 || 27–38–12 || 66 ||
| 78 || April 1 || Edmonton Oilers || 0 – 5 || Vancouver Canucks || || Low || 16,413 || 27–39–12 || 66 ||
| 79 || April 2 || Minnesota North Stars || 1 – 1 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 27–39–13 || 67 ||
| 80 || April 4 || Colorado Rockies || 2 – 6 || Edmonton Oilers || || Low || 15,423 || 28–39–13 || 69 ||
Legend:
Playoffs
| 1 || April 8 || Edmonton Oilers || 3 – 4 || Philadelphia Flyers || OT || Low || 17,707 || 0–1 ||
| 2 || April 9 || Edmonton Oilers || 1 – 5 || Philadelphia Flyers || || Low || 17,707 || 0–2 ||
| 3 || April 11 || Philadelphia Flyers || 3 – 2 || Edmonton Oilers || 2OT || Low || 15,423 || 0–3 ||
Legend:
Player statistics
Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMWayne Gretzky 79 51 86 137 21Blair MacDonald 80 46 48 94 6Stan Weir 79 33 33 66 40Brett Callighen 59 23 35 58 72Dave Lumley 80 20 38 58 138
Goaltending Player GP TOI W L T GA SO GAARon Low 11 650 8 2 1 37 0 3.42Don Cutts 6 269 1 2 1 16 0 3.57Jim Corsi 26 1366 8 14 3 83 0 3.65Bob Dupuis 1 60 0 1 0 4 0 4.00Eddie Mio 34 1711 9 13 5 120 1 4.21Dave Dryden 14 744 2 7 3 53 0 4.27
Playoff stats
Scoring leaders Player GP G A Pts PIMWayne Gretzky 3 2 1 3 0Mark Messier 3 1 2 3 2Blair MacDonald 3 0 3 3 0Don Murdoch 3 2 0 2 0Brett Callighen 3 0 2 2 0
Goaltending Player GP TOI W L GA SO GAARon Low 3 212 0 3 12 0 3.40
Awards and records Wayne Gretzky – Hart Memorial Trophy
Records
Milestones