The 1980–81 Winnipeg Jets season was the Winnipeg Jets' second season in the National Hockey League (NHL). In the 1980–81 season they finished fifth (and last) in the NHL's Smythe Division. 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 (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 Sjoberg 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 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 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 of the OMJHL, and in the seventh round, the team selected Brian Mullen from the United States national ice hockey team.
Winnipeg made a few small trades during the off-season, most notably acquiring Rick Bowness from the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Craig Norwich. The Jets also acquired Norm Dupont from the Montreal Canadiens 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, 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 NHL 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 (1980–81) ||0–1–0 ||12,984
|2||L||October 11, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||0–2–0 ||9,240
|3||W||October 17, 1980||6–2 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||1–2–0 ||12,236
|4||T||October 19, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||1–2–1 ||12,728
|5||L||October 22, 1980||4–7 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||1–3–1 ||16,433
|6||L||October 25, 1980||1–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||1–4–1 ||15,383
|7||T||October 26, 1980||7–7 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||1–4–2 ||15,198
|8||L||October 29, 1980||4–8 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||1–5–2 ||8,136
|9||L||October 31, 1980||5–6 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||1–6–2 ||11,536
|10||T||November 2, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||1–6–3 ||12,095
|11||T||November 5, 1980||5–5 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||1–6–4 ||10,500
|12||L||November 7, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||1–7–4 ||12,744
|13||L||November 9, 1980||4–7 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||1–8–4 ||15,743
|14||L||November 12, 1980||1–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||1–9–4 ||N/A
|15||T||November 13, 1980||5–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||1–9–5 ||8,089
|16||L||November 16, 1980||1–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||1–10–5 ||15,744
|17||L||November 18, 1980||1–6 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||1–11–5 ||12,176
|18||L||November 19, 1980||2–7 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||1–12–5 ||7,572
|19||L||November 21, 1980||2–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||1–13–5 ||12,837
|20||L||November 23, 1980||1–3 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||1–14–5 ||17,077
|21||T||November 25, 1980||4–4 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||1–14–6 ||14,087
|22||L||November 26, 1980||4–8 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||1–15–6 ||10,741
|23||T||November 28, 1980||1–1 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||1–15–7 ||11,200
|24||L||November 30, 1980||1–4 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||1–16–7 ||12,867
|25||L||December 3, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||1–17–7 ||13,380
|26||L||December 4, 1980||1–3 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||1–18–7 ||7,077
|27||L||December 6, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||1–19–7 ||14,546
|28||L||December 10, 1980||5–8 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||1–20–7 ||11,623
|29||L||December 13, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||1–21–7 ||12,371
|30||L||December 14, 1980||4–5 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||1–22–7 ||14,549
|31||L||December 16, 1980||2–6 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1980–81) ||1–23–7 ||14,106
|32||L||December 17, 1980||2–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||1–24–7 ||17,361
|33||L||December 20, 1980||2–5 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||1–25–7 ||11,115
|34||W||December 23, 1980||5–4 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||2–25–7 ||11,587
|35||L||December 26, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||2–26–7 ||15,776
|36||L||December 28, 1980||3–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||2–27–7 ||14,040
|37||L||December 31, 1980||3–5 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||2–28–7 ||14,167
|38||W||January 2, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||3–28–7 ||15,481
|39||L||January 5, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||3–29–7 ||13,405
|40||W||January 7, 1981||8–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||4–29–7 ||16,485
|41||T||January 9, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||4–29–8 ||13,239
|42||L||January 10, 1981||3–5 || align="left"| Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||4–30–8 ||11,233
|43||T||January 13, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||4–30–9 ||9,425
|44||L||January 15, 1981||3–7 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||4–31–9 ||15,386
|45||L||January 17, 1981||2–4 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1980–81) ||4–32–9 ||7,243
|46||L||January 18, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||4–33–9 ||15,286
|47||W||January 21, 1981||5–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1980–81) ||5–33–9 ||12,010
|48||T||January 23, 1981||2–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||5–33–10 ||8,048
|49||L||January 27, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1980–81) ||5–34–10 ||7,440
|50||L||January 29, 1981||6–7 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1980–81) ||5–35–10 ||8,023
|51||W||January 31, 1981||2–0 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1980–81) ||6–35–10 ||16,485
|52||L||February 1, 1981||0–4 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||6–36–10 ||16,370
|53||L||February 4, 1981||2–3 || align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||6–37–10 ||11,968
|54||L||February 6, 1981||4–10 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||6–38–10 ||17,455
|55||L||February 8, 1981||1–9 || align="left"| @ Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||6–39–10 ||12,329
|56||L||February 12, 1981||6–8 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1980–81) ||6–40–10 ||17,343
|57||W||February 15, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1980–81) ||7–40–10 ||13,352
|58||L||February 17, 1981||4–6 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||7–41–10 ||10,235
|59||T||February 18, 1981||3–3 || align="left"| @ Hartford Whalers (1980–81) ||7–41–11 ||14,096
|60||L||February 20, 1981||3–5 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1980–81) ||7–42–11 ||13,498
|61||L||February 21, 1981||1–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||7–43–11 ||14,873
|62||L||February 25, 1981||3–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1980–81) ||7–44–11 ||6,655
|63||L||February 27, 1981||3–6 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||7–45–11 ||14,302
|64||T||March 1, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||7–45–12 ||12,815
|65||L||March 4, 1981||3–9 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||7–46–12 ||16,790
|66||L||March 5, 1981||1–10 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1980–81) ||7–47–12 ||17,077
|67||W||March 7, 1981||4–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1980–81) ||8–47–12 ||15,648
|68||L||March 8, 1981||1–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||8–48–12 ||13,992
|69||L||March 11, 1981||3–6 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1980–81) ||8–49–12 ||12,035
|70||L||March 13, 1981||2–5 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1980–81) ||8–50–12 ||12,936
|71||L||March 15, 1981||2–8 || align="left"| Chicago Black Hawks (1980–81) ||8–51–12 ||11,913
|72||W||March 18, 1981||4–3 || align="left"| Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||9–51–12 ||10,936
|73||L||March 21, 1981||4–5 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1980–81) ||9–52–12 ||12,232
|74||L||March 22, 1981||5–7 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||9–53–12 ||12,849
|75||L||March 27, 1981||2–10 || align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||9–54–12 ||14,022
|76||L||March 29, 1981||1–2 || align="left"| @ Colorado Rockies (1980–81) ||9–55–12 ||7,875
|77||L||March 31, 1981||3–7 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1980–81) ||9–56–12 ||9,748
|78||T||April 1, 1981||4–4 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1980–81) ||9–56–13 ||12,209
|79||L||April 4, 1981||2–7 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1980–81) ||9–57–13 ||17,490
|80||T||April 5, 1981||5–5 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1980–81) ||9–57–14 ||14,173
Legend:
Player statistics
Regular season Scoring Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG RW 80 28 43 71 22-54910 LW 80 33 34 67 90-39922 LW 80 27 26 53 8-57801 C 77 18 33 51 55-34410 RW 78 20 26 46 82-32300 D 69 6 38 44 90-61300 RW 72 22 13 35 45-28701 LW 56 15 14 29 28-31101 RW 45 8 17 25 45-35001 D 58 2 23 25 35-33100 LW 45 6 17 23 66-27001 D 65 6 17 23 42-47000 C 47 4 19 23 20-17200 C/RW 47 13 9 22 24-15410 D 80 1 18 19 18-40000 LW 30 10 8 18 45-7131 C 42 5 11 16 22-22301 RW 24 6 7 13 9-17300 LW 30 5 5 10 28-12000 RW 37 3 3 6 105-18000 D 25 1 5 6 14-10000 D 38 0 6 6 69-33000 D 14 1 4 5 553000 D 9 0 5 5 10-10000 LW 14 1 3 4 15-11100 D 19 0 4 4 14-9000 D 29 1 2 3 21-19000 C 12 1 2 3 5-7100 D 18 1 1 2 40-12000 LW 6 1 0 1 2-2000 LW 9 1 0 1 70000 D 5 0 1 1 9-8000 G 29 0 1 1 40000 G 31 0 1 1 20000 C 1 0 0 0 00000 LW 7 0 0 0 9-3000 G 14 0 0 0 20000 C 7 0 0 0 4-2000 G 1 0 0 0 00000 G 14 0 0 0 00000 D 2 0 0 0 0-1000 Goaltending Player MIN GPW LTGAGAA SO 757 14 3 6 3 61 4.83 0 1623 29 3 20 4 128 4.73 0 1707 31 3 21 4 128 4.50 1 60 1 0 1 0 10 10.00 0 653 14 0 9 3 65 5.97 0 Team: 4800 80 9 57 14 392 4.90 1
Transactions
Trades June 19, 1980To St. Louis BluesCraig NorwichTo Winnipeg JetsRick Bowness August 6, 1980To New York RangersGord SmithTo Winnipeg JetsCash September 26, 1980To Montreal Canadiens2nd round pick in 1982 – David MaleyTo Winnipeg JetsNorm Dupont October 8, 1980To Quebec NordiquesCashTo Winnipeg JetsDanny Geoffrion October 31, 1980To Detroit Red WingsCashTo Winnipeg JetsBarry Long December 1, 1980To Chicago Black HawksPeter MarshTo Winnipeg JetsTim Trimper Doug Lecuyer December 2, 1980To Toronto Maple LeafsCashTo Winnipeg JetsRichard Mulhern February 10, 1981To Quebec NordiquesCashTo Winnipeg JetsMichel Dion
Waivers January 12, 1981From Buffalo SabresRick Dudley
Free agents Player Former team Don Spring Undrafted Free Agent Tom Bladon Edmonton Oilers Player New team Tom Bladon Detroit Red Wings
Draft picks Winnipeg selected the following players at the 1980 NHL entry draft, which was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal on June 11, 1980.
NHL amateur draft