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1980–81 Hartford Whalers season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
National Hockey League season

1980–81Hartford Whalers
Division4thNorris
Conference9thWales
1980–81 record21–41–18
Home record14–17–9
Road record7–24–9
Goals for292
Goals against372
Team information
General managerJack Kelley
CoachDon Blackburn (15-29-16)
Larry Pleau (6-12-2)
CaptainRick Ley
Mike Rogers
ArenaHartford Civic Center
Average attendance11,704 (80.7%)[1]
Minor league affiliatesBinghamton Whalers (AHL)
Saginaw Gears (IHL)
Syracuse Hornets (EHL)
Team leaders
GoalsBlaine Stoughton (43)
AssistsMike Rogers (65)
PointsMike Rogers (105)
Penalty minutesTom Rowe (190)
Plus/minusMark Howe (+9)
WinsJohn Garrett (15)
Goals against averageMike Veisor (4.46)

The1980–81Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers'secondseason in theNational Hockey League (NHL). The Whalers failed to qualify for1981 Stanley Cup playoffs, as the club finished with a 21–41–18 record, earning 60 points, which was 11 points behind theToronto Maple Leafs for the final playoff position. This marked the first time since joining the NHL that the Whalers did not qualify for the playoffs.

Offseason

[edit]

On May 23, Hartford signed defensemanThommy Abrahamsson as a free agent. Abrahamsson played in 26 games withLeksands IF ofElitserien, scoring nine goals and 15 points. Abrahamsson had previously played with the Whalers from 1974 to 1977, when the club was still a part of theWHA. In 203 games with New England, Abrahamsson scored 28 goals and 95 points.

Gordie Howe announced his retirement from the team on June 4. Howe retired as the highest scoring player in NHL history, as he scored 801 goals and added 1049 assists for 1850 points in 1767 games in a career that spanned from 1946 until 1980. Howe joined the Whalers organization in 1977, and in two seasons with the New England Whalers in the WHA, he scored 53 goals and 139 points in 134 games. In 1979–80, he remained with the club as they moved to theNHL, and Howe, at the age of 51, scored 15 goals and 41 points in 80 games, followed with a goal and two points in three playoff games. Following this announcement, the Whalers hired Howe as director of player development.

On June 5, the Whalers acquired centerRick Meagher, a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the1981 NHL entry draft from theMontreal Canadiens in exchange for a third round and a fifth-round pick in 1981. Meagher appeared in only two games with Montreal during 1979–80, as he spent most of the season with theirAmerican Hockey League affiliate, theNova Scotia Voyageurs. In 64 games with Nova Scotia, Meagher had 32 goals and 76 points, followed by three goals and seven points in six post-season games.

At the1980 NHL entry draft held at theMontreal Forum on June 11, the Whalers selected defensemanFred Arthur from theCornwall Royals of theQMJHL with their first-round pick, eighth overall. In 67 games with Cornwall in 1979–80, Arthur scored five goals and 70 assists for 75 points. In the postseason, Arthur had two goals and 14 points in 18 games, helping Cornwall win thePresident's Cup and earn a berth at the1980 Memorial Cup. During the Memorial Cup, Arthur had five assists in five games, helping the Royals win the championship.

On June 14, Hartford acquired goaltenderMike Veisor from theChicago Black Hawks in exchange for a second-round draft pick in the1981 NHL entry draft. Veisor had a record of 3–5–3 with a 3.28 GAA and a .903 save percentage in 11 games with Chicago during 1979–80.

The Whalers acquired right wingerWarren Miller off of waivers under terms from the 1979 expansion draft from theNew York Rangers on August 7. The Whalers had to give the Rangers cash to complete the deal. Miller scored seven goals and 13 points in 55 games with New York in 1979–80. In 1978–79, Miller scored 26 goals and 49 points in 77 games with the New England Whalers.

On September 1, right wingerBobby Hull announced his retirement as a player. Hull appeared in nine games with Hartford in 1979–80, scoring two goals and seven points after he was acquired from theWinnipeg Jets. In 1090 career NHL games, Hull scored 616 goals and 1187 points as he played with theChicago Black Hawks from 1957 to 1972 before signing with the Jets as a free agent. In 411 career WHA games with Winnipeg, Hull scored 303 goals and 638 points from 1972 to 1979, before rejoining the NHL in 1979–80 with the Jets.

On September 4, the Whalers traded away goaltenderAl Smith to theColorado Rockies in exchange for cash. Smith had a record of 11–10–8 with a 3.67 GAA and a .876 save percentage with the Whalers in 1979–80. In 1973, Smith led the Whalers to theAvco Cup, and in 1978, he won theBen Hatskin Trophy which was awarded to the best goaltender in theWorld Hockey Association.

Regular season

[edit]

October

[edit]

The Whalers opened the1980–81 season with a four-game road trip, and on October 9, they lost 8–6 to theSt. Louis Blues, followed by a 9–3 loss two nights later against theMinnesota North Stars. After a 2–2 tie against theBuffalo Sabres, the Whalers earned their first victory on October 15, with a 5–2 win over thePittsburgh Penguins.

Hartford played their first home game of the season on October 18 against theDetroit Red Wings in front of 10,287 fans. The WhalersAl Sims led the way with two goals, andJohn Garrett made 26 saves in the Whalers 4–2 victory. The team would post a 3–0–1 record on their opening four game home stand.

The Whalers would finish the month with a solid record of 5–4–2, earning 12 points, and second place in theNorris Division, three points behind the first placeLos Angeles Kings.

November

[edit]

The Whalers would slump to begin the month of November, as the club would go winless in their first eight games (0–6–2) of the month before earning a 4–3 victory over theVancouver Canucks on November 22. The Whalers would follow that game up with a huge 11–3 loss to theChicago Black Hawks the next night.

Hartford would end November with two wins in their final three games, bringing their season record to 8–12–4 record with 20 points, sitting in third place in theNorris Division.

December

[edit]

The Whalers opened December with a five-game western road trip, in which the team put up a respectable 2–2–1 record, with wins over theCalgary Flames andWinnipeg Jets.

The team returned home for two games, as Hartford tied theLos Angeles Kings 5–5 on December 13, followed by a 5–4 win over theBoston Bruins on December 17. The Whalers then headed out for a three-game road trip beforeChristmas, in which the Whalers tied the Bruins 5–5, lost to theQuebec Nordiques 6–5, followed by a huge 7–2 win over theToronto Maple Leafs on December 23.

On December 26, the Whalers andPittsburgh Penguins played a very high scoring game, as Hartford came out on top with a 9–7 victory. Hartford ended the month with a 5–5 tie against the defendingStanley Cup championNew York Islanders the next night.

Overall, the Whalers had a 5–3–4 record in their 12 December games, and improved to 13–15–8, earning 34 points, for the season. The Whalers continued to stay into third place in theNorris Division, five points ahead of the fourth placePittsburgh Penguins.

January

[edit]

Hartford got off to a bad start in January, losing their first three games, snapping their losing streak with a 6–6 tie against theEdmonton Oilers on January 9. The Whalers earned their first win of the month the next night, defeating theWinnipeg Jets 5–3.

The Whalers losing ways would return though, as the club lost four games in a row, including three by one goal, before ending the streak with a tie against theSt. Louis Blues on January 21. Hartford would then lose their next two games, extending their winless streak to seven games, before the team finally defeated theColorado Rockies 6–3 on January 28. Hartford then went winless in their last two games (0–1–1) of the month.

The team managed a 2–10–3 record in 15 games for the month, and had a 15–25–11 record, getting 41 points at the end January. Hartford fell into fourth place in theNorris Division, one point behind the third placePittsburgh Penguins, and four points ahead of the last placeDetroit Red Wings.

February

[edit]

The Whalers losing ways continued into February, as Hartford would go winless in their first nine games of the month (0–4–5), and extend their overall winless streak to 11 games.

After their 6–2 loss to thePittsburgh Penguins on February 19, the Whalers fired head coachDon Blackburn, and replaced him withLarry Pleau.

In his first game as the head coach, Pleau ended the Whalers winless skid, as Hartford defeated theNew York Rangers 6–5 on February 22. The club won their next game three nights later, defeating theMinnesota North Stars 3–2, however, their winning streak ended with a 5–1 loss to theCalgary Flames on February 27.

The Whalers had a 2–5–5 record in February, and had a 4–15–8 record since the start of January. The Whalers overall season record at the end of February was 17–30–16, as they earned 50 points, and remained in fourth place in theNorris Division, only two points ahead of theDetroit Red Wings.

March/April

[edit]

The Whalers began March with two straight losses before earning a 5–3 win over theBuffalo Sabres on March 6. Hartford then went on a five-game winless skid (0–4–1) before earning another victory, which was a huge 9–3 win over theMontreal Canadiens.

Hartford would continue to struggle for the rest of the regular season, as they posted a 2–5–1 record in their final eight games after the 9–3 win over the Canadiens.

The team finished their second season with a 21–41–18 record, earning 60 points, and fourth place in theNorris Division, four points ahead of theDetroit Red Wings. The Whalers failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in team history.

Final standings

[edit]
Norris Division
GPWLTGFGAPts
Montreal Canadiens80452213332232103
Los Angeles Kings8043241333729099
Pittsburgh Penguins8030371330234573
Hartford Whalers8021411829237260
Detroit Red Wings8019431825233956

[2]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

League standings[3]
RDivGPWLTGFGAPts
1p –New York IslandersPTK80481814355260110
2x –St. Louis BluesSMY80451817352281107
3y –Montreal CanadiensNRS80452213332232103
4Los Angeles KingsNRS8043241333729099
5x –Buffalo SabresADM8039202132725099
6Philadelphia FlyersPTK8041241531324997
7Calgary FlamesPTK8039271432929892
8Boston BruinsADM8037301331627287
9Minnesota North StarsADM8035281729126387
10Chicago Black HawksSMY8031331630431578
11Quebec NordiquesADM8030321831431878
12Vancouver CanucksSMY8028322028930176
13New York RangersPTK8030361431231774
14Edmonton OilersSMY8029351632832774
15Pittsburgh PenguinsNRS8030371330234573
16Toronto Maple LeafsADM8028371532236771
17Washington CapitalsPTK8026361828631770
18Hartford WhalersNRS8021411829237260
19Colorado RockiesSMY8022451325834457
20Detroit Red WingsNRS8019431825233956
21Winnipeg JetsSMY809571424640032

Divisions:ADM – Adams,NRS – Norris,PTK – Patrick,SMY – Smythe

bold – The top 16 teams in the league qualified for the playoffs, regardless of division or conference.
x – Won division;y – Won Conference (and division);p – WonPresidents' Trophy (and conference and division)

Record vs. opponents

[edit]
Norris Division record vs. opponents

Vs. Wales Conference

[edit]

Vs. Norris Division

1980–81 NHL records[4]
TeamDETHFDLAKMTLPITTotal
Detroit—0−2−21−31−31−2−13−10−3
Hartford2−0−2—0−3−11−32−25−8−3
Los Angeles3−13−0−1—1−30−2−27−6−3
Montreal3−13−13−1—2−211−5−0
Pittsburgh2−1−12−22−0−22−2—8−5−3

Vs. Adams Division

1980–81 NHL records
TeamBOSBUFMINQUETORTotal
Detroit0−2−20−3−10−2−20−3−13−13−11−6
Hartford1−1−21−2−11−32−21−1−26−9−5
Los Angeles2−21−2−14−03−13−0−113−5−2
Montreal3−13−11−2−11−1−23−111−6−3
Pittsburgh0−3−10−3−11−32−1−11−2−14−12−4

Vs. Campbell Conference

[edit]

Vs. Patrick Division

1980–81 NHL records
TeamCGYNYINYRPHIWSHTotal
Detroit1−2−10−42−1−11−31−2−15−12−3
Hartford1−30−2−21−30−3−11−33−14−3
Los Angeles1−32−23−10−42−1−18−11−1
Montreal2−1−11−2−12−1−12−1−12−0−29−5−6
Pittsburgh1−2−12−1−12−1−10−42−1−17−9−4

Vs. Smythe Division

1980–81 NHL records
TeamCHICOLEDMSTLVANWINTotal
Detroit1−1−22−1−11−2−10−41−2−13−0−18−10−6
Hartford0−3−12−1−11−2−10−3−11−1−23−0−17−10−7
Los Angeles2−0−23−0−12−0−20−2−24−04−015−2−7
Montreal2−24−02−21−1−22−0−23−114−6−4
Pittsburgh1−33−11−2−12−20−3−14−011−11−2


Schedule and results

[edit]
1980–81 regular season[5]
October
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
1LOctober 9, 19806–8@St. Louis Blues(1980–81)0–1–011,132
2LOctober 11, 19803–9@Minnesota North Stars(1980–81)0–2–015,338
3TOctober 12, 19803–3@Buffalo Sabres(1980–81)0–2–116,433
4WOctober 15, 19805–2@Pittsburgh Penguins(1980–81)1–2–15,637
5WOctober 18, 19804–2Detroit Red Wings(1980–81)2–2–110,287
6TOctober 19, 19803–3New York Islanders(1980–81)2–2–210,014
7WOctober 22, 19803–0Colorado Rockies(1980–81)3–2–29,595
8WOctober 25, 19804–2Quebec Nordiques(1980–81)4–2–211,005
9LOctober 26, 19801–6@Philadelphia Flyers(1980–81)4–3–217,077
10WOctober 29, 19805–3Detroit Red Wings(1980–81)5–3–29,103
11LOctober 30, 19802–8@Montreal Canadiens(1980–81)5–4–215,555
November
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
12TNovember 1, 19804–4Vancouver Canucks(1980–81)5–4–310,418
13LNovember 5, 19801–6@St. Louis Blues(1980–81)5–5–310,278
14TNovember 6, 19803–3@Colorado Rockies(1980–81)5–5–45,669
15LNovember 8, 19804–5Philadelphia Flyers(1980–81)5–6–413,191
16LNovember 12, 19801–5Minnesota North Stars(1980–81)5–7–410,044
17LNovember 15, 19804–8Washington Capitals(1980–81)5–8–411,544
18LNovember 16, 19803–7@New York Rangers(1980–81)5–9–417,419
19LNovember 20, 19800–5@New York Islanders(1980–81)5–10–414,062
20WNovember 22, 19804–3Vancouver Canucks(1980–81)6–10–411,160
21LNovember 23, 19803–11@Chicago Black Hawks(1980–81)6–11–410,827
22WNovember 26, 19808–4Winnipeg Jets(1980–81)7–11–410,741
23WNovember 28, 19806–4Edmonton Oilers(1980–81)8–11–411,073
24LNovember 29, 19802–5Buffalo Sabres(1980–81)8–12–413,202
December
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
25LDecember 2, 19802–5@Los Angeles Kings(1980–81)8–13–47,456
26TDecember 3, 19804–4@Vancouver Canucks(1980–81)8–13–511,281
27WDecember 6, 19805–3@Calgary Flames(1980–81)9–13–57,083
28LDecember 7, 19804–6@Edmonton Oilers(1980–81)9–14–517,215
29WDecember 10, 19808–5@Winnipeg Jets(1980–81)10–14–511,623
30TDecember 13, 19805–5Los Angeles Kings(1980–81)10–14–611,204
31WDecember 17, 19805–4Boston Bruins(1980–81)11–14–613,111
32TDecember 20, 19804–4@Boston Bruins(1980–81)11–14–79,616
33LDecember 21, 19805–6@Quebec Nordiques(1980–81)11–15–710,241
34WDecember 23, 19807–2@Toronto Maple Leafs(1980–81)12–15–716,430
35WDecember 26, 19809–7Pittsburgh Penguins(1980–81)13–15–712,208
36TDecember 27, 19805–5New York Islanders(1980–81)13–15–814,510
January
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
37LJanuary 2, 19811–3Montreal Canadiens(1980–81)13–16–814,510
38LJanuary 3, 19811–8@New York Islanders(1980–81)13–17–815,008
39LJanuary 7, 19813–5@Los Angeles Kings(1980–81)13–18–88,535
40TJanuary 9, 19816–6@Edmonton Oilers(1980–81)13–18–917,474
41WJanuary 10, 19815–3@Winnipeg Jets(1980–81)14–18–911,233
42LJanuary 12, 19812–5St. Louis Blues(1980–81)14–19–911,118
43LJanuary 14, 19814–5Los Angeles Kings(1980–81)14–20–911,455
44LJanuary 17, 19812–3Chicago Black Hawks(1980–81)14–21–913,131
45LJanuary 18, 19812–3@Washington Capitals(1980–81)14–22–910,036
46TJanuary 21, 19816–6St. Louis Blues(1980–81)14–22–109,484
47LJanuary 23, 19812–4Calgary Flames(1980–81)14–23–1010,206
48LJanuary 24, 19814–7@Toronto Maple Leafs(1980–81)14–24–1016,485
49WJanuary 28, 19816–3Colorado Rockies(1980–81)15–24–1012,510
50TJanuary 30, 19815–5Toronto Maple Leafs(1980–81)15–24–1110,667
51LJanuary 31, 19813–5Buffalo Sabres(1980–81)15–25–1112,425
February
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
52LFebruary 2, 19812–4@Quebec Nordiques(1980–81)15–26–1112,435
53TFebruary 4, 19813–3Boston Bruins(1980–81)15–26–1213,149
54LFebruary 7, 19812–6Chicago Black Hawks(1980–81)15–27–1212,327
55TFebruary 8, 19816–6@Philadelphia Flyers(1980–81)15–27–1317,077
56TFebruary 12, 19812–2@Detroit Red Wings(1980–81)15–27–1411,175
57LFebruary 14, 19814–7@Minnesota North Stars(1980–81)15–28–1413,158
58TFebruary 15, 19814–4@Chicago Black Hawks(1980–81)15–28–1512,571
59TFebruary 18, 19813–3Winnipeg Jets(1980–81)15–28–1614,096
60LFebruary 19, 19812–6@Pittsburgh Penguins(1980–81)15–29–166,571
61WFebruary 22, 19816–5New York Rangers(1980–81)16–29–1613,663
62WFebruary 25, 19813–2Minnesota North Stars(1980–81)17–29–1611,202
63LFebruary 27, 19811–5@Calgary Flames(1980–81)17–30–167,226
March
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
64LMarch 1, 19810–3@Vancouver Canucks(1980–81)17–31–1612,616
65LMarch 3, 19814–5@Colorado Rockies(1980–81)17–32–165,239
66WMarch 6, 19815–3@Buffalo Sabres(1980–81)18–32–1616,383
67LMarch 8, 19814–5Calgary Flames(1980–81)18–33–1610,171
68TMarch 10, 19814–4@Detroit Red Wings(1980–81)18–33–1713,217
69LMarch 11, 19812–5Washington Capitals(1980–81)18–34–1710,962
70LMarch 14, 19812–6@New York Rangers(1980–81)18–35–1717,405
71LMarch 15, 19812–4@Boston Bruins(1980–81)18–36–1710,865
72WMarch 18, 19819–3Montreal Canadiens(1980–81)19–36–1712,092
73LMarch 21, 19814–6New York Rangers(1980–81)19–37–1714,510
74TMarch 22, 19813–3Toronto Maple Leafs(1980–81)19–37–1810,620
75LMarch 25, 19812–7Edmonton Oilers(1980–81)19–38–1811,405
76WMarch 27, 19815–3@Washington Capitals(1980–81)20–38–1812,201
77LMarch 29, 19811–4Philadelphia Flyers(1980–81)20–39–1812,350
April
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecordAttendance
78WApril 1, 19815–4Quebec Nordiques(1980–81)21–39–1810,734
79LApril 3, 19811–6@Montreal Canadiens(1980–81)21–40–1816,978
80LApril 5, 19814–5Pittsburgh Penguins(1980–81)21–41–1813,059

Legend:  Win (2 points)  Loss (0 points)  Tie (1 point)

Transactions

[edit]

The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the1980–81 season.

Trades

[edit]
June 5, 1980ToMontreal Canadiens
3rd-round pick in1981 –Dieter Hegen
5th-round pick in1981 –Steve Rooney		ToHartford Whalers
Rick Meagher
3rd-round pick in1981 –Paul MacDermid
5th-round pick in1981 NHL entry draft –Dan Bourbonnais
June 14, 1980ToChicago Black Hawks
2nd-round pick in1981		ToHartford Whalers
Mike Veisor
September 4, 1980ToColorado Rockies
Al Smith		ToHartford Whalers
Cash Considerations
November 20, 1980ToPhiladelphia Flyers
2nd-round pick in1982 –Peter Ihnacak		ToHartford Whalers
Jack McIlhargey
Player to be Named Later –Norm Barnes on Dec. 5, 1980
December 16, 1980ToMinnesota North Stars
Gordie Roberts		ToHartford Whalers
Mike Fidler
January 15, 1981ToNew York Rangers
Nick Fotiu		ToHartford Whalers
5th-round pick in1981 –Bill Maguire
February 1, 1981ToCalgary Flames
Future Considerations		ToHartford Whalers
John Stewart
February 20, 1981ToPittsburgh Penguins
6th-round pick in1981 –Paul Edwards		ToHartford Whalers
Gilles Lupien

Waivers

[edit]
August 7, 1980FromNew York Rangers
Warren Miller

Free agents

[edit]
PlayerFormer team
Thommy AbrahamssonLeksands IF (Sweden)
Randy MacGregorEC VSV (Austria)
Ross YatesMount Allison University (AUAA)

Draft picks

[edit]

Hartford's draft picks from the1980 NHL entry draft which was held at theMontreal Forum inMontreal on June 11, 1980.

Round#PlayerNationalityCollege/junior/club team (league)
18Fred Arthur CanadaCornwall Royals (QMJHL)
229Michel Galarneau CanadaHull Olympiques (QMJHL)
350Mickey Volcan CanadaUniversity of North Dakota (WCHA)
471Kevin McClelland CanadaNiagara Falls Flyers (OMJHL)
592Darren Jensen CanadaUniversity of North Dakota (WCHA)
6113Mario Cerri CanadaOttawa 67's (OMJHL)
7134Mike Martin CanadaSudbury Wolves (OMJHL)
8155Brent DeNat CanadaMichigan Tech (WCHA)
9176Paul Fricker CanadaUniversity of Michigan (WCHA)
10197Lorne Bokshowan CanadaSaskatoon Blades (WHL)

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^"Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph".hockeydb.com.
  2. ^Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011).The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152.ISBN 9781894801225.
  3. ^"1980–81 NHL Standings".NHL.com. National Hockey League.
  4. ^"All-Time NHL Results".NHL.com. RetrievedAugust 25, 2023.
  5. ^"1980-81 Hartford Whalers Schedule".Hockey-Reference.com. RetrievedMarch 18, 2025.
1970s
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Norris
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