1980-81 NHL season

The 1980-81 NHL season was the 64th season of the National Hockey League. Twenty-one teams each played 80 games. This was the first season that the Calgary Flames played in Calgary, Alberta. Previously, they were the Atlanta Flames and played in Atlanta, Georgia. The New York Islanders won their second consecutive Stanley Cup, defeating the Minnesota North Stars in 5 games.

Final standings
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold

Scoring leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points

Stanley Cup playoffs
In Game One of the Edmonton-Montreal series, Wayne Gretzky had five assists. This was a single game playoff record.

Finals
New York Islanders vs. Minnesota North Stars

New York wins the series 4–1.

Debuts
The following is a list of players of note who played their first NHL game in 1980-81 (listed with their first team, asterisk(*) marks debut in playoffs):
 * Barry Pederson, Boston Bruins
 * Steve Kasper, Boston Bruins
 * Denis Savard, Chicago Blackhawks
 * Steve Larmer, Chicago Blackhawks
 * Andy Moog, Edmonton Oilers
 * Charlie Huddy, Edmonton Oilers
 * Glenn Anderson, Edmonton Oilers
 * Jari Kurri, Edmonton Oilers
 * Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers
 * Larry Murphy, Los Angeles Kings
 * Dino Ciccarelli, Minnesota North Stars
 * Don Beaupre, Minnesota North Stars
 * Neal Broten, Minnesota North Stars
 * Doug Wickenheiser, Montreal Canadiens
 * Guy Carbonneau, Montreal Canadiens
 * Rick Wamsley, Montreal Canadiens
 * Brent Sutter, New York Islanders
 * Rollie Melanson, New York Islanders
 * Tim Kerr, Philadelphia Flyers
 * Mike Bullard, Pittsburgh Penguins
 * Anton Stastny, Quebec Nordiques
 * Peter Stastny, Quebec Nordiques
 * Dale Hunter, Quebec Nordiques
 * Paul MacLean, St. Louis Blues
 * Dave Babych, Winnipeg Jets

Last games
The following is a list of players of note that played their last game in the NHL in 1980-81 (listed with their last team):
 * Jean Ratelle, Boston Bruins
 * Terry Harper, Colorado Rockies
 * Pete Mahovlich, Detroit Red Wings
 * Tom Bladon, Detroit Red Wings
 * Jean Potvin, New York Islanders
 * Phil Esposito, New York Rangers
 * Walt Tkaczuk, New York Rangers
 * Ron Ellis, Toronto Maple Leafs
 * Dennis Kearns, Vancouver Canucks
 * Bobby Schmautz, Vancouver Canucks
 * Dennis Ververgaert, Washington Capitals
 * Guy Charron, Washington Capitals
 * Wayne Stephenson, Washington Capitals
 * Jude Drouin, Winnipeg Jets