1979–80 Edmonton Oilers season
NHL team season (first year in NHL)
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, but Oilers fans were very excited about being part of the NHL, and of the future of the team.
Regular season
Final standings
[ 1] 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.
Record vs. opponents
Smythe Division record vs. opponents
Vs. Campbell Conference
Vs. Smythe Division
1979–80 NHL records[ 2]
Team
CHI
COL
EDM
STL
VAN
WIN
Total
Chicago
—
3−0−1
1−3
1−2−1
1−1−2
2−2
8−8−4
Colorado
0−3−1
—
2−2
0−2−2
1−2−1
1−2−1
4−11−5
Edmonton
3−1
2−2
—
0−3−1
1−2−1
1−2−1
7−10−3
St. Louis
2−1−1
2−0−2
3−0−1
—
3−1
1−1−2
11−3−6
Vancouver
1−1−2
2−1−1
2−1−1
1−3
—
2−1−1
8−7−5
Winnipeg
2−2
2−1−1
1−2−1
2−2
1−2−1
—
8−9−3
Vs. Patrick Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
ATL
NYI
NYR
PHI
WSH
Total
Chicago
2−0−2
1−2−1
2−1−1
0−2−2
2−2
7−7−6
Colorado
0−4
1−3
1−1−2
1−2−1
1−1−2
4−11−5
Edmonton
1−2−1
2−1−1
1−3
0−3−1
3−1
7−10−3
St. Louis
1−3
1−3
0−4
0−2−2
2−2
4−14−2
Vancouver
2−2
2−1−1
0−4
1−3
1−3
6−13−1
Winnipeg
0−4
0−2−2
2−2
0−4
0−3−1
2−15−3
Vs. Wales Conference
Vs. Adams Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
BOS
BUF
MIN
QUE
TOR
Total
Chicago
2−2
1−1−2
2−1−1
2−1−1
4−0
11−5−4
Colorado
1−2−1
1−3
1−3
1−3
0−3−1
4−14−2
Edmonton
0−4
1−2−1
1−1−2
2−2
2−1−1
6−10−4
St. Louis
1−1−2
2−2
1−3
2−2
2−2
8−10−2
Vancouver
0−1−3
0−1−3
2−1−1
2−2
1−3
5−8−7
Winnipeg
1−3
0−3−1
1−2−1
2−2
0−4
4−14−2
Vs. Norris Division
1979–80 NHL records
Team
DET
HFD
LAK
MTL
PIT
Total
Chicago
3−1
1−1−2
0−3−1
2−2
2−0−2
8−7−5
Colorado
3−1
1−2−1
0−4
1−3
2−2
7−12−1
Edmonton
1−2−1
1−2−1
2−1−1
1−3
3−1
8−9−3
St. Louis
2−1−1
2−2
3−1
2−2
2−1−1
11−7−2
Vancouver
2−2
1−1−2
2−2
2−2
1−2−1
8−9−3
Winnipeg
1−3
2−2
2−1−1
1−3
0−4
6−13−1
Schedule and results
1979–80 Game Log
October: 1–5–4 (Home: 1–1–3 ; Road: 0–4–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
1
October 10
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 4
Chicago Black Hawks
Dryden
10,138
0–1–0
0
[1]
2
October 13
Detroit Red Wings
3 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,248
0–1–1
1
[2]
3
October 14
Vancouver Canucks
4 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Dryden
15,300
0–1–2
2
[3]
4
October 19
Quebec Nordiques
3 – 6
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,386
1–1–2
4
[4]
5
October 21
Minnesota North Stars
5 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
1–1–3
5
[5]
6
October 23
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 3
New York Islanders
Mio
13,751
1–1–4
6
[6]
7
October 24
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 10
New York Rangers
Mio
17,407
1–2–4
6
[7]
8
October 26
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 7
Atlanta Flames
Dryden
8,420
1–3–4
6
[8]
9
October 28
Washington Capitals
6 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,393
1–4–4
6
[9]
10
October 30
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 2
St. Louis Blues
Mio
8,262
1–5–4
6
[10]
November: 4–7–2 (Home: 3–2–1 ; Road: 1–5–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
11
November 2
New York Islanders
5 – 7
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,418
2–5–4
8
[11]
12
November 4
Boston Bruins
2 – 1
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,415
2–6–4
8
[12]
13
November 7
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 5
Detroit Red Wings
Mio
12,197
2–7–4
8
[13]
14
November 8
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 4
Boston Bruins
Dryden
9,859
2–8–4
8
[14]
15
November 11
Toronto Maple Leafs
6 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
2–9–4
8
[15]
16
November 13
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 3
Washington Capitals
Dryden
5,214
3–9–4
10
[16]
17
November 15
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 5
Philadelphia Flyers
Dryden
17,077
3–10–4
10
[17]
18
November 17
Edmonton Oilers
0 – 4
Hartford Whalers
Dryden
7,627
3–11–4
10
[18]
19
November 18
Edmonton Oilers
7 – 9
Buffalo Sabres
Dryden
16,433
3–12–4
10
[19]
20
November 21
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 4
Toronto Maple Leafs
Dryden
16,485
3–12–5
11
[20]
21
November 24
Philadelphia Flyers
2 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Dryden
15,423
3–12–6
12
[21]
22
November 28
Chicago Black Hawks
2 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Dryden
15,423
4–12–6
14
[22]
23
November 30
New York Islanders
3 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
5–12–6
16
[23]
December: 4–7–1 (Home: 3–3–1 ; Road: 1–4–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
24
December 5
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 6
Minnesota North Stars
Mio
8,752
5–13–6
16
[24]
25
December 7
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 8
Winnipeg Jets
Dryden
11,772
5–14–6
16
[25]
26
December 9
Hartford Whalers
0 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
6–14–6
18
[26]
27
December 12
Atlanta Flames
5 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
6–14–7
19
[27]
28
December 14
Montreal Canadiens
3 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
7–14–7
21
[28]
29
December 16
Winnipeg Jets
4 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
7–15–7
21
[29]
30
December 19
Detroit Red Wings
6 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
7–16–7
21
[30]
31
December 21
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 5
Colorado Rockies
Corsi
7,280
7–17–7
21
[31]
32
December 22
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 9
Los Angeles Kings
Mio
9,384
7–18–7
21
[32]
33
December 26
Colorado Rockies
3 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
16,148
8–18–7
23
[33]
34
December 28
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 3
Vancouver Canucks
Corsi
15,414
9–18–7
25
[34]
35
December 30
Quebec Nordiques
2 – 1
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
9–19–7
25
[35]
January: 6–6–3 (Home: 3–2–2 ; Road: 3–4–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
36
January 2
Hartford Whalers
3 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
9–19–8
26
[36]
37
January 5
Los Angeles Kings
3 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
9–19–9
27
[37]
38
January 7
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 4
Montreal Canadiens
Corsi
15,896
9–20–9
27
[38]
39
January 9
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 3
Quebec Nordiques
Corsi
10,480
9–21–9
27
[39]
40
January 11
New York Rangers
6 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
9–22–9
27
[40]
41
January 13
Buffalo Sabres
5 – 6
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
10–22–9
29
[41]
42
January 16
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 2
Washington Capitals
Mio
9,352
11–22–9
31
[42]
43
January 17
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 7
Boston Bruins
Corsi
10,047
11–23–9
31
[43]
44
January 19
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 2
Pittsburgh Penguins
Mio
12,896
12–23–9
33
[44]
45
January 20
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 4
Buffalo Sabres
Mio
16,433
12–23–10
34
[45]
46
January 23
Pittsburgh Penguins
3 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
13–23–10
36
[46]
47
January 26
Toronto Maple Leafs
3 – 8
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
14–23–10
38
[47]
48
January 27
Philadelphia Flyers
5 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
14–24–10
38
[48]
49
January 29
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 3
St. Louis Blues
Cutts
10,169
14–25–10
38
[49]
50
January 30
Edmonton Oilers
8 – 1
Los Angeles Kings
Cutts
6,747
15–25–10
40
[50]
February: 5–7–2 (Home: 3–4–1 ; Road: 2–3–1)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
51
February 1
Winnipeg Jets
2 – 9
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
16–25–10
42
[51]
52
February 3
Los Angeles Kings
3 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
17–25–10
44
[52]
53
February 6
St. Louis Blues
6 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
17–26–10
44
[53]
54
February 8
Atlanta Flames
4 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Cutts
15,423
17–27–10
44
[54]
55
February 10
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 2
Winnipeg Jets
Cutts
11,588
17–27–11
45
[55]
56
February 13
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 3
Minnesota North Stars
Corsi
10,126
18–27–11
47
[56]
57
February 15
Washington Capitals
2 – 8
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
19–27–11
49
[57]
58
February 17
St. Louis Blues
5 – 5
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
19–27–12
50
[58]
59
February 19
Edmonton Oilers
2 – 6
Hartford Whalers
Mio
9,955
19–28–12
50
[59]
60
February 20
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 4
New York Rangers
Corsi
17,417
19–29–12
50
[60]
61
February 22
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 3
Colorado Rockies
Corsi
8,028
19–30–12
50
[61]
62
February 24
Boston Bruins
4 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
19–31–12
50
[62]
63
February 27
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 2
Chicago Black Hawks
Mio
8,652
20–31–12
52
[63]
64
February 29
Buffalo Sabres
4 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Mio
15,423
20–32–12
52
[64]
March: 7–6–0 (Home: 3–2–0 ; Road: 4–4–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
65
March 1
Vancouver Canucks
5 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
Corsi
15,423
20–33–12
52
[65]
66
March 4
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 6
New York Islanders
Corsi
14,408
20–34–12
52
[66]
67
March 6
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 5
Montreal Canadiens
Corsi
16,981
20–35–12
52
[67]
68
March 8
Edmonton Oilers
4 – 5
Pittsburgh Penguins
Corsi
10,660
20–36–12
52
[68]
69
March 9
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 5
Philadelphia Flyers
Dupuis
17,077
20–37–12
52
[69]
70
March 12
Edmonton Oilers
6 – 3
Quebec Nordiques
Low
10,619
21–37–12
54
[70]
71
March 14
Chicago Black Hawks
4 – 6
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
22–37–12
56
[71]
72
March 15
Montreal Canadiens
7 – 3
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
22–38–12
56
[72]
73
March 19
New York Rangers
2 – 4
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
23–38–12
58
[73]
74
March 21
Pittsburgh Penguins
2 – 9
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
24–38–12
60
[74]
75
March 25
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 4
Atlanta Flames
Low
7,914
25–38–12
62
[75]
76
March 26
Edmonton Oilers
5 – 2
Detroit Red Wings
Low
14,137
26–38–12
64
[76]
77
March 29
Edmonton Oilers
8 – 5
Toronto Maple Leafs
Low
13,578
27–38–12
66
[77]
April: 1–1–1 (Home: 1–0–1 ; Road: 0–1–0)
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Record
Pts
Recap
78
April 1
Edmonton Oilers
0 – 5
Vancouver Canucks
Low
16,413
27–39–12
66
[78]
79
April 2
Minnesota North Stars
1 – 1
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
27–39–13
67
[79]
80
April 4
Colorado Rockies
2 – 6
Edmonton Oilers
Low
15,423
28–39–13
69
[80]
Legend : Win (2 points)
Loss (0 points)
Tie (1 point)
Playoffs
1980 Stanley Cup playoffs
1980 preliminary round
Philadelphia Flyers won series 3–0
#
Date
Visitor
Score
Home
OT
Decision
Attendance
Series
Recap
1
April 8
Edmonton Oilers
3 – 4
Philadelphia Flyers
OT
Low
17,707
0–1
[81]
2
April 9
Edmonton Oilers
1 – 5
Philadelphia Flyers
Low
17,707
0–2
[82]
3
April 11
Philadelphia Flyers
3 – 2
Edmonton Oilers
2OT
Low
15,423
0–3
[83]
Player statistics
Scoring leaders
Goaltending
Playoff stats
Scoring leaders
Goaltending
Player
GP
TOI
W
L
GA
SO
GAA
Ron Low
3
212
0
3
12
0
3.40
Awards and records
Records
Milestones
Regular Season
Player
Milestone
Reached
Brett Callighen
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
October 10, 1979
Wayne Gretzky
Ron Chipperfield
1st NHL Game
Peter Driscoll
Blair MacDonald
Mark Messier
Dave Semenko
Risto Siltanen
Dave Hunter
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Kevin Lowe
Dave Lumley
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Blair MacDonald
1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
October 13, 1979
Mark Messier
Eddie Mio
1st NHL Game
Dave Semenko
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Stan Weir
200th NHL Point
Colin Campbell
300th NHL Game
October 14, 1979
Bill Flett
500th NHL PIM
Wayne Gretzky
1st NHL Goal
Blair MacDonald
1st NHL Assist
Risto Siltanen
1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Brett Callighen
1st NHL Goal
October 19, 1979
Ron Chipperfield
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Blair MacDonald
1st NHL Hat-trick
Mark Messier
1st NHL Assist
Eddie Mio
1st NHL Win
Dave Hunter Risto Siltanen
1st NHL Assist
October 21, 1979
Ron Areshenkoff
1st NHL Game
October 23, 1979
Colin Campbell
600th NHL PIM
Peter Driscoll
1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Peter Driscoll
1st NHL Assist
October 26, 1979
Dave Semenko
1st NHL Goal
Bill Flett
200th NHL Goal
October 28, 1979
Ron Chipperfield
1st NHL Goal
October 30, 1979
Mike Toal
1st NHL Game
Kari Makkonen
1st NHL Game
November 7, 1979
John Bednarski
100th NHL Game
November 8, 1979
Bryon Baltimore
1st NHL Game
November 13, 1979
Dave Dryden
200th NHL Game
November 21, 1979
Kevin Lowe
1st NHL Assist
November 30, 1979
Pat Price
200th NHL Game
Kari Makkonen
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
December 7, 1979
Stan Weir
400th NHL Game
Eddie Mio
1st NHL Shutout
December 9, 1979
Kari Makkonen
1st NHL Goal
December 12, 1979
Eddie Mio
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
December 19, 1979
Jim Corsi
1st NHL Game
December 21, 1979
Jim Corsi
1st NHL Win
December 26, 1979
Jim Corsi
1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
January 7, 1980
Stan Weir
100th NHL Goal
Doug Hicks
100th NHL Point
January 13, 1980
Blair MacDonald
2nd NHL Hat-trick
January 19, 1980
Doug Hicks
400th NHL Game
January 20, 1980
Blair MacDonald
3rd NHL Hat-trick
January 26, 1980
Don Cutts
1st NHL Game 1st NHL Win
January 30, 1980
Dave Semenko
100th NHL PIM
Cam Connor
100th NHL PIM
February 1, 1980
Wayne Gretzky
1st NHL Hat-trick
Dave Lumley
100th NHL PIM
February 6, 1980
Stan Weir
Colin Campbell
700th NHL PIM
February 13, 1980
Lee Fogolin
500th NHL PIM
February 15, 1980
Blair MacDonald
4th NHL Hat-trick
Wayne Gretzky
100th NHL Point
February 24, 1980
Ron Carter
1st NHL Game
February 27, 1980
Pat Price
200th NHL PIM
March 4, 1980
Bob Dupuis
1st NHL Game
March 9, 1980
Lee Fogolin
400th NHL Game
March 14, 1980
Wayne Gretzky
2nd NHL Hat-trick 1st NHL Natural Hat-trick
March 21, 1980
Dave Semenko
1st NHL Gordie Howe hat trick
Don Ashby
1st NHL Hat-trick
March 29, 1980
Wayne Gretzky
50th Goal in 79 Games
April 2, 1980
Dave Hunter
100th NHL PIM
Transactions
Trades
Date
Details
June 1, 1979 (1979-06-01 )
To Winnipeg Jets ^Peter Marsh
To Edmonton Oilers Mats Ulander
June 9, 1979 (1979-06-09 )
To Minnesota North Stars *Paul Shmyr
To Edmonton Oilers 4th round pick in 1979 – Glenn Anderson
June 13, 1979 (1979-06-13 )
To Montreal Canadiens 2nd round pick in 1980 – Ric Nattress
To Edmonton Oilers Dave Lumley Dan Newman
August 7, 1979 (1979-08-07 )
To St. Louis Blues Joe Micheletti
To Edmonton Oilers Tom Roulston Risto Siltanen
August 9, 1979 (1979-08-09 )
To Minnesota North Stars 2nd round pick in 1979 – Neal Broten 3rd round pick in 1979 – Kevin Maxwell
To Edmonton Oilers Dave Semenko 3rd round pick in 1979 – Mark Messier
August 22, 1979 (1979-08-22 )
To Toronto Maple Leafs Reg Thomas
To Edmonton Oilers 6th round pick in 1981 – Steve Smith
September 24, 1979 (1979-09-24 )
To Chicago Black Hawks Future considerations
To Edmonton Oilers Jim Harrison
November 13, 1979 (1979-11-13 )
To Buffalo Sabres John Gould
To Edmonton Oilers Alec Tidey
December 10, 1979 (1979-12-10 )
To Boston Bruins Dan Newman
To Edmonton Oilers Bobby Schmautz
February 25, 1980 (1980-02-25 )
To Colorado Rockies Bobby Schmautz
To Edmonton Oilers Don Ashby
March 11, 1980 (1980-03-11 )
To Minnesota North Stars Jim Corsi
To Edmonton Oilers Cash
March 11, 1980 (1980-03-11 )
To New York Rangers Cam Connor 3rd round pick in 1981 – Peter Sundstrom
To Edmonton Oilers Don Murdoch
March 11, 1980 (1980-03-11 )
To Quebec Nordiques Ron Chipperfield
To Edmonton Oilers Ron Low
^Oilers promised not to select Peter Marsh in the 1979 WHA Dispersal Draft
*Oilers promised to not make Paul Shmyr one of its priority selections in the 1979 NHL expansion draft
Rights retained prior to Expansion Draft
Players acquired
Date
Player
Former team
Term
June 9, 1979 (1979-06-09 )
Kari Makkonen
New York Islanders
1-year
July 15, 1979 (1979-07-15 )
John Bednarski
New York Rangers
July 18, 1979 (1979-07-18 )
Clayton Pachal
Colorado Rockies
September 14, 1979 (1979-09-14 )
Charlie Huddy
Oshawa Generals (OHL )
Cal Roadhouse
Billings Bighorns (WHL )
October 4, 1979 (1979-10-04 )
Jim Corsi
Quebec Nordiques
November 1, 1979 (1979-11-01 )
Jim Crosson
Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
Gord Stafford
Billings Bighorns (WHL)
November 2, 1979 (1979-11-02 )
Poul Popiel
Innsbrucker EV (AUT )
January 12, 1980 (1980-01-12 )
Don Cutts
New York Islanders
January 30, 1980 (1980-01-30 )
Roy Sommer
Toronto Maple Leafs
March 2, 1980 (1980-03-02 )
Bob Dupuis
Barrie Flyers (OHA Sr A Hockey League )
March 5, 1980 (1980-03-05 )
Mike Kouwenhoven
Feenstra Flyers (Eredivisie )
March 17, 1980 (1980-03-17 )
Owen Lloyd
Spokane Flyers (WIHL )
Players lost
Draft picks
Edmonton's draft picks at the 1979 NHL Entry Draft :
Expansion draft picks
Edmonton's expansion draft picks at the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft
Trades
Farm teams
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(July 2010 )
See also
References
^ Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012 . Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 152. ISBN 9781894801225 .
^ "All-Time NHL Results" . NHL.com . Retrieved August 25, 2023 .
Patrick Adams Norris Smythe See also
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