1980–81 New York Rangers season

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

|League=NHL

|Season=1980–81

|year=1980

|Team=New York Rangers

|Conference=Campbell

|ConferenceRank=T-7th

|Division=Patrick

|DivisionRank=4th

|Record=30–36–14

|HomeRecord=17–13–10

|RoadRecord=13–23–4

|GoalsFor=312

|GoalsAgainst=317

|GeneralManager=Fred Shero
Craig Patrick

|Coach=Fred Shero
Craig Patrick

|Captain=Walt Tkaczuk

|AltCaptain=None

|Arena=Madison Square Garden

|Attendance=17,293

|GoalsLeader=Ed Johnstone/Anders Hedberg (30)

|AssistsLeader=Ron Greschner (41)

|PointsLeader=Anders Hedberg (70)

|PIMLeader=Barry Beck (231)

|WinsLeader=Doug Soetaert (16)

|GAALeader=Steve Weeks (2.00)

|StanleyCup=

}}

The 1980–81 New York Rangers season was the franchise's 55th season. In the regular season, the Rangers finished in fourth place in the Patrick Division with 74 points and earned a berth in the playoffs. New York won series with the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues to reach the NHL semi-finals, where the team was defeated by the New York Islanders in a four-game sweep.{{cite web|title=1980–81 New York Rangers Roster and Statistics|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1981.html|accessdate=2010-11-13}}

Regular season

Fred Shero, citing a drinking problem, chose to resign as coach. Craig Patrick, the Rangers' director of operations, replaced him. Craig Patrick became the third generation of the Patrick family to coach the Rangers, after Lester Patrick, Lynn Patrick and Muzz Patrick.McFarlane, p. 204

Halfway through the season, veteran Phil Esposito decided to retire. He retired after 18 seasons, the last six with the Rangers. He finished his career with 717 goals and 1,590 points.McFarlane, p. 205

=Final standings=

=Record vs. opponents=

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;|title=1980–81 regular season{{cite web |title=1980–81 New York Rangers Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/NYR/1981_games.html |publisher=Hockey-Reference |access-date=March 31, 2025}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=October: 3–7–1 (home: 2–3–0; road: 1–4–1)| Game| October| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 1 || 9 || @ Boston Bruins || 7–2 || 0–1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || 11 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–3 || 1–1–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 3 || 12 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–3 || 1–2–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 4 || 15 || St. Louis Blues || 2–1 || 1–3–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || 18 || @ Washington Capitals || 8–2 || 1–4–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 6 || 19 || Edmonton Oilers || 4–2 || 1–5–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 7 || 22 || Vancouver Canucks || 3–2 || 2–5–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 8 || 25 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 4–2 || 2–6–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 9 || 26 || Detroit Red Wings || 7–6 || 3–6–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 10 || 28 || @ St. Louis Blues || 5–4 || 3–7–0

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 11 || 30 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 3–3 || 3–7–1

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=November: 3–7–3 (home: 2–2–2; road: 1–5–1)| Game| November| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 12 || 1 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 7–4 || 3–8–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 13 || 2 || Los Angeles Kings || 6–3 || 3–9–1

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 14 || 5 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 3–3 || 3–9–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 15 || 8 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 6–4 || 3–10–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 16 || 10 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 4–1 || 3–11–2

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 17 || 11 || @ Calgary Flames || 7–3 || 3–12–2

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 18 || 14 || Pittsburgh Penguins || 3–3 || 3–12–3

|- {{Game-won}}

| 19 || 16 || Hartford Whalers || 7–3 || 4–12–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 20 || 19 || Philadelphia Flyers || 5–1 || 4–13–3

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 21 || 22 || @ New York Islanders || 6–4 || 4–14–3

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 22 || 23 || Vancouver Canucks || 2–2 || 4–14–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 23 || 26 || Boston Bruins || 6–4 || 5–14–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 24 || 29 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 4–2 || 6–14–4

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=December: 7–6–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 4–2–1)| Game| December| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 25 || 1 || Minnesota North Stars || 5–3 || 6–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 26 || 3 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 4–3 || 7–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 27 || 5 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 5–1 || 8–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 28 || 7 || Chicago Black Hawks || 5–4 || 9–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 29 || 10 || Washington Capitals || 6–2 || 10–15–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 30 || 12 || @ Colorado Rockies || 4–3 || 11–15–4

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 31 || 14 || @ Chicago Black Hawks || 2–1 || 11–16–4

|- {{Game-won}}

| 32 || 17 || Winnipeg Jets || 8–2 || 12–16–4

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 33 || 20 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 3–3 || 12–16–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 34 || 22 || Calgary Flames || 3–2 || 12–17–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 35 || 26 || @ Washington Capitals || 7–3 || 12–18–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 36 || 28 || Montreal Canadiens || 5–2 || 12–19–5

|- {{Game-won}}

| 37 || 30 || @ Quebec Nordiques || 6–3 || 13–19–5

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 38 || 31 || Colorado Rockies || 6–4 || 13–20–5

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=January: 6–4–3 (home: 2–1–2; road: 4–3–1)| Game| January| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 39 || 2 || New York Islanders || 3–1 || 14–20–5

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 40 || 4 || Quebec Nordiques || 2–2 || 14–20–6

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 41 || 9 || Buffalo Sabres || 3–3 || 14–20–7

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 42 || 11 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 5–3 || 14–21–7

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 43 || 13 || @ Calgary Flames || 4–4 || 14–21–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 44 || 15 || @ Colorado Rockies || 4–3 || 14–22–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 45 || 18 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–0 || 14–23–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 46 || 19 || Calgary Flames || 6–3 || 15–23–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 47 || 21 || @ Winnipeg Jets || 5–1 || 15–24–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 48 || 23 || @ Edmonton Oilers || 7–4 || 16–24–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 49 || 24 || @ Vancouver Canucks || 7–5 || 17–24–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 50 || 28 || @ Los Angeles Kings || 6–2 || 18–24–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 51 || 31 || @ Minnesota North Stars || 7–3 || 19–24–8

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=February: 5–7–1 (home: 5–2–1; road: 0–5–0)| Game| February| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 52 || 2 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–2 || 19–25–8

|- {{Game-won}}

| 53 || 4 || New York Islanders || 9–3 || 20–25–8

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 54 || 5 || @ Boston Bruins || 6–3 || 20–26–8

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 55 || 8 || Minnesota North Stars || 3–3 || 20–26–9

|- {{Game-won}}

| 56 || 12 || Winnipeg Jets || 8–6 || 21–26–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 57 || 14 || @ Toronto Maple Leafs || 6–3 || 21–27–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 58 || 15 || St. Louis Blues || 5–4 || 21–28–9

|- {{Game-won}}

| 59 || 18 || Toronto Maple Leafs || 8–3 || 22–28–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 60 || 19 || @ Detroit Red Wings || 7–3 || 22–29–9

|- {{Game-won}}

| 61 || 21 || Washington Capitals || 6–4 || 23–29–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 62 || 22 || @ Hartford Whalers || 6–5 || 23–30–9

|- {{Game-won}}

| 63 || 25 || Buffalo Sabres || 6–3 || 24–30–9

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 64 || 28 || @ Pittsburgh Penguins || 6–4 || 24–31–9

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=March: 4–4–5 (home: 2–1–5; road: 2–2–0)| Game| March| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 65 || 1 || Montreal Canadiens || 4–4 || 24–31–10

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 66 || 4 || Edmonton Oilers || 5–5 || 24–31–11

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 67 || 7 || @ St. Louis Blues || 7–2 || 24–32–11

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 68 || 8 || Detroit Red Wings || 4–4 || 24–32–12

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 69 || 10 || @ Quebec Nordiques || 6–4 || 24–33–12

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 70 || 11 || Colorado Rockies || 4–3 || 24–34–12

|- {{Game-won}}

| 71 || 14 || Hartford Whalers || 6–2 || 25–34–12

|- {{Game-won}}

| 72 || 18 || Boston Bruins || 3–2 || 26–34–12

|- {{Game-won}}

| 73 || 21 || @ Hartford Whalers || 6–4 || 27–34–12

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 74 || 22 || Quebec Nordiques || 7–7 || 27–34–13

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 75 || 25 || @ Buffalo Sabres || 4–2 || 27–35–13

|- {{Game-won}}

| 76 || 28 || @ Montreal Canadiens || 6–2 || 28–35–13

|- {{Game-tied}}

| 77 || 30 || Philadelphia Flyers || 0–0 || 28–35–14

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=April: 2–1–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–1–0)| Game| April| Opponent| Score| Record}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 78 || 2 || @ New York Islanders || 2–1 || 28–36–14

|- {{Game-won}}

| 79 || 3 || Chicago Black Hawks || 3–1 || 29–36–14

|- {{Game-won}}

| 80 || 5 || @ Philadelphia Flyers || 2–0 || 30–36–14

Legend:

Playoffs

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;|title=1981 Stanley Cup playoffs}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=Preliminary round vs. (4) Los Angeles Kings – Rangers win 3–1| Game| Date| Visitor| Score| Home| OT| Series}}

|- {{Game-won}}

| 1 || April 8 || New York Rangers || 3–1 || Los Angeles Kings || || New York Rangers lead series 1–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 2 || April 9 || New York Rangers || 4–5 || Los Angeles Kings || || Series tied 1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 11 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–10 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 2–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || April 12 || Los Angeles Kings || 3–6 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers win series 3–1

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=Quarterfinals vs. (2) St. Louis Blues – Rangers win 4–2| Game| Date| Visitor| Score| Home| OT| Series}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 1 || April 16 || New York Rangers || 3–6 || St. Louis Blues || || St. Louis leads series 1–0

|- {{Game-won}}

| 2 || April 17 || New York Rangers || 6–4 || St. Louis Blues || || Series tied 1–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 3 || April 19 || St. Louis Blues || 3–6 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 2–1

|- {{Game-won}}

| 4 || April 20 || St. Louis Blues || 1–4 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers lead series 3–1

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 5 || April 22 || New York Rangers || 3–4 || St. Louis Blues || || New York Rangers lead series 3–2

|- {{Game-won}}

| 6 || April 24 || St. Louis Blues || 4–7 || New York Rangers || || New York Rangers win series 4–2

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#0161AB 2px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 2px solid;|title=Semifinals vs. (1) New York Islanders – Islanders win 4–0| Game| Date| Visitor| Score| Home| OT| Series}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 1 || April 28 || New York Rangers || 2–5 || New York Islanders || || New York Islanders lead series 1–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 2 || April 30 || New York Rangers || 3–7 || New York Islanders || || New York Islanders lead series 2–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 3 || May 2 || New York Islanders || 5–1 || New York Rangers || || New York Islanders lead series 3–0

|- {{Game-lost}}

| 4 || May 5 || New York Islanders || 5–2 || New York Rangers || || New York Islanders win series 4–0

Legend:

Player statistics

;Skaters

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"\| Regular Season
align=center ! Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|G\|Goals}} ! {{abbr\|A\|Assists}} ! {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! data-sort-type="number" \| {{abbr\|+/-\|Plus/minus}} ! {{abbr\|PIM\|Penalty minutes}}
align=center \| {{sortname\|Anders\|Hedberg}}	80	30	40	70	0	52
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ed\|Johnstone}}	80	30	38	68	15	100
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Greschner}}	74	27	41	68	0	112
align=center \| {{sortname\|Mike\|Allison}}	75	26	38	64	12	83
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Vickers\|Steve Vickers (ice hockey)}}	73	19	39	58	7	40
align=center \| {{sortname\|Don\|Maloney}}	61	29	23	52	17	99
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dave\|Maloney}}	79	11	36	47	24	132
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ulf\|Nilsson\|Ulf Nilsson (ice hockey)}}	51	14	25	39	−3	42
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Duguay}}	50	17	21	38	2	83
align=center \| {{sortname\|Barry\|Beck}}	75	11	23	34	9	231
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dean\|Talafous}}	50	13	17	30	2	28
align=center \| {{sortname\|Tom\|Laidlaw}}	80	6	23	29	0	100
align=center \| {{sortname\|Walt\|Tkaczuk}}	43	6	22	28	13	28
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dave\|Silk}}	59	14	12	26	−24	58
align=center \| {{sortname\|Lance\|Nethery}}	33	11	12	23	0	12
align=center \| {{sortname\|Carol\|Vadnais}}	74	3	20	23	19	91
align=center \| {{sortname\|Jere\|Gillis}}^†	35	10	10	20	6	4
align=center \| {{sortname\|Phil\|Esposito}}	41	7	13	20	−13	20
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ed\|Hospodar}}	61	5	14	19	10	214
align=center \| {{sortname\|Chris\|Kotsopoulos}}	54	4	12	16	−10	153
align=center \| {{sortname\|Nick\|Fotiu}}^†	27	5	6	11	−6	91
align=center \| {{sortname\|Peter\|Wallin}}	12	1	5	6	−1	2
align=center \| {{sortname\|Doug\|Sulliman}}	32	4	1	5	−9	32
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dan\|McCarthy\|Dan McCarthy (ice hockey)}}	5	4	0	4	3	4
align=center \| {{sortname\|Gary\|Burns\|Gary Burns (ice hockey)}}	11	2	2	4	−9	18
align=center \| {{sortname\|Andre\|Dore}}	15	1	3	4	−1	15
align=center \| {{sortname\|Cam\|Connor}}	15	1	3	4	6	44
align=center \| {{sortname\|Mario\|Marois}}^‡	8	1	2	3	−5	46
align=center \| {{sortname\|Jeff\|Bandura}}	2	0	1	1	−3	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Tim\|Bothwell}}	3	0	1	1	0	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Mike\|McDougall}}	2	0	0	0	1	0

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"\| Playoffs
align=center ! Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|G\|Goals}} ! {{abbr\|A\|Assists}} ! {{abbr\|Pts\|Points}} ! {{abbr\|PIM\|Penalty minutes}}
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Duguay}}	14	8	9	17	16
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ulf\|Nilsson\|Ulf Nilsson (ice hockey)}}	14	8	8	16	23
align=center \| {{sortname\|Anders\|Hedberg}}	14	8	8	16	6
align=center \| {{sortname\|Barry\|Beck}}	14	5	8	13	32
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ron\|Greschner}}	14	4	8	12	17
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Vickers\|Steve Vickers (ice hockey)}}	12	4	7	11	14
align=center \| {{sortname\|Peter\|Wallin}}	14	2	6	8	6
align=center \| {{sortname\|Lance\|Nethery}}	14	5	3	8	9
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dean\|Talafous}}	14	3	5	8	2
align=center \| {{sortname\|Jere\|Gillis}}	14	2	5	7	9
align=center \| {{sortname\|Don\|Maloney}}	13	1	6	7	13
align=center \| {{sortname\|Tom\|Laidlaw}}	14	1	4	5	18
align=center \| {{sortname\|Carol\|Vadnais}}	14	1	3	4	26
align=center \| {{sortname\|Mike\|Allison}}	14	3	1	4	20
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ed\|Johnstone}}	8	2	2	4	4
align=center \| {{sortname\|Chris\|Kotsopoulos}}	14	0	3	3	63
align=center \| {{sortname\|Ed\|Hospodar}}	12	2	0	2	93
align=center \| {{sortname\|Dave\|Maloney}}	2	0	2	2	9
align=center \| {{sortname\|John\|Hughes\|John Hughes (ice hockey b. 1954)}}	3	0	1	1	6
align=center \| {{sortname\|Doug\|Sulliman}}	3	1	0	1	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Gary\|Burns\|Gary Burns (ice hockey)}}	1	0	0	0	2
align=center \| {{sortname\|Nick\|Fotiu}}	2	0	0	0	4

;Goaltenders

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"\| Regular Season
style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;" ! Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|TOI\|Time on ice}} ! {{abbr\|W\|Win}} ! {{abbr\|L\|Loss}} ! {{abbr\|T\|Tie}} ! {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}} ! {{abbr\|GAA\|Goals against average}} ! {{abbr\|SO\|Shutouts}}
align=center \| {{sortname\|Doug\|Soetaert}}	39	2320	16	16	7	152	3.93	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Baker\|Steve Baker (ice hockey)}}	21	1260	10	6	5	73	3.48	2
align=center \| {{sortname\|John\|Davidson\|John Davidson (ice hockey)}}	10	560	1	7	1	48	5.14	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Wayne\|Thomas\|Wayne Thomas (ice hockey)}}	10	600	3	6	1	34	3.40	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Weeks}}	1	60	0	1	0	2	2.00	0

class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%;" \|+ style="background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#0161AB 5px solid; border-bottom:#E6393F 5px solid;"\| Playoffs
style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;" ! Player ! {{abbr\|GP\|Games played}} ! {{abbr\|TOI\|Time on ice}} ! {{abbr\|W\|Win}} ! {{abbr\|L\|Loss}} ! {{abbr\|GA\|Goals against}} ! {{abbr\|GAA\|Goals against average}} ! {{abbr\|SO\|Shutouts}}
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Baker\|Steve Baker (ice hockey)}}	14	826	7	7	55	4.00	0
align=center \| {{sortname\|Steve\|Weeks}}	1	14	0	0	1	4.29	0

^†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Rangers. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

^‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Rangers only.

{{cite web |publisher=hockeydb.com |accessdate=2010-08-08 |title=1980–81 New York Rangers |url=http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481981.html| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100825093839/http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000481981.html| archivedate= 25 August 2010 | url-status= live}}

Awards and records

Transactions

The Rangers were involved in the following transactions during the 1980–81 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.prosportstransactions.com/hockey/Search/SearchResults.php?Player=&Team=Rangers&BeginDate=1980-05-01&EndDate=1981-09-01&PlayerMovementChkBx=yes&submit=Search&start=0|title=Hockey Transactions Search Results}}

=Trades=

class="wikitable"

August 6, 1980

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

Gord Smith

| valign="top"|To Winnipeg Jets

Cash

style="background:#eee;"

| November 11, 1980

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

Jeff Bandura
Jere Gillis

| valign="top"|To Vancouver Canucks

Mario Marois
Jim Mayer

November 18, 1980

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

Dale Lewis

| valign="top"|To Calgary Flames

Frank Beaton

style="background:#eee;"

| January 15, 1981

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

Nick Fotiu

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

5th round pick in 1981 – Bill Maguire

March 10, 1981

| valign="top"|To New York Rangers

John Hughes

| valign="top"|To Edmonton Oilers

Ray Markham

=Waivers=

class="wikitable"

August 7, 1980

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Warren Miller

=Free agent signings=

class="wikitable"

July 10, 1980

| valign="top"|From New Haven Nighthawks (AHL)

Dan Poulin

style="background:#eee;"

| September 16, 1980

| valign="top"|From Boston Bruins

Gary Burns

December 12, 1980

| valign="top"|From New Haven Nighthawks (AHL)

Gerry McDonald

style="background:#eee;"

| March 8, 1981

| valign="top"|From Djurgårdens IF (Sweden)

Peter Wallin

Draft picks

New York's picks at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft in Montreal, Canada at the Montreal Forum.{{cite web|title=1980 NHL Entry Draft|publisher=Hockey-Reference|url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/NHL_1980_entry.html|accessdate=2012-04-28}}{{cite web|title=NHL Draft History |publisher=National Hockey League |url=http://www.nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |accessdate=2012-04-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010128131400/http://nhl.com/futures/drafthistory.html |archivedate=2001-01-28 }}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf; width:2.00%;"\| Round ! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"\| # ! style="background:#ddf; width:16.0%;"\| Player ! style="background:#ddf; width:12.25%;"\| Position ! style="background:#ddf; width:17.0%;"\| Nationality ! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"\| College/Junior/Club team (League)
1 \| 14 \| Jim Malone \| F \| {{flagu\|Canada}} \| Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
2 \| 35 \| Mike Allison \| RW \| {{flagu\|Canada}} \| Sudbury Wolves (OHA)
4 \| 77 \| Kurt Kleinendorst \| C \| {{flagu\|United States}} \| Providence College (NCAA)
5 \| 98 \| Scot Kleinendorst \| D \| {{flagu\|United States}} \| Providence College (NCAA)
6 \| 119 \| Reijo Ruotsalainen \| D \| {{flag\|Finland}} \| Karpat (SM-liiga)
7 \| 140 \| Bob Scurfield \| C \| {{flagu\|Canada}} \| Western Michigan University (NCAA)
8 \| 161 \| Bart Wilson \| D \| {{flagu\|Canada}} \| Toronto Marlboros (OHA)
9 \| 182 \| Chris Wray \| RW \| {{flagu\|United States}} \| Boston College (NCAA)
10 \| 203 \| Anders Backstrom \| D \| {{flag\|Sweden}} \| Brynas (Elitserien)

class="wikitable"

style="background:#ddf; width:2.00%;"| Round

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:16.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:12.25%;"| Position

! style="background:#ddf; width:17.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/Junior/Club team (League)

| 14

| Jim Malone

| F

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Toronto Marlboros (OHA)

| 35

| Mike Allison

| RW

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Sudbury Wolves (OHA)

| 77

| Kurt Kleinendorst

| C

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Providence College (NCAA)

| 98

| Scot Kleinendorst

| D

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Providence College (NCAA)

| 119

| Reijo Ruotsalainen

| D

| {{flag|Finland}}

| Karpat (SM-liiga)

| 140

| Bob Scurfield

| C

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Western Michigan University (NCAA)

| 161

| Bart Wilson

| D

| {{flagu|Canada}}

| Toronto Marlboros (OHA)

| 182

| Chris Wray

| RW

| {{flagu|United States}}

| Boston College (NCAA)

| 203

| Anders Backstrom

| D

| {{flag|Sweden}}

| Brynas (Elitserien)

References

Bibliography

{{cite book |title=One hundred years of hockey |last=McFarlane |first=Brian |publisher=Deneau Publishers |location=Toronto, Ontario |year=1989 |isbn=0-88879-216-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/onehundredyearso0000mcfa }}

1980-81

Category:1980–81 NHL season by team

Category:1980 in sports in New York City

Category:1981 in sports in New York City

1980-81 New York Rangers season