1980 NHL entry draft
The 1980 NHL entry draft was the 18th NHL entry draft. It was held at the Montreal Forum. This was the first time that an NHL arena hosted the draft. The National Hockey League teams selected 210 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1979–80 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected. The minimum draft age was lowered from 19 to 18, but prospective draftees had to be of age by September 15 rather than any date in the relevant birth year.
It was the first time the Forum hosted the draft. The hometown Montreal Canadiens used the first selection on Doug Wickenheiser.
The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Paul Coffey and Larry Murphy, who both retired after the 2000–01 season.
Selections by round
Below are listed the selections in the 1980 NHL entry draft.Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round one
;Notes- The Colorado Rockies' first round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on September 13, 1976 that sent Ron Andruff, Sean Shanahan to Colorado in exchange for cash and Montreal's option to swap 1st-round picks in the 1980 Entry Draft. Montreal exercised the option and swap the 19th pick for the 1st overall pick in 1980.
- The Quebec Nordiques' first round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on June 9, 1979 that Black Hawks promised to not take Real Cloutier in 1979 NHL expansion draft in exchange for this pick.
- The Detroit Red Wings' first round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on August 22, 1979, that sent rights to Dale McCourt to Detroit in exchange for Andre St. Laurent, Kings' option or Detroit's second round pick in 1980 or first round pick in 1981 and this pick.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs' first round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on March 13, 1978 that sent Dan Maloney and the 25th overall pick to Toronto in exchange for Errol Thompson, a first and second round pick in 1978 and this pick.
- The Montreal Canadiens' first round pick went to the Colorado Rockies as the result of a trade on September 13, 1976, that sent cash and Montreal's option to swap 1st-round picks in the 1980 Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange for Ron Andruff, Sean Shanahan. Montreal exercised the option and swap the 19th pick for the 1st overall pick in 1980.
Round two
- The Detroit Red Wings' second round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on March 13, 1978, that sent Errol Thompson, a first and second round pick in 1978 and the 11th overall pick to Detroit in exchange for Dan Maloney and this pick.
- The Washington Capitals' second round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 11, 1980, that sent Mike Palmateer and the 55th overall pick in exchange for Tim Coulis, Robert Picard and this pick.
- The Edmonton Oilers' second round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 13, 1979, that sent Dave Lumley and Dan Newman to Edmonton in exchange for this pick.
- The Vancouver Canucks' second round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on June 16, 1978, that sent the rights to Thomas Gradin to Vancouver in exchange for this pick. Chicago had the option of the 2nd-rd pick in 1979 or 1980 NHL Entry Draft.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins' second round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on October 9, 1978, that sent Dale Tallon to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
- The Los Angeles Kings' second round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 16, 1979, that sent Richard Mulhern and the 34th overall pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Bob Murdoch and this pick.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs' second round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 10, 1980, that sent David Shand and the 55th overall pick to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
- The St. Louis Blues' second round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on January 14, 1978, that sent Neil Komadoski to St. Louis in exchange for this pick.
- The Calgary Flames' second round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on June 16, 1979, that sent Bob Murdoch and the 31st overall pick to Toronto in exchange for Richard Mulhern and this pick.
- The Boston Bruins' second round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 2, 1980, that sent Jim Craig to Boston in exchange for the third round pick in 1981 and this pick.
Round three