1981 NHL entry draft
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was the 19th annual selection of amateur ice hockey players by teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), held on June 10, 1981, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec.[1] Eligible players included all amateurs born between January 1, 1961, and September 15, 1963, with draft order primarily determined by the reverse finishing positions from the 1980–81 NHL season, subject to trades.[1] The event marked a significant moment for the league, as it introduced a clear consensus top prospect and produced multiple future Hockey Hall of Famers who would dominate the sport for decades.[2] The Winnipeg Jets held the first overall pick after finishing last in the league standings and selected center Dale Hawerchuk from the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), who went on to become a franchise cornerstone with 1,409 points over 1,188 NHL games and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.[2][3][4] Subsequent high selections included center Doug Smith (2nd overall, Los Angeles Kings), center Bobby Carpenter (3rd overall, Washington Capitals), center Ron Francis (4th overall, Hartford Whalers), and defenseman Joe Cirella (5th overall, Colorado Rockies), highlighting a draft rich in offensive talent early on.[2] The draft spanned 11 rounds and 211 selections, with a record 18 high school players chosen, alongside increased picks from Canadian junior leagues and early European prospects.[1] Beyond the top picks, the 1981 draft is renowned for its depth and long-term impact, yielding several Hall of Famers in later rounds. Edmonton Oilers selected goaltender Grant Fuhr 8th overall, who amassed 403 wins and five Stanley Cups before his 2003 Hall of Fame induction.[2][5] Calgary Flames took defenseman Al MacInnis 15th overall, a future Conn Smythe Trophy winner and 2007 Hall of Famer with 1,274 points in 1,416 games.[2][6] Montreal Canadiens drafted defenseman Chris Chelios 40th overall, who earned three Norris Trophies and was enshrined in 2013 after a 26-year career totaling 948 points.[2][7] Additionally, Calgary chose goaltender Mike Vernon 56th overall, who won two Stanley Cups and was inducted in 2023 with 385 victories.[2][8] These selections underscored the draft's legacy in building championship cores for teams like the Oilers and Flames during the 1980s dynasty era. The draft also featured a notable controversy surrounding Bobby Carpenter's selection; despite being projected for the Hartford Whalers at 4th overall, Washington selected him 3rd, prompting a protest from his father that highlighted tensions in scouting and amateur eligibility rules at the time.[1] Overall, the 1981 entry draft exemplified the NHL's growing emphasis on junior and international talent, setting the stage for a transformative decade in the league's history.[2]Overview
Event Details
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 10, 1981, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.[1][9] This event featured all 21 National Hockey League teams, a roster that had been finalized two years earlier through the merger with the World Hockey Association in 1979, which integrated four new franchises into the league.[10] The draft process allowed these teams to continue building their rosters from the amateur player pool, marking an important phase in the league's post-merger stabilization and expansion.[10] A total of 211 players were selected over 11 rounds during the proceedings.[2][11] NHL President John Ziegler presided over the draft, guiding the selection process as the league emphasized youth infusion into its teams.[12]Draft Order and Statistics
The selection order for the 1981 NHL Entry Draft was determined by the inverse of the teams' regular-season standings from the 1980–81 NHL season, with no draft lottery in place as that system was introduced later in 1995.[13] The Winnipeg Jets secured the first overall pick after finishing with the league's worst record of 9 wins, 57 losses, and 14 ties.[14] The first round consisted of 21 picks, distributed among the 21 NHL teams according to this reverse-order format, accounting for any prior trades of draft selections. The teams and their positions were as follows:| Pick | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | Winnipeg Jets |
| 2 | Los Angeles Kings |
| 3 | Washington Capitals |
| 4 | Hartford Whalers |
| 5 | Colorado Rockies |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 7 | Montréal Canadiens |
| 8 | Edmonton Oilers |
| 9 | New York Rangers |
| 10 | Vancouver Canucks |
| 11 | Québec Nordiques |
| 12 | Chicago Black Hawks |
| 13 | Minnesota North Stars |
| 14 | Boston Bruins |
| 15 | Calgary Flames |
| 16 | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 17 | Buffalo Sabres |
| 18 | Montréal Canadiens (from NY Islanders via Vancouver) |
| 19 | Montréal Canadiens (from Vancouver via NY Islanders) |
| 20 | St. Louis Blues |
| 21 | New York Islanders |
Background
1980–81 NHL Season Context
The 1979 merger between the National Hockey League (NHL) and the World Hockey Association (WHA) profoundly reshaped the league's structure just prior to the 1980–81 season. On March 30, 1979, four WHA franchises—the Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets—were admitted to the NHL, expanding the league from 17 to 21 teams for the 1979–80 campaign. This integration required an expansion draft in June 1979, where each existing NHL club protected up to 15 skaters and two goalkeepers, allowing the new teams to select from the remaining pool to build their rosters. The merger not only introduced fresh markets but also altered draft dynamics by increasing the number of teams vying for amateur talent, while the influx of former WHA players temporarily diluted the NHL's overall competitive depth and prompted adjustments to eligibility rules to broaden the amateur pool.[10] The 1980–81 season standings reflected these post-merger imbalances, with the expanded league divided into four divisions—Adams, Norris, Patrick, and Smythe—each feeding into the Wales and Campbell Conferences. The Winnipeg Jets struggled severely, posting the NHL's worst record at 9–57–14 for 32 points, finishing last in the Smythe Division and out of playoff contention; their poor performance stemmed from a thin roster and a franchise- and NHL-record 30-game winless streak (0–23–7) spanning from mid-October to late December. At the opposite end, the New York Islanders asserted dominance in the Patrick Division with a 48–18–14 mark, earning 110 points and capturing their second consecutive Stanley Cup by defeating the Minnesota North Stars 4–1 in the finals. This disparity highlighted how the merger's talent redistribution favored established teams, setting up the draft order in reverse finishing position to aid rebuilding efforts.[14][17][18] Financially, the NHL grappled with ongoing challenges in the wake of the merger, including elevated player salaries inherited from WHA contracts and operational costs for the additional franchises, which strained league-wide revenues despite a modest uptick in fan interest. Total regular-season attendance reached 10,726,198 across 840 games, averaging 12,766 spectators per contest—a slight rise from 10,533,623 (12,539 average) in 1979–80—but many expansion teams, like the Jets and Whalers, drew below league norms amid perceptions of diluted on-ice quality. The 1981 entry draft was positioned as a vital mechanism for talent infusion, aiming to bolster struggling clubs and restore competitive parity to counteract these economic pressures.[19][20] Draft rules for 1981 emphasized North American amateurs, with eligibility restricted to players born between January 1, 1961, and September 15, 1963, who had not yet signed professional contracts; this primarily targeted juniors from leagues like the Ontario Hockey Association and Western Hockey League, as well as U.S. college and high school prospects. European scouting was nascent and limited, as NHL teams lacked extensive international networks and prioritized domestic talent, leading to only a handful of overseas players selected despite their amateur status under the rules. This North America-centric approach, unchanged since the merger-era eligibility tweaks, underscored the league's focus on familiar developmental pipelines amid its expansion pains.[21][22]Key Prospects and Pre-Draft Buzz
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was preceded by considerable excitement surrounding a deep crop of North American prospects, particularly from Canada's major junior leagues, where offensive talents dominated scouting discussions. Center Dale Hawerchuk of the Cornwall Royals in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) emerged as the consensus top prospect after a dominant 1980-81 season, in which he led the league with 81 goals and 102 assists for 183 points in 72 games, earning the Jean Béliveau Trophy as the QMJHL's leading scorer. Scouting reports emphasized Hawerchuk's versatile two-way game, praising his explosive skating, precise playmaking, and defensive reliability, which positioned him as a franchise cornerstone.[23] His performance also included leading the Royals to the Memorial Cup, further solidifying his status as the draft's premier talent.[24] Goaltender Grant Fuhr of the Victoria Cougars in the Western Hockey League (WHL) generated significant buzz as one of the few elite netminders available, anchoring a high-powered offense to the WHL championship. In 59 games during 1980-81, Fuhr recorded a 2.78 goals-against average and .908 save percentage while winning 48 contests, the second-most in league history at the time, and earning WHL First Team All-Star honors.[25] Scouts highlighted his poise under pressure and quick reflexes, marking him as a rare first-round goaltending option in an era when such selections were uncommon.[2] Additional pre-draft hype focused on center Ron Francis of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and defenseman Al MacInnis of the Kitchener Rangers, also in the OHL. Francis contributed 26 goals and 43 assists for 69 points in 64 games, drawing praise for his 6-foot-3 frame, hockey IQ, and faceoff prowess. MacInnis, meanwhile, tallied 11 goals and 28 assists for 39 points in 47 games as a 17-year-old, with evaluators noting his cannon-like slapshot and emerging offensive instincts from the blue line.[26] Pre-draft evaluations, including those from The Hockey News, ranked Hawerchuk first overall, with Francis fifth and MacInnis twelfth among all prospects.[27][28] European scouting efforts showed progress but remained constrained by political barriers, resulting in minimal attention to top talents like Peter Šťastný, who had defected from Czechoslovakia in 1980 and signed directly with the Quebec Nordiques as a free agent, bypassing the draft. Despite these gaps, NHL teams selected a then-record 33 players from Europe, primarily Swedes and Finns playing in domestic leagues, signaling growing interest in international talent.[1][15]Draft Process
Selection Mechanics
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft adhered to the league's established eligibility criteria for amateur players, primarily targeting North American talent aged 20 or younger. Specifically, players born between January 1, 1961, and September 15, 1963, qualified for selection, encompassing juniors from major leagues like the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Western Hockey League (WHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), as well as college and high school prospects.[1] European players faced separate considerations, often involving special claims or negotiations due to international transfer restrictions; for instance, a special lottery draft on May 28, 1981, allocated certain Czechoslovakian players like Ivan Hlinka and Jiří Bubla prior to the main entry draft, while several others, including Jiří Dudáček (17th overall by Buffalo), were selected in the first round through a targeted process that allowed NHL teams to draft talent directly from overseas leagues like HC Kladno.[2][29] The draft proceeded over 11 rounds, with each of the 21 NHL teams initially receiving one pick per round, determined by reverse order of the 1980–81 season standings (with playoff performance influencing tiebreakers). This structure yielded 21 selections per round at the outset, totaling 231 picks, though some teams passed or traded away rights, resulting in 211 players chosen overall. Trades were permitted at any point during the proceedings, including mid-round, enabling teams to swap current and future picks to reposition themselves—for example, the Washington Capitals traded their fifth-overall pick plus their 26th-overall (second-round) pick to the Colorado Rockies to acquire the third-overall pick in the first round and select center Bobby Carpenter from the U.S. high school ranks.[1][30] Other intra-draft exchanges included the Chicago Black Hawks acquiring the Hartford Whalers' second-round pick (25th overall) in exchange for a 1982 second-rounder.[1] Post-draft, teams gained exclusive rights to negotiate with their selections and could extend contract offers immediately. Underage players (those under 20) who signed entry-level deals but failed to secure an NHL roster spot were obligated to report to their major-junior affiliates for the 1981–82 season, remaining available to their NHL club only for emergency recalls.[1] Drafted players generally had one year to finalize a contract with their selecting team; failure to do so allowed them to re-enter the eligibility pool for the subsequent draft. A distinctive rule for 1981 eliminated any supplemental process for juniors who turned professional early, folding all such cases into the primary entry draft without additional selection opportunities.Proceedings and Highlights
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 10 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, serving as a pivotal event for teams looking to rebuild through amateur talent.[2] The proceedings unfolded over a single day, with all 11 rounds completed by the evening, under the direction of NHL Commissioner John Ziegler, who announced the selections amid a focused gathering of team executives and scouts.[11] The draft commenced with the Winnipeg Jets holding the first overall pick, selecting center Dale Hawerchuk from the Cornwall Royals of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. As the league's worst team from the previous season, the Jets viewed Hawerchuk—widely regarded as the top junior prospect—as a cornerstone acquisition that injected immediate optimism and excitement into the young expansion franchise, signaling a brighter future for both the team and its passionate fanbase.[31] A significant trade shaped the early selections when the Washington Capitals acquired the Colorado Rockies' third overall pick in exchange for their own fifth- and 26th-overall choices, enabling Washington to draft hometown forward Bobby Carpenter and adding intrigue to the first round.[30] The Hartford Whalers' selection of center Ron Francis fourth overall aligned with pre-draft expectations favoring top forwards, while the draft also featured early nods to international talent with 12 Finnish players chosen across various rounds, including goaltender Kari Takko taken 52nd overall by the Minnesota North Stars, reflecting growing NHL interest in European prospects.[11][32]Selections
Round One
The first round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 10, 1981, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, consisted of 21 selections, reflecting the league's expansion to 21 teams that year. This round featured a strong class of forwards and defensemen, with only one goaltender selected, underscoring the typical scarcity of top netminders in early draft rounds. The draft order was primarily determined by reverse standings from the 1980–81 season, with adjustments for trades.[15] Trades significantly influenced the top selections. The Los Angeles Kings acquired the Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick (second overall) as part of an August 22, 1979, transaction that sent forward Dale McCourt to Detroit in exchange for goaltender Rogie Vachon and the picks. Additionally, the Washington Capitals traded up from the fifth spot by sending their first-round pick (fifth overall) and second-round pick (26th overall) to the Colorado Rockies for the third overall selection and the Rockies' third-round pick (45th overall), enabling them to draft a highly touted American prospect.[30][2] The following table lists all first-round selections, including pick number, drafting team, player name, position, nationality, and amateur club with league:| Pick | Team | Player | Pos. | Nationality | Amateur Club (League) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winnipeg Jets | Dale Hawerchuk | C | Canada | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 2 | Los Angeles Kings | Doug Smith | C | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 3 | Washington Capitals | Bobby Carpenter | C | United States | St. John's Prep (Mass. HS) |
| 4 | Hartford Whalers | Ron Francis | C | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 5 | Colorado Rockies | Joe Cirella | D | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 6 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Jim Benning | D | Canada | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 7 | Montreal Canadiens | Mark Hunter | RW | Canada | Brantford Alexanders (OHL) |
| 8 | Edmonton Oilers | Grant Fuhr | G | Canada | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 9 | New York Rangers | James Patrick | D | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL) |
| 10 | Vancouver Canucks | Garth Butcher | D | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 11 | Quebec Nordiques | Randy Moller | D | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 12 | Chicago Black Hawks | Tony Tanti | RW | Canada | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 13 | Minnesota North Stars | Ron Meighan | D | Canada | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) |
| 14 | Boston Bruins | Normand Leveille | LW | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 15 | Calgary Flames | Al MacInnis | D | Canada | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) |
| 16 | Philadelphia Flyers | Steve Smith | D | Canada | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 17 | Buffalo Sabres | Jiri Dudacek | RW | Czechoslovakia | Kladno (Czech) |
| 18 | Montreal Canadiens | Gilbert Delorme | D | Canada | Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) |
| 19 | Montreal Canadiens | Jan Ingman | LW | Sweden | Farjestads BK Karlstad (SEL) |
| 20 | St. Louis Blues | Marty Ruff | D | Canada | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 21 | New York Islanders | Paul Boutilier | D | Canada | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
Rounds Two Through Seven
The second round of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, encompassing picks 22 through 42, saw teams prioritizing defensive depth and goaltending prospects amid a league-wide emphasis on building rosters beyond top-line forwards. Notable selections included American defenseman Chris Chelios, taken 40th overall by the Montréal Canadiens from the Moose Jaw Canucks of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL), who would later excel at the University of Wisconsin before a Hall of Fame career.[35] Swedish forward Jan Erixon, selected 30th by the New York Rangers from Skellefteå AIK of Sweden's Elitserien, represented the growing interest in European talent, as scouts increasingly targeted skilled players from overseas leagues to diversify amateur pipelines.[15] Finnish defenseman Hannu Virta, picked 38th by the Buffalo Sabres from TPS Turku of Finland's SM-liiga, further highlighted this trend, with teams like the Sabres and Rangers using mid-round assets to scout international depth.[11] Rounds three through five shifted toward goaltenders and versatile forwards, reflecting strategic moves to address immediate organizational needs in net and on the wings. The Calgary Flames selected goaltender Mike Vernon 56th overall in the third round from the Calgary Wranglers of the Western Hockey League (WHL), a local prospect who would anchor their goaltending for over a decade.[36] In the fourth round, the New York Rangers chose American goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck 72nd overall from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), a pick that underscored the value of junior league standouts for long-term crease stability.[37] Canadian defenseman Dean Kennedy, taken 39th in the second round (but often grouped in mid-round analyses for his immediate impact) by the Los Angeles Kings from the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL), exemplified teams' focus on physical, two-way blueliners to bolster penalty-kill units.[38] Trades during these rounds, such as the Washington Capitals acquiring additional picks to target American talent, allowed for flexible scouting of college-bound players like those from U.S. universities.[30] In rounds six and seven (picks 109–126 and 127–147, respectively), selections leaned heavily toward developmental prospects from collegiate and major junior leagues, with an uptick in American and European draftees signaling broader scouting networks. The Colorado Rockies picked defenseman Bruce Driver 108th overall from the University of Wisconsin (WCHA), a college route that became more prominent as teams invested in educated, mature blueliners.[39] Edmonton's selection of defenseman Steve Smith 111th from the London Knights (OHL) added physical depth to their emerging dynasty core.[40] European representation grew, with 33 total overseas players drafted across the event, many in these rounds from leagues like Sweden's Elitserien and Finland's SM-liiga, as teams like the St. Louis Blues and New York Islanders sought cost-effective international options.[1] The Montréal Canadiens closed the section with defenseman Tom Kurvers 145th from the University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA), highlighting the strategic pivot toward U.S. college hockey for high-IQ defenders.[41] Overall, rounds two through seven yielded solid contributors who emphasized depth over stardom, with approximately 54% of all 1981 draftees eventually playing in the NHL, many from these mid-rounds providing longevity in roles like goaltending and defense.[11] Team strategies often involved trading lower picks for higher mid-round assets, fostering a balanced approach to roster construction.Key Selections from Rounds 2–7
| Overall Pick | Round | Team | Player | Nationality | Position | Amateur Club/League |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 2 | New York Rangers | Jan Erixon | Sweden | F | Skellefteå AIK (Elitserien) |
| 38 | 2 | Buffalo Sabres | Hannu Virta | Finland | D | TPS Turku (SM-liiga) |
| 39 | 2 | Los Angeles Kings | Dean Kennedy | Canada | D | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 40 | 2 | Montréal Canadiens | Chris Chelios | USA | D | Moose Jaw Canucks (SJHL) |
| 56 | 3 | Calgary Flames | Mike Vernon | Canada | G | Calgary Wranglers (WHL) |
| 72 | 4 | New York Rangers | John Vanbiesbrouck | USA | G | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 108 | 6 | Colorado Rockies | Bruce Driver | Canada | D | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 111 | 6 | Edmonton Oilers | Steve Smith | Canada | D | London Knights (OHL) |
| 145 | 7 | Montréal Canadiens | Tom Kurvers | USA | D | University of Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) |
Rounds Eight Through Eleven
The later rounds of the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, spanning picks 148 through 211, reflected a broader scouting net as teams sought depth and developmental prospects, with increasing emphasis on international talent from Europe. These selections often targeted players from junior leagues, universities, and overseas circuits who were viewed as long-shot contributors rather than immediate assets. Hidden gems emerged here, such as Gaetan Duchesne, selected 152nd overall by the Washington Capitals from the Quebec Remparts (QMJHL), who went on to play 1,028 NHL games as a reliable two-way forward. Similarly, Dave Hannan, picked 196th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins from the Brantford Alexanders (OHL), enjoyed a 17-year NHL career with 841 games, primarily as a defensive specialist.[42] Other notable late-round successes included Petri Skriko (157th overall, Vancouver Canucks, SaiPa Lappeenranta, Finland), who tallied 541 NHL games as a gritty winger. These rounds showcased greater diversity in amateur backgrounds, with several picks from Finnish, Swedish, and Czechoslovakian leagues signaling the NHL's growing interest in European players amid the league's expansion-era talent search. For instance, the New York Rangers selected Ari Lahteenmaki (156th overall) from HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga, Finland), while the Edmonton Oilers took Miloslav Horava (176th overall) from Poldi Kladno (Czechoslovakia). Many draftees in these rounds did not sign professional contracts immediately, opting to return to junior hockey or college for further development, which was common for late selections with uncertain NHL trajectories.[11] Data from the draft indicates that of the 64 players selected in rounds eight through eleven, 18 (approximately 28%) appeared in at least one NHL regular-season game, underscoring the low probability of success for tail-end picks despite occasional breakthroughs.[2]Round Eight
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Nationality | Amateur Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 148 | Winnipeg Jets | Dan McFall | D | USA | Buffalo Jr. Sabres (NYPJHL) |
| 149 | Detroit Red Wings | Rick Zombo | D | USA | Austin Mavericks (USHL) |
| 150 | Colorado Rockies | Tony Arima | F | FIN | Jokerit Helsinki (SM-liiga) |
| 151 | Hartford Whalers | Denis Dore | F | CAN | Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) |
| 152 | Washington Capitals | Gaetan Duchesne | LW | CAN | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 153 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Richard Turmel | D | CAN | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 154 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Mitch Lamoureux | C | CAN | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 155 | Edmonton Oilers | Mike Sturgeon | D | CAN | Kelowna Buckaroos (BCJHL) |
| 156 | New York Rangers | Ari Lahteenmaki | F | FIN | HIFK Helsinki (SM-liiga) |
| 157 | Vancouver Canucks | Petri Skriko | RW | FIN | SaiPa Lappeenranta (FinD1) |
| 158 | Quebec Nordiques | Andre Cote | F | CAN | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 159 | Chicago Black Hawks | Johan Mellstrom | F | SWE | Falun (Sweden) |
| 160 | Minnesota North Stars | Kari Kanervo | F | FIN | TPS Turku (SM-liiga) |
| 161 | Boston Bruins | Armel Parisee | F | CAN | Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) |
| 162 | Calgary Flames | Dale DeGray | D | CAN | Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
| 163 | Philadelphia Flyers | Steve Taylor | F | USA | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 164 | Buffalo Sabres | Gates Orlando | F | USA | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 165 | Los Angeles Kings | Dan Brennan | F | USA | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 166 | Montreal Canadiens | Paul Gess | F | USA | Bloomington Jefferson H.S. (Minn.) |
| 167 | St. Louis Blues | Alain Vigneault | D | CAN | Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 168 | New York Islanders | Bill Dowd | D | CAN | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
Round Nine
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Nationality | Amateur Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 169 | Winnipeg Jets | Greg Dick | F | USA | St. Mary's University Minnesota (MIAC) |
| 170 | Detroit Red Wings | Don Leblanc | LW | CAN | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) |
| 171 | Colorado Rockies | Tim Army | F | USA | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 172 | Hartford Whalers | Jeff Poeschl | G | USA | Northern Michigan University (CCHA) |
| 173 | Washington Capitals | George White | F | USA | University of New Hampshire (ECAC) |
| 174 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Greg Barber | D | CAN | Victoria Cougars (WHL) |
| 175 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Dean DeFazio | F | CAN | Brantford Alexanders (OHL) |
| 176 | Edmonton Oilers | Miloslav Horava | D | TCH | Poldi Kladno (Czech.) |
| 177 | New York Rangers | Paul Reifenberger | LW | USA | Anoka H.S. (Minn.) |
| 178 | Vancouver Canucks | Frank Caprice | G | CAN | London Knights (OHL) |
| 179 | Quebec Nordiques | Marc Brisebois | F | CAN | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
| 180 | Chicago Black Hawks | John Benns | LW | CAN | Billings Bighorns (WHL) |
| 181 | Minnesota North Stars | Scott Bjugstad | RW | USA | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 182 | Boston Bruins | Don Sylvestri | G | USA | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 183 | Calgary Flames | George Boudreau | D | USA | Matignon H.S. (Mass.) |
| 184 | Philadelphia Flyers | Len Hachborn | C | CAN | Brantford Alexanders (OHL) |
| 185 | Buffalo Sabres | Venci Sebek | D | TCH | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) |
| 186 | Los Angeles Kings | Al Tuer | D | CAN | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 187 | Montreal Canadiens | Scott Ferguson | D | USA | Edina West H.S. (Minn.) |
| 188 | St. Louis Blues | Dan Wood | RW | CAN | Kingston Canadians (OHL) |
| 189 | New York Islanders | Scott MacLellan | D | CAN | Burlington Cougars (COJHL) |
Round Ten
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Nationality | Amateur Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 190 | Winnipeg Jets | Vladimir Kadlec | D | TCH | Vitkovice (Czech.) |
| 191 | Detroit Red Wings | Robert Nordmark | D | SWE | Lulea HF (SEL) |
| 192 | Colorado Rockies | John Johannson | F | USA | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 193 | Hartford Whalers | Larry Power | C | CAN | Kitchener Jr. B |
| 194 | Washington Capitals | Chris Valentine | F | CAN | Sorel Black Hawks (QMJHL) |
| 195 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Marc Magnan | LW | CAN | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) |
| 196 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Dave Hannan | C | CAN | Brantford Alexanders (OHL) |
| 197 | Edmonton Oilers | Gord Sherven | F | CAN | Weyburn Beavers (SSHL) |
| 198 | New York Rangers | Mario Proulx | G | CAN | Providence College (ECAC) |
| 199 | Vancouver Canucks | Rejean Vignola | F | CAN | Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) |
| 200 | Quebec Nordiques | Kari Takko | G | FIN | Assat Pori (SM-liiga) |
| 201 | Chicago Black Hawks | Sylvain Roy | F | CAN | Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) |
| 202 | Minnesota North Stars | Steve Kudebeh | G | USA | Minneapolis Breck H.S. (Minn.) |
| 203 | Boston Bruins | Richard Bourque | F | CAN | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 204 | Calgary Flames | Bruce Eakin | C | CAN | Saskatoon Blades (WHL) |
| 205 | Philadelphia Flyers | Steve Tsujiura | C | CAN | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 206 | Buffalo Sabres | Warren Harper | RW | CAN | Prince Albert Saints (SJHL) |
| 207 | Los Angeles Kings | Jeff Baikie | W | CAN | Cornell University (ECAC) |
| 208 | Montreal Canadiens | Dan Burrows | G | CAN | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 209 | St. Louis Blues | Richard Zemlak | RW | CAN | Spokane Flyers (WHL) |
| 210 | New York Islanders | Dave Randerson | RW | CAN | Stratford Cullitons (OPJHL) |
Round Eleven
| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Nationality | Amateur Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 211 | Winnipeg Jets | Dave Kirwin | D | USA | Irondale H.S. (Minn.) |
Player Demographics
Nationalities of Draftees
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft showcased a predominantly North American class, with 179 of the 211 total selections originating from the continent—143 from Canada and 36 from the United States—highlighting the continued reliance on domestic talent pipelines. European players accounted for the remaining 32 draftees, representing a notable step in the league's internationalization: 14 Swedes, 12 Finns, 4 Czechoslovakians, and 2 West Germans. This distribution underscored the draft's geographic diversity, though North Americans still comprised over 85% of the class.[15] Canadians overwhelmingly dominated the early rounds, capturing 18 of 21 first-round picks and maintaining a strong presence through the initial selections, which reflected teams' preference for familiar junior league prospects. European selections, by contrast, trended toward later rounds, with four Swedes and two Finns chosen in the first two rounds, while the majority appeared from round three onward—such as multiple Swedish picks in rounds four through seven. This pattern illustrated NHL scouts' cautious expansion into international markets, prioritizing proven North American performers early while experimenting with overseas talent deeper in the draft.[43][2]| Nationality | Number of Draftees |
|---|---|
| Canada | 143 |
| United States | 36 |
| Sweden | 14 |
| Finland | 12 |
| Czechoslovakia | 4 |
| West Germany | 2 |
| Total | 211 |
Amateur Leagues Represented
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft showcased a heavy reliance on Canadian junior hockey as the primary talent pipeline, with the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) supplying the majority of prospects. Of the 211 total selections, 141 players—approximately 67%—hailed from CHL member leagues, highlighting their central role in developing elite amateur talent for the NHL. This dominance reflected the structured, high-competitive environment of Canadian major junior hockey, which produced many of the draft's top performers.[11] The breakdown within the CHL revealed balanced contributions from its three major conferences:| League | Players Drafted | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario Hockey League (OHL) | 67 | 32% |
| Western Hockey League (WHL) | 53 | 25% |
| Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) | 21 | 10% |
| CHL Total | 141 | 67% |