Location: Montreal Forum (Montreal, QC) Dates: June 10, 1981 First Overall Pick: Dale Hawerchuk (Winnipeg Jets)Players with NHL Experience: 114
The 1981 NHL entry draft was the 19th NHL entry draft. It was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The National Hockey League (NHL) teams selected 211 players eligible for entry into professional ranks, in the reverse order of the 1980–81 NHL season and playoff standings. This is the list of those players selected.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Chris Chelios , who retired after the 2009–10 season.
Biggest Steals of the 1981 NHL Draft
Dave Hannan (Pittsburgh Penguins – 196th Overall)
305 points in 841 career games
2-time Stanley Cup winner
Gaetan Duchesne (Washington Capitals – 152nd Overall)
433 points in 1,028 career games
Tom Kurvers (Montreal Canadiens – 145th Overall)
421 points in 659 career games
Biggest Busts of the 1981 NHL Draft
Steve Smith (Philadelphia Flyers – 16th Overall)
1 point in 18 career games
Jan Ingman (Montreal Canadiens – 19th Overall)
Marty Ruff (St. Louis Blues – 20th Overall)
1981 NHL Draft Selections by Round
Round 1
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 1 C Dale Hawerchuk Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 2 C Doug Smith Ottawa 67’s (OHL) 3 C Bob Carpenter St. John’s Prep (High-MA) 4 C Ron Francis Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 5 D Joe Cirella Oshawa Generals (OHL) 6 D Jim Benning Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 7 RW Mark Hunter Brantford Alexanders (OHL) 8 G Grant Fuhr Victoria Cougars (WHL) 9 D James Patrick Prince Albert (SJHL) 10 D Garth Butcher Regina Pats (WHL) 11 D Randy Moller Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 12 RW Tony Tanti Oshawa Generals (OHL) 13 D Ron Meighan Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 14 LW Normand Leveille Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 15 D Al MacInnis Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 16 D Steve Smith Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 17 RW Jiri Dudacek TJ Kladno (Czechoslovakia) 18 D Gilbert Delorme Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 19 LW Jan Ingman Farjestad BK (Sweden) 20 D Marty Ruff Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 21 D Paul Boutilier Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
Dale Hawerchuk, Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 2
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 22 LW Scott Arniel Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 23 C Claude Loiselle Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 24 C Gary Yaremchuk Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 25 LW Kevin Griffin Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 26 RW Rich Chernomaz Victoria Cougars (WHL) 27 C Dave Donnelly St. Albert (AJHL) 28 RW Steve Gatzos Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 29 LW Todd Strueby Regina Pats (WHL) 30 LW Jan Erixon Skelleftea AIK (Sweden) 31 G Mike Sands Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 32 G Lars Eriksson Brynas IF (Sweden) 33 D Tom Hirsch Patrick Henry HS (High-MN) 34 RW Dave Preuss St. Thomas Academy (High-MN) 35 LW Luc Dufour Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 36 D Hakan Nordin Farjestad BK (Sweden) 37 C Rich Costello Natick HS (High-MA) 38 D Hannu Virta TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.) 39 D Dean Kennedy Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 40 D Chris Chelios Moose Jaw (SJHL) 41 C Jali Wahlsten TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.) 42 D Gord Dineen Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
Chris Chelios #7 of the Chicago Blackhawks controls the puck against the Minnesota North Stars/Wild during the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Alumni game on February 20, 2016 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Kluckhohn/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 3
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 43 D Jyrki Seppa Ilves (Finland) 44 G Corrado Micalef Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) 45 D Eric Calder Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 46 LW Dieter Hegen ESV Kaufbeuren (Germany) 47 LW Barry Tabobondung Oshawa Generals (OHL) 48 D Uli Hiemer EV Fussen (Germany) 49 D Tom Thornbury Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 50 LW Peter Sundstrom IF Bjorkloven (Sweden) 51 C Mark Morrison Victoria Cougars (WHL) 52 RW Jean-Marc Lanthier Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) 53 RW Jean-Marc Gaulin Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) 54 D Darrel Anholt Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 55 C Ernie Godden Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 56 G Mike Vernon Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 57 LW Ron Handy Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 58 LW Ken Strong Peterborough Petes (OHL) 59 LW Jim Aldred Kingston Canadians (OHL) 60 D Colin Chisholm Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 61 RW Paul MacDermid Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 62 D Gord Donnelly Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) 63 RW Neal Coulter Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
Mike Vernon, Calgary Flames, Dec. 11, 1993 (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
Round 4
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 64 C Kirk McCaskill Vermont (ECAC) 65 LW Dave Michayluk Regina Pats (WHL) 66 C Gus Greco Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 67 LW Mike Hoffman Brantford Alexanders (OHL) 68 D Tony Kellin Grand Rapids HS (High-MN) 69 C Terry Tait Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 70 D Norm Schmidt Oshawa Generals (OHL) 71 RW Paul Houck Kelowna (BCJHL) 72 G John Vanbiesbrouck Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 73 G Wendell Young Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 74 G Clint Malarchuk Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 75 RW Perry Pelensky Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 76 C Jim Malwitz Grand Rapids HS (High-MN) 77 RW Scott McLellan Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 78 C Peter Madach HV71 (Sweden-2) 79 RW Ken Latta Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 80 RW Jeff Eatough Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 81 C Marty Dallman RPI (ECAC) 82 RW Kjell Dahlin Timra IK (Sweden-2) 83 LW Anders Wikberg Timra IK (Sweden-2) 84 G Todd Lumbard Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
John Vanbiesbrouck, Florida Panthers (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 5
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 85 G Marc Behrend Wisconsin (WCHA) 86 D Larry Trader London Knights (OHL) 87 D Doug Speck Peterborough Petes (OHL) 88 LW Steve Rooney Canton HS (High-MA) 89 RW Mike Siltala Kingston Canadians (OHL) 90 LW Normand Lefrancois Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) 91 G Peter Sidorkiewicz Oshawa Generals (OHL) 92 LW Phil Drouillard Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 93 D Bill Maguire Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 94 C Jacques Sylvestre Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) 95 RW Edward Lee Princeton (ECAC) 96 G Doug Chessell London Knights (OHL) 97 D Kelly Hubbard Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 98 G Joe Mantione Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 99 RW Mario Simioni Toronto Marlboros (OHL) 100 C Justin Hanley Kingston Canadians (OHL) 101 C Mauri Eivola TPS (Finland) 102 C Barry Brigley Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 103 LW Dan Bourbonnais Calgary Wranglers (WHL) 104 C Mike Hickey Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 105 LW Moe Lemay Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Round 6
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 106 G Bob O’Connor Boston College (ECAC) 107 LW Gerard Gallant Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) 108 D Bruce Driver Wisconsin (WCHA) 109 D Paul Edwards Oshawa Generals (OHL) 110 C Jim McGeough Billings Bighorns (WHL) 111 D Steve Smith London Knights (OHL) 112 D Rod Buskas Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 113 RW/C Marc Habscheid Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 114 C Eric Magnuson RPI (ECAC) 115 RW Stu Kulak Victoria Cougars (WHL) 116 C/LW Mike Eagles Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 117 D Bill Schafhauser Northern Michigan (CCHA) 118 RW Paul Guay Mount St. Charles Academy (High-RI) 119 D Bruce Milton Boston University (ECAC) 120 RW Todd Hooey Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 121 D Andre Villeneuve Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 122 D/LW Ali Butorac Ottawa 67’s (OHL) 123 D Brad Thompson London Knights (OHL) 124 RW Tom Anastos Paddock Pool (GLJHL) 125 G Peter Aslin AIK (Sweden) 126 C Chuck Brimmer Kingston Canadians (OHL)
Gerard Gallant #17 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Montreal Canadiens in the 1990’s at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Denis Brodeur/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 7
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 127 C Peter Nilsson Hammarby IF (Sweden-2) 128 G Greg Stefan Oshawa Generals (OHL) 129 LW Jeff Larmer Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 130 D John Mokosak Victoria Cougars (WHL) 131 C Risto Jalo Ilves (Finland) 132 D Andrew Wright Peterborough Petes (OHL) 133 RW Geoff Wilson Winnipeg Warriors (WHL) 134 D Craig Hurley Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 135 D Mike Guentzel Greenway HS (High-MN) 136 D Bruce Holloway Regina Pats (WHL) 137 RW Vladimir Svitek HC Kosice (Czechoslovakia) 138 C/RW Marc Centrone Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 139 RW Jim Archibald Moose Jaw (SJHL) 140 D Mats Thelin AIK (Sweden) 141 D Rick Heppner Mounds View HS (High-MN) 142 G Gil Hudon Prince Albert (SJHL) 143 D Heikki Leime TPS (Finland) 144 D Peter Sawkins St. Paul Academy (High-MN) 145 D Tom Kurvers Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) 146 C Erik Holmberg Sodertalje SK Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 147 RW Teppo Virta TPS (Finland)
Tom Kurvers (Courtesy of Tom Kurvers)
Round 8
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 148 D Dan McFall Buffalo (NYPJHL) 149 D Rick Zombo Austin Mavericks (USHL) 150 LW Tony Arima Jokerit (Finland) 151 RW Denis Dore Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 152 LW Gaetan Duchesne Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 153 D Richard Turmel Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 154 C Mitch Lamoureux Oshawa Generals (OHL) 155 D Mike Sturgeon Kelowna (BCJHL) 156 RW Ari Lahtenmaki HIFK (Finland) 157 RW Petri Skriko SaiPa (Finland) 158 RW Andre Cote Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 159 LW Johan Mellstrom Falu IF (Sweden-2) 160 C Kari Kanervo TPS (Finland) 161 D Armel Parisee Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 162 D Dale DeGray Oshawa Generals (OHL) 163 LW Steve Taylor Providence (ECAC) 164 C Gates Orlando Providence (ECAC) 165 LW Dan Brennan North Dakota (WCHA) 166 RW Paul Gess Bloomington Jefferson HS (High-MN) 167 D Alain Vigneault Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL) 168 D Bill Dowd Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Alain Vigneault, Philadelphia Flyers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Round 9
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 169 G Greg Dick St. Mary’s (MIAC) 170 LW Don Leblanc Toronto Marlboros (OHL) 171 C Tim Army East Providence HS (High-RI) 172 G Jeff Poeschl Northern Michigan (CCHA) 173 LW George White New Hampshire (ECAC) 174 D Greg Barber Victoria Cougars (WHL) 175 LW Dean Defazio Brantford Alexanders (OHL) 176 D Miloslav Horava TJ Kladno (Czechoslovakia) 177 C Paul Reifenberger Anoka HS (High-MN) 178 G Frank Caprice London Knights (OHL) 179 RW Marc Brisebois Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) 180 LW John Benns Billings Bighorns (WHL) 181 RW Scott Bjugstad Minnesota (WCHA) 182 G Don Sylvestri Clarkson (ECAC) 183 D George Boudreau Matignon HS (High-MA) 184 C Len Hachborn Brantford Alexanders (OHL) 185 D Venci Sebek Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL) 186 D Allan Tuer Regina Pats (WHL) 187 D Scott Ferguson Edina West HS (High-MN) 188 RW Dan Wood Kingston Canadians (OHL) 189 RW Scott MacLellan Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
Round 10
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 190 D Vladimir Kadlec TJ Vitkovice (Czechoslovakia) 191 D Robert Nordmark Vastra Frolunda IF (Sweden) 192 C John Johannson Wisconsin (WCHA) 193 C Larry Power Kitchener (MWJHL) 194 C Chris Valentine Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) 195 LW Marc Magnan Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) 196 C Dave Hannan Brantford Alexanders (OHL) 197 C Gord Sherven Weyburn (SJHL) 198 G Mario Proulx Providence (ECAC) 199 C Rejean Vignola Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 200 G Kari Takko Assat (Finland) 201 D Sylvain Roy Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 202 G Steve Kudebeh Breck School (High-MN) 203 LW Richard Bourque Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) 204 C Bruce Eakin Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 205 C Steve Tsujiura Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 206 RW Warren Harper Prince Albert (SJHL) 207 LW Jeff Baikie Cornell (ECAC) 208 G Danny Burrows Belleville Bulls (OPJAHL) 209 RW Richard Zemlak Spokane Flyers (WHL) 210 RW Dave Randerson Stratford (MWJHL)
Round 11
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 211 D Dave Kirwin Irondale HS (High-MN)