1981–82 Edmonton Oilers season

The 1981–82 Edmonton Oilers season was the Oilers' third season in the NHL. The Oilers dramatically improved on their previous two seasons, as they finished with a franchise record 48 wins and 111 points, winning the Smythe Division for the first time in team history. The Oilers set an NHL record with 417 goals, the first time in NHL history that a team finished with over 400 goals.

1981–82 Edmonton Oilers
Smythe Division champions
Division	1st Smythe
Conference	1st Campbell
1981–82 record	48–17–15
Home record	31–5–4
Road record	17–12–11
Goals for	417 (1st)
Goals against	295 (7th)
Team information
General manager	Glen Sather
Coach	Glen Sather
Captain	Lee Fogolin
Alternate captains	None
Arena	Northlands Coliseum
Average attendance	17,488 (99.99%)
Minor league affiliate(s)	Wichita Wind (CHL)
Team leaders
Goals	Wayne Gretzky (92)
Assists	Wayne Gretzky (120)
Points	Wayne Gretzky (212)
Penalty minutes	Dave Semenko (194)
Plus/minus	Wayne Gretzky ( 81)
Wins	Grant Fuhr (28)
Goals against average	Grant Fuhr (3.31)

Wayne Gretzky continued rewriting the record books, scoring an NHL record 92 goals, which included 50 goals in 39 games, also an NHL record. Gretzky's 212 points was also a record, and it was the first time in NHL history that a player had over 200 points, as he won his third Hart Memorial Trophy and his second Art Ross Trophy.

Mark Messier broke the 50 goal plateau for the first time in his career, while Glenn Anderson got 105 points. Paul Coffey led the defense with 89 points.

In goal, Grant Fuhr became the starting goalie, and would break the Oilers franchise record for wins in a season with 28. He also led the club with a 3.31 GAA and a .898 save percentage.

For the first time in their short NHL history, the Oilers entered the Stanley Cup playoffs as a clear favorite to make a deep postseason run. Going into the playoffs, the Oilers faced the Los Angeles Kings, and after splitting the first 2 games, the Oilers held a 5–0 lead on the Kings heading into the 3rd period of game 3. Los Angeles came back to tie the game 5–5, before completing the comeback with an overtime goal, taking a 2–1 series lead. The game came to be known as the Miracle on Manchester. Edmonton came back to tie the series in game 4, but the Kings eliminated Edmonton in game 5, shocking the hockey world, and ending the Oilers season a lot sooner than expected.

Season standings

Smythe Division

	GP	W	L	T	GF	GA	PTS
Edmonton Oilers	80	48	17	15	417	295	111
Vancouver Canucks	80	30	33	17	290	286	77
Calgary Flames	80	29	34	17	334	345	75
Los Angeles Kings	80	24	41	15	314	369	63
Colorado Rockies	80	18	49	13	241	362	49

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 1981–82 NHL records Team CGY COL EDM LAK VAN Total Calgary — 6−2 2−5−1 4−3−1 3−3−2 15−13−4 Colorado 2−6 — 2−5−1 2−4−2 2−4−2 8−19−5 Edmonton 5−2−1 5−2−1 — 5−1−2 5−2−1 20−7−5 Los Angeles 3−4−1 4−2−2 1−5−2 — 3−2−3 11−13−8 Vancouver 3−3−2 4−2−2 2−5−1 2−3−3 — 11−13−8 Vs. Norris Division 1981–82 NHL records Team CHI DET MIN STL TOR WIN Total Calgary 0−2−1 1−1−1 0−1−2 1−2 1−0−2 1−2 4−8−6 Colorado 2−1 0−3 0−1−2 1−2 0−1−2 1−2 4−10−4 Edmonton 1−1−1 2−0−1 2−0−1 3−0 2−1 2−1 12−3−3 Los Angeles 0−3 2−1 0−2−1 2−1 1−2 0−3 5−12−1 Vancouver 2−1 1−1−1 1−1−1 1−2 2−0−1 2−1 9−6−3 Vs. Wales Conference Vs. Adams Division 1981–82 NHL records Team BOS BUF HFD MTL QUE Total Calgary 1−1−1 2−0−1 2−1 1−2 3−0 9−4−2 Colorado 0−3 0−3 2−0−1 0−2−1 1−2 3−10−2 Edmonton 0−1−2 2−1 2−0−1 0−1−2 1−2 5−5−5 Los Angeles 0−3 1−2 0−2−1 1−2 1−0−2 3−9−3 Vancouver 1−2 1−1−1 2−0−1 1−2 1−1−1 6−6−3 Vs. Patrick Division 1981–82 NHL records Team NYI NYR PHI PIT WSH Total Calgary 0−1−2 0−2−1 0−3 1−0−2 0−3 1−9−5 Colorado 0−2−1 0−2−1 1−2 0−3 2−1 3−10−2 Edmonton 1−1−1 3−0 2−1 3−0 2−0−1 11−2−2 Los Angeles 2−1 1−2 0−2−1 1−1−1 1−1−1 5−7−3 Vancouver 1−2 0−3 2−0–1 0–2−1 1−1−1 4–8–3

Schedule and results

1981–82 Game Log
October: 9–4–0 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 4–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Colorado Rockies 4 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 1–0–0 2 2 October 9 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 6 Vancouver Canucks Moog 13,122 1–1–0 2 3 October 10 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 4 Los Angeles Kings Low 8,839 2–1–0 4 4 October 14 Winnipeg Jets 4 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,430 2–2–0 4 5 October 16 Calgary Flames 4 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 3–2–0 6 6 October 18 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 7 Chicago Black Hawks Moog 12,395 3–3–0 6 7 October 20 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Calgary Flames Low 7,226 4–3–0 8 8 October 21 Hartford Whalers 2 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 5–3–0 10 9 October 23 Pittsburgh Penguins 3 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 6–3–0 12 10 October 24 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 1 Colorado Rockies Low 9,283 7–3–0 14 11 October 27 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 4 New York Islanders Moog 14,863 7–4–0 14 12 October 28 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 New York Rangers Fuhr 17,322 8–4–0 16 13 October 31 Quebec Nordiques 4 – 11 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 9–4–0 18
November: 8–2–3 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 3–1–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 14 November 4 Toronto Maple Leafs 4 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 10–4–0 20 15 November 7 Colorado Rockies 5 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 10–5–0 20 16 November 11 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 4 Hartford Whalers Fuhr 11,101 10–5–1 21 17 November 12 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Boston Bruins Low 10,666 10–6–1 21 18 November 14 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 New York Islanders Fuhr 15,143 10–6–2 22 19 November 15 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 3 New York Rangers Fuhr 17,418 11–6–2 24 20 November 17 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 1 St. Louis Blues Low 15,229 12–6–2 26 21 November 19 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 2 Minnesota North Stars Fuhr 15,784 12–6–3 27 22 November 21 Vancouver Canucks 3 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 13–6–3 29 23 November 23 Detroit Red Wings 4 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 14–6–3 31 24 November 25 Los Angeles Kings 4 – 11 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 15–6–3 33 25 November 27 Chicago Black Hawks 1 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 16–6–3 35 26 November 29 Edmonton Oilers 10 – 2 Winnipeg Jets Fuhr 15,756 17–6–3 37
December: 8–3–3 (Home: 6–1–0; Road: 2–2–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 27 December 1 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Montreal Canadiens Fuhr 18,094 17–6–4 38 28 December 2 Edmonton Oilers 8 – 9 Quebec Nordiques Low 15,230 17–7–4 38 29 December 4 Vancouver Canucks 3 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 18–7–4 40 30 December 5 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Vancouver Canucks Fuhr 15,271 18–7–5 41 31 December 9 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 5 Los Angeles Kings Fuhr 11,259 18–7–6 42 32 December 13 New York Islanders 3 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 19–7–6 44 33 December 16 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 4 Colorado Rockies Low 6,168 20–7–6 46 34 December 17 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 4 Calgary Flames Low 7,226 21–7–6 48 35 December 19 Minnesota North Stars 6 – 9 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 22–7–6 50 36 December 20 Calgary Flames 7 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Moog 17,490 22–8–6 50 37 December 23 Vancouver Canucks 1 – 6 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 23–8–6 52 38 December 27 Los Angeles Kings 3 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 24–8–6 54 39 December 30 Philadelphia Flyers 5 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 25–8–6 56 40 December 31 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 3 Vancouver Canucks Low 16,413 25–9–6 56
January: 8–3–4 (Home: 6–0–1; Road: 2–3–3) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 41 January 2 Boston Bruins 4 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 25–9–7 57 42 January 6 Colorado Rockies 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 26–9–7 59 43 January 9 Calgary Flames 2 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 27–9–7 61 44 January 10 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 5 Calgary Flames Low 7,234 27–10–7 61 45 January 13 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 6 Washington Capitals Fuhr 3,284 27–10–8 62 46 January 14 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 8 Philadelphia Flyers Low 17,147 27–11–8 62 47 January 16 Edmonton Oilers 1 – 7 Toronto Maple Leafs Fuhr 16,360 27–12–8 62 48 January 17 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 4 Detroit Red Wings Fuhr 20,628 27–12–9 63 49 January 20 St. Louis Blues 6 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 28–12–9 65 50 January 22 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 3 Vancouver Canucks Low 16,413 29–12–9 67 51 January 24 Colorado Rockies 4 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 30–12–9 69 52 January 26 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 4 St. Louis Blues Low 17,533 31–12–9 71 53 January 27 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Chicago Black Hawks Fuhr 17,401 31–12–10 72 54 January 29 Buffalo Sabres 1 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 32–12–10 74 55 January 31 Philadelphia Flyers 4 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 33–12–10 76
February: 9–1–1 (Home: 5–1–1; Road: 4–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 56 February 3 Montreal Canadiens 6 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 33–13–10 76 57 February 6 Toronto Maple Leafs 1 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 34–13–10 78 58 February 7 New York Rangers 4 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 35–13–10 80 59 February 12 Washington Capitals 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 36–13–10 82 60 February 14 Boston Bruins 2 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 36–13–11 83 61 February 17 Minnesota North Stars 4 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 37–13–11 85 62 February 19 Hartford Whalers 4 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 38–13–11 87 63 February 21 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 3 Detroit Red Wings Low 20,270 39–13–11 89 64 February 24 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 3 Buffalo Sabres Fuhr 16,433 40–13–11 91 65 February 27 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 1 Pittsburgh Penguins Low 16,033 41–13–11 93 66 February 28 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 1 Washington Capitals Fuhr 18,130 42–13–11 95
March: 5–4–4 (Home: 3–1–2; Road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 67 March 2 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 3 Montreal Canadiens Fuhr 18,101 42–13–12 96 68 March 3 Edmonton Oilers 4 – 6 Quebec Nordiques Low 15,290 42–14–12 96 69 March 6 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 5 Colorado Rockies Fuhr 16,384 42–15–12 96 70 March 10 Edmonton Oilers 2 – 3 Los Angeles Kings Fuhr 16,005 42–16–12 96 71 March 12 Buffalo Sabres 3 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 42–17–12 96 72 March 13 Vancouver Canucks 3 – 5 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 43–17–12 98 73 March 15 Los Angeles Kings 3 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 43–17–13 99 74 March 17 Pittsburgh Penguins 4 – 10 Edmonton Oilers Low 17,490 44–17–13 101 75 March 19 Calgary Flames 3 – 3 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 44–17–14 102 76 March 25 Edmonton Oilers 7 – 2 Calgary Flames Fuhr 7,234 45–17–14 104 77 March 26 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 6 Colorado Rockies Low 16,384 45–17–15 105 78 March 28 Edmonton Oilers 6 – 2 Los Angeles Kings Fuhr 16,005 46–17–15 107 79 March 31 Los Angeles Kings 3 – 7 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 47–17–15 109
April: 1–0–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 0–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 4 Winnipeg Jets 1 – 2 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 48–17–15 111 Legend:   Win (2 points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1982 Stanley Cup playoffs

1982 Smythe Division Semi-final Los Angeles Kings won series 3–2 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 7 Los Angeles Kings 10 – 8 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 0–1 [1] 2 April 8 Los Angeles Kings 2 – 3 Edmonton Oilers OT Fuhr 17,490 1–1 [2] 3 April 10 Edmonton Oilers 5 – 6 Los Angeles Kings OT Fuhr 16,005 1–2 [3] 4 April 12 Edmonton Oilers 3 – 2 Los Angeles Kings Fuhr 16,005 2–2 [4] 5 April 13 Los Angeles Kings 7 – 4 Edmonton Oilers Fuhr 17,490 2–3 [5]

Season stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	80	92	120	212	26
Glenn Anderson	80	38	67	105	71
Paul Coffey	80	29	60	89	106
Mark Messier	78	50	38	88	119
Jari Kurri	71	32	54	86	32

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	T	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	48	2847	28	5	14	157	0	.898	3.31
Ron Low	29	1554	17	7	1	100	0	.874	3.86
Andy Moog	8	399	3	5	0	32	0	.842	4.81

Playoff stats

Scoring leaders

Player	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
Wayne Gretzky	5	5	7	12	8
Glenn Anderson	5	2	5	7	8
Jari Kurri	5	2	5	7	10
Risto Siltanen	5	3	2	5	10
Dave Lumley	5	2	1	3	21

Goaltending

Player	GP	TOI	W	L	GA	SO	Save %	GAA
Grant Fuhr	5	309	2	3	26	0	N/A	5.05

Awards and records

Awards

• Art Ross Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
• Associated Press Athlete of the Year: Wayne Gretzky
  • Note: He would win that award on January 12, 1983
• Hart Memorial Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
• Lou Marsh Trophy: Wayne Gretzky
• Lester B. Pearson Award: Wayne Gretzky
• NHL Plus/Minus Award: Wayne Gretzky
• First NHL All-Star team: Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier
• Second NHL All-Star team: Grant Fuhr and Paul Coffey

Records

• 417: An NHL team record for most goals in a single season.

• 400: A new NHL team record for most goals in a single season on March 26, 1982.

• 212: An NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 165: A new NHL record for most points in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on February 19, 1982.

• 200: First NHL player to hit a 200-point-milestone by Wayne Gretzky on March 25, 1982.
• 120: An NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 110: A new NHL record for most assists in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on March 19, 1982.

• 92: An NHL record for most goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 77: A new NHL record for most goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on February 24, 1982.

• 68: An NHL record for most even strength goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky.

• 53: A new NHL record for most even strength goals in a single season by Wayne Gretzky on February 17, 1982.

Milestones

Regular Season
Player	Milestone	Reached
Walt Poddubny	1st NHL Game	October 7, 1981
Garry Unger	1,000th NHL PIM
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Game	October 14, 1981
Mark Messier	100th NHL Point
Wayne Gretzky	200th NHL Assist	October 18, 1981
Doug Hicks	500th NHL Game
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Win	October 21, 1981
Risto Siltanen	100th NHL Point
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	October 23, 1981
Lee Fogolin	100th NHL Assist	October 24, 1981
Lee Fogolin	500th NHL Game	October 27, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	7th NHL Hat-trick 2nd Four-Goal NHL Game	October 31, 1981
Matti Hagman	100th NHL Point
Paul Coffey	100th NHL Game	November 11, 1981
Dave Semenko	300th NHL PIM	November 12, 1981
Pat Hughes	300th NHL PIM	November 14, 1981
Lee Fogolin	700th NHL PIM	November 17, 1981
Stan Weir	300th NHL Point	November 19, 1981
Ken Berry	1st NHL Game	November 21, 1981
Glenn Anderson	3rd NHL Hat-trick	November 23, 1981
Todd Strueby	1st NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	8th NHL Hat-trick 3rd Four-Goal NHL Game	November 25, 1981
Marc Habscheid	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Marc Habscheid	1st NHL Goal	November 29, 1981
Pat Hughes	200th NHL Game	December 1, 1981
Mark Messier	2nd NHL Hat-trick	December 2, 1981
Ken Berry	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	December 4, 1981
Mike Forbes	1st NHL Goal	December 5, 1981
Dave Lumley	100th NHL Point	December 9, 1981
Jari Kurri	100th NHL Game	December 16, 1981
Jari Kurri	100th NHL Point	December 17, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	9th NHL Hat-trick	December 19, 1981
Dave Lumley	1st NHL Hat-trick
Kevin Lowe	200th NHL PIM	December 23, 1981
Ken Berry	1st NHL Goal	December 27, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	400th NHL Point 10th NHL Hat-trick 4th Four-Goal NHL Game
Doug Hicks	400th NHL PIM
Glenn Anderson	100th NHL Point	December 30, 1981
Wayne Gretzky	50th Goal in 39 Games 11th NHL Hat-trick 2nd Five-Goal NHL Game
Matti Hagman	200th NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	200th NHL Game	January 2, 1982
Glenn Anderson	100th NHL Game	January 6, 1982
Paul Coffey	200th NHL PIM	January 14, 1982
Wayne Gretzky	12th NHL Hat-trick	January 20, 1982
Paul Coffey	100th NHL Point	January 26, 1982
Pat Hughes	100th NHL Point	January 29, 1982
Mark Messier	200th NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	13th NHL Hat-trick	January 31, 1982
Kevin Lowe	200th NHL Game	February 6, 1982
Paul Coffey	2nd NHL Gordie Howe hat trick	February 12, 1982
Dave Hunter	200th NHL Game
Mark Messier	300th NHL PIM
Mark Messier	3rd NHL Hat-trick	February 17, 1982
Risto Siltanen	100th NHL Assist
Wayne Gretzky	14th NHL Hat-trick	February 19, 1982
Dave Hunter	100th NHL Point	February 21, 1982
Garry Unger	800th NHL Point
Wayne Gretzky	15th NHL Hat-trick 4th NHL Natural Hat-trick	February 24, 1982
Wayne Gretzky	300th NHL Assist	March 10, 1982
Wayne Gretzky	16th NHL Hat-trick	March 17, 1982
Risto Siltanen	200th NHL Game
Wayne Gretzky	500th NHL Point	March 19, 1982
Laurie Boschman	3rd NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick	March 25, 1982
Risto Siltanen	100th NHL PIM	March 26, 1982
Garry Lariviere	200th NHL Game	March 28, 1982
Dave Lumley	300th NHL PIM 1st NHL Gordie Howe Hat-trick 200th NHL Game
Dave Semenko	400th NHL PIM
Lee Fogolin	800th NHL PIM	March 31, 1982
Mark Messier	50th Goal in 79 Games

Playoffs
Player	Milestone	Reached
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Game	April 7, 1982
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Game 1st NHL Goal 1st NHL Point
Tom Roulston
Risto Siltanen	1st NHL Assist
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Win	April 8, 1982
Charlie Huddy	1st NHL Assist
Dave Hunter	1st NHL Assist
Dave Lumley
Lee Fogolin	1st NHL Goal	April 10, 1982
Randy Gregg	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point
Dave Hunter	50th NHL PIM
Garry Unger	100th NHL PIM
Grant Fuhr	1st NHL Assist 1st NHL Point	April 12, 1982
Garry Unger	50th NHL Game
Randy Gregg	1st NHL Game	TBD

Transactions

Trades

August 10, 1981	To Los Angeles Kings 5th round pick in 1983 – Garry Galley	To Edmonton Oilers Jay McFarlane
August 21, 1981	To Minnesota North Stars Don Murdoch	To Edmonton Oilers Don Jackson *3rd round pick in 1982 – Wally Chapman
December 11, 1981	To New York Rangers Eddie Mio	To Edmonton Oilers Lance Nethery
March 9, 1982	To Colorado Rockies Stan Weir	To Edmonton Oilers Ed Cooper
March 9, 1982	To Toronto Maple Leafs Walt Poddubny Phil Drouillard	To Edmonton Oilers Laurie Boschman
March 9, 1982	To Washington Capitals Doug Hicks	To Edmonton Oilers Todd Bidner

* Later traded to the Minnesota North Stars

Players acquired

Date	Player	Former team	Term
July 7, 1981 (1981-07-07)	John Blum	Michigan Wolverines (NCAA)	1-year
October 2, 1981 (1981-10-02)	Gord Garbutt	Wichita Wind (CHL)
October 5, 1981 (1981-10-05)	Brad Knelson	Wichita Wind (CHL)
	Ray Cote	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)

Players lost

Date	Player	New team
	Bryon Baltimore	Retired
	Bob Dupuis

Waivers

Date	Player	Team
October 5, 1981 (1981-10-05)	Gary Edwards	to St. Louis Blues

Signings

Date	Player	Term
July 7, 1981 (1981-07-07)	Matti Hagman	1-year
	Dave Hunter	3-year

Draft picks

Edmonton's draft picks at the 1981 NHL Entry Draft

Round	#	Player	Nationality	College/Junior/Club team (League)
1	8	Grant Fuhr	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
2	29	Todd Strueby	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
4	71	Paul Houck	Canada	Kelowna Buckaroos (BCJHL)
5	92	Phil Drouillard	Canada	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
6	111	Steve Smith	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
7	132	Marc Habscheid	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
8	155	Mike Sturgeon	Canada	Kelowna Buckaroos (BCJHL)
9	176	Miloslav Horava	Czechoslovakia	Kladno Poldi (Czechoslovak Extraliga)
10	197	Gord Sherven	Canada	Weyburn Beavers (SSHL)

References

• National Hockey League Guide & Record Book 2007