The 1980-81 RHL draft took place on September 17 and 18. Two goaltenders were selected as territorial claims before the draft. Murray Bannerman was claimed by the Blackhawks and Dan Bouchard was claimed by the Nordiques. Jorgen Pettersson was taken first overall by the Oilers. Mario Marois was the first defenseman selected (3rd overall by the Kings). Glenn Resch was the first goaltender picked (5th overall by the Rangers). Here is the official draft board:
All times Eastern
Saturday, September 17
Round 1
12:00 PM: EDM - Jorgen Pettersson (STL)
12:15 PM: PIT - Aaron Broten (COL)
12:30 PM: LAK - Mario Marois (QUE)
12:45 PM: PHI – Mike McEwen (NYI)
01:00 PM: NYR - Glenn Resch (COL)
01:15 PM: HAR - Steve Tambellini (COL)
01:30 PM: NYI - Jim Peplinski (CGY)
01:45 PM: TOR - Jamie Hislop (CGY)
02:00 PM: TOR - Michel Larocque (TOR)
02:15 PM: VAN - Mark Kirton (DET)
02:30 PM: MIN - Matti Hagman (EDM)
02:45 PM: BUF - Paul Gagne (COL)
03:00 PM: MTL – Darren Veitch (WSH)
Round 2
03:15 PM: EDM - Jack Brownschidle (STL)
03:30 PM: WIN - Al Hangsleben (WSH)
03:45 PM: PIT - Paul MacLean (STL)
04:00 PM: QUE - Bill Stewart (STL)
04:15 PM: PHI - Andre Dupont (QUE)
04:30 PM: CHI - Mike Palmateer (WSH)
04:45 PM: NYR - Bob Miller (COL)
05:00 PM: HAR - Eric Vail (CGY)
05:15 PM: NYI - Garry Lariviere (EDM)
05:30 PM: QUE - Jean Pronovost (WSH)
05:45 PM: TOR - Steve Konroyd (CGY)
06:00 PM: BOS - Bobby Schmautz (VAN)
06:15 PM: VAN - Dave Parro (WSH)
06:30 PM: NYI - Phil Myre (COL)
07:00 PM: VAN - Rick Heinz (STL)
07:30 PM: MTL – Bobby Lalonde (BOS)
Round 3
07:45 PM: EDM - Rogie Vachon (BOS)
08:00 PM: CHI - Howard Walker (WSH)
08:15 PM: LAK - Warren Miller (HAR)
08:30 PM: PHI - Barry Smith (COL)
08:45 PM: CHI - Rick Smith (WSH)
09:00 PM: NYR - Doug Soetaert (NYR)
09:15 PM: HAR – Mike Veisor (HAR)
09:30 PM: NYI - Mike Crombeen (STL)
09:45 PM: QUE - Craig Norwich (COL)
Sunday, September 18
Round 3 (continued)
12:00 PM: TOR - Kevin LaVallee (CGY)
12:15 PM: BOS - Barry Melrose (TOR)
12:30 PM: NYI - Terry Murray (PHI)
12:45 PM: NYI - Barry Long (WIN)
01:00 PM: BUF - John Barrett (DET)
01:15 PM: MTL – Bob Kelly (WSH)
Round 4
01:30 PM: VAN - Glen Sharpley (CHI)
01:45 PM: NYI - Norm Dupont (WIN)
02:00 PM: PIT - Dave Burrows (PIT)
02:15 PM: LAK - Gilles Gilbert (DET)
02:30 PM: PHI - Michel Dion (VAN)
02:45 PM: NYR - Dean Talafous (NYR)
03:00 PM: NYI - Mike Blaisdell (DET)
03:15 PM: QUE - Blair Chapman (STL)
03:30 PM: WIN - Nick Fotiu (HAR)
03:45 PM: BOS - Bill Baker (COL)
04:00 PM: VAN - Rene Robert (TOR)
04:15 PM: NYI - Rick Dudley (WIN)
04:30 PM: BUF – Gary Edwards (EDM)
04:45 PM: MTL - Jim Craig (BOS)
Round 5
05:00 PM: EDM - Vaclav Nedomansky (DET)
05:15 PM: WIN - Gerry Hart (STL)
05:30 PM: WIN - Perry Miller (DET)
05:45 PM: LAK - Don Luce (LAK)
06:00 PM: PHI - Ralph Klassen (STL)
06:15 PM: NYR - Miles Zaharko (CHI)
06:30 PM: HAR - Dick Redmond (BOS)
06:45 PM: NYI - Wayne Thomas (NYR)
07:00 PM: QUE – Ron Delorme (COL)
07:15 PM: VAN - Gary Inness (WSH)
07:30 PM: MTL - Blake Wesley (PHI)
Round 6
07:45 PM: EDM - Andre Dore (NYR)
08:00 PM: WIN – Brad Smith (CGY)
08:15 PM: WIN - Garry Unger (EDM)
08:30 PM: HAR - Tim Tookey (WSH)
Round 7
08:45 PM: WIN - Jack McIlhargey (HAR)
09:00 PM: LAK - Ron Sedlbauer (TOR)
09:15 PM: HAR (4 picks) - Danny Geoffrion (HAR), Gord Lane (NYI), Pierre Bouchard (WSH), Gilles Lupien (HAR)