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 (NHL) 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

Round two

Round three

Notes (Round 3)

1. • The Colorado Rockies' third round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on March 3, 1980, that sent Walt McKechnie to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for this pick.
2. • The Quebec Nordiques' third round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 9, 1979 that Quebec Nordiques promise to take Dan Geoffrion and/or Alain Cote, rather than Marc Tardif and/or Richard David in 1979 NHL Expansion Draft in exchange for the second round pick in 1981 and this pick.
3. • The Toronto Maple Leafs' third round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on October 5, 1978, that sent Walt McKechnie to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for this pick.
4. • The Toronto Maple Leafs' third round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 11, 1980, that sent Tim Coulis, Robert Picard and a second-round pick in the 1980 Entry Draft (26th overall) to the Toronto in exchange for Mike Palmateer and this pick. Toronto had acquired the pick previously as the result of a trade on June 10, 1980, that sent 32nd overall pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Dave Shand and this pick.
5. • The New York Rangers' third round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on March 12, 1979, that sent Jocelyn Guevremont to the New York Rangers in exchange for the third round pick in 1979 and this pick.
6. • The Minnesota North Stars' third round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on May 4, 1978, that sent the rights to Eddie Mio and future considerations (Pierre Plante) to the Minnesota North Stars in exchange for Doug Hicks and this pick.

Round four

Notes (Round 4)

1. • The Detroit Red Wings' fourth round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on December 2, 1977, that sent Dennis Hull to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for this pick.
2. • The Washington Capitals' fourth round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on December 7, 1979, that sent Mike Kaszycki to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Gord Lane and this pick.

Round five

Round six

Round seven

Notes (Round 7)

1. • The Pittsburgh Penguins' seventh round pick went to the Winnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on June 9, 1979, that Winnipeg Jets promised not to claim Kim Clackson as a priority selection in the 1979 NHL Expansion Draft in exchange for this pick.

Round eight

Round nine

Round ten

Notes (Round 10)

1. • The Edmonton Oilers' tenth round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on June 11, 1980, that sent Barry Dean to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Ron Areshenkoff and this pick.

Draftees based on nationality