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.
Selections by round
Below are listed the selections in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round one
Notes (Round 1) 1.* The Detroit Red Wings' first round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on August 22, 1979 that sent the right to Dale McCourt to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for Andre St. Laurent, 1st round pick in 1980 NHL Entry Draft and Kings' option of a 2nd round pick in 1980 NHL Entry Draft or 1st round pick in 1981 NHL Entry Draft. Kings optioned for this pick.
2.* The Colorado Rockies' first round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 5th overall pick and 26th overall pick to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for the 45th overall pick and this pick.
3.* The Washington Capitals' first round pick went to the Colorado Rockies as the result of to a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 3rd overall pick and the 45th overall pick to the Washington Capitals in exchange for 26th overall pick and this pick.
4.* The Pittsburgh Penguins' first round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of to a trade on October 18, 1978 that sent Rod Schutt to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for this pick.
5.* The Los Angeles Kings' first round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of to a trade on October 5, 1978 that sent Murray Wilson and the 1st round pick in 1979 to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for this pick.
Round two
Notes (Round 2) 1.* The Colorado Rockies' second round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on October 19, 1978 that sent Jack Valiquette to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for this pick.
2.* The Hartford Whalers' second round pick went to the Chicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on June 19, 1980 that sent Mike Veisor to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for this pick.
3.* The Washington Capitals' second round pick went to the Colorado Rockies as the result of to a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 3rd overall pick and the 45th overall pick to the Washington Capitals in exchange for 5th overall pick and this pick.
4.* The Toronto Maple Leafs' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of to a trade on March 10, 1981 that sent Ron Zanussi and the 55th overall pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for this pick.
5.* The Vancouver Canucks' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of to a trade on December 10, 1979 that sent Olov Brasar to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for this pick.
6.* The Quebec Nordiques' second round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of to 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 third round pick in 1980 and this pick.
7.* The Chicago Black Hawks' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of to a trade on December 29, 1980 that sent Glen Sharpley to the Chicago Black Hawks in exchange for Ken Solheim and this pick.
8.* The Calgary Flames' second round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of to a trade on October 10, 1979 that sent Garry Unger to the Atlanta Flames in exchange for Ed Kea, Don Laurence, and this pick. The Atlanta franchise relocated to Calgary for the 1980-81 NHL season.
9.* The St. Louis Blues' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of to a trade on June 15, 1978 that sent Bob Stewart and future considerations (Harvey Bennett) to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for this pick.
Round three
Notes (Round 3) 1.* The Colorado Rockies' third round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 10, 1981 that sent the 5th overall pick and the 26th overall pick to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for 3rd overall pick and this pick.
2.* The Hartford Whalers' third round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 5, 1980 that sent Rick Meagher, the 61st overall pick, and the 103rd overall pick to the Hartford Whalers in exchange for the 88th overall pick and this pick.