The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Chris Chelios, who retired after the 2009–10 season.

* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* The Vancouver Canucks' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on December 10, 1979 that sent Olov Brasar to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for this pick.

* The Quebec Nordiques' second 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 third round pick in 1980 and this pick.

* The Chicago Black Hawks' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on December 29, 1980 that sent Glen Sharpley to the Chicago Black Hawks in exchange for Ken Solheim and this pick.

* The Calgary Flames' second round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of 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 St. Louis Blues' second round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of 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.

* The Toronto Maple Leafs' third round pick went to the Colorado Rockies as the result of a trade on June 30, 1981 that sent Rene Robert to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for this pick.

* The Edmonton Oilers' third round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on March 11, 1980 that sent Don Murdoch to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Cam Connor and this pick.

* The Detroit Red Wings' fourth round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on September 4, 1979 that sent Dennis Sobchuk to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for this pick.

* The Toronto Maple Leafs' fourth round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on June 14, 1978 that sent Paul Harrison to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for this pick.

* The St. Louis Blues' fourth round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on October 20, 1980 that sent Bill Stewart to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Bob Hess and this pick.

* The Los Angeles Kings' fifth round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on March 10, 1981 that sent Jim Rutherford to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for this pick.

* The Toronto Maple Leafs' sixth round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on August 22, 1979, that sent Reg Thomas to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for this pick.

* The Edmonton Oilers' seventh round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on March 10, 1981 that sent Garry Unger to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for this pick.