1981–82 NHL season

Structure and awards

During the regular season every team completed an 80-game slate. A new trophy, the William M. Jennings Trophy, was introduced to recognize goaltenders from the team allowing the fewest goals against; the award emphasized team defensive performance and goaltending depth rather than individual save totals. The new award is tied to the role of goaltenders in team success and complemented existing league honors.

Divisional realignment

Before play began the NHL adjusted its divisional makeup to better reflect geography and rivalries. The Patrick Division moved from the Clarence Campbell Conference to the Prince of Wales Conference, while the Norris Division transferred in the opposite direction. These changes affected scheduling and playoff seeding and remained in place through much of the late 1980s and early 1990s, until the broader restructure that took effect in the 1993-94 season when conferences and divisions were renamed to clearer geographic identifiers.

Regular season highlights and notable teams

The campaign featured several established stars and rising talents across the league. The New York Islanders continued to field a core of skillful forwards and reliable defensemen, while other clubs produced surprise performances and tight divisional races. The Vancouver Canucks emerged as a strong playoff contender that year, making a deep postseason run that captured attention across the league.

Playoffs and the Stanley Cup

The postseason culminated in the New York Islanders claiming their third consecutive Stanley Cup. The Islanders defeated the Vancouver Canucks in the final series, completing the sweep in four games. That victory cemented the Islanders' place among the era's elite teams and underscored the continuity of their roster and coaching during the dynasty years.

Legacy and significance

The 1981–82 season is remembered for several enduring outcomes: the formal recognition of team-based goaltending with the William M. Jennings Trophy, a divisional alignment that guided league organization for over a decade, and the Islanders' third straight championship which helped define the standards of sustained success in the modern NHL. For readers seeking more detail on teams, awards, and playoff results, contemporary recaps and league summaries provide game-by-game coverage and statistical leaders.

• Season: 65th of the NHL (overview)
• League: National Hockey League
• New trophy: William M. Jennings Trophy (for goaltenders)
• Champion: New York Islanders — third consecutive Stanley Cup
• Runner-up: Vancouver Canucks
• Later change: divisional and conference names revised in 1993-94