Steve Gatzos
The 1981 NHL Entry Draft was held on Wednesday, June 10, 1981 at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. West Division teams drafted in reverse order of their 1968-69 finish in the standings, while East Division teams reverted back to the rotating draft order from 1967 while accounting for 1968 with teams moving up two positions each. The Montreal Canadiens, who had the option to take the first two French-Canadian players in the draft in lieu of their regular picks, chose first and second overall, taking right wing Rejean Houle and left wing Marc Tardif both of Montreal (OHA), respectively.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 51 points (20 wins) in 1968-69 - tied with Minnesota (18 wins), would draft second overall out of 12 teams in each round. On May 21, 1968, Pittsburgh traded its first round choice in the 1969 Amateur Draft (Frank Spring, RW, Edmonton) to Boston for Jean Pronovost and John Arbour. The Penguins traded their seventh round choice (Bob Collyard, C, Colorado College) to St. Louis for cash. They also traded their eighth round choice (Frank Hamill, RW, Toronto) to Montreal for cash. This would leave Pittsburgh with five selections in the 10-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the ninth and tenth rounds.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, who finished with 51 points (20 wins) in 1968-69 - tied with Minnesota (18 wins), would draft second overall out of 12 teams in each round. On May 21, 1968, Pittsburgh traded its first round choice in the 1969 Amateur Draft (Frank Spring, RW, Edmonton) to Boston for Jean Pronovost and John Arbour. The Penguins traded their seventh round choice (Bob Collyard, C, Colorado College) to St. Louis for cash. They also traded their eighth round choice (Frank Hamill, RW, Toronto) to Montreal for cash. This would leave Pittsburgh with five selections in the 10-round draft as they passed on making a selection in the ninth and tenth rounds.
Tom Thornbury
Norm Schmidt
Rod Buskas
Mitch Lamoureux
Dean Defazio
Dave Hannan
1981 Pittsburgh Penguins NHL Entry Draft Selections
| Choice | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | Position | 1980-81 Amateur Club |
| 1 | 2 | 7 | 28 | Steve Gatzos | RW | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) |
| 2 | 3 | 7 | 49 | Tom Thornbury | D | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 3 | 4 | 7 | 70 | Norm Schmidt | D | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 4 | 6 | 4 | 109 | Paul Edwards | D | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 112 | Rod Buskas | D | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
| 6 | 7 | 7 | 133 | Geoff Wilson | RW | Winnipeg Monarchs (WHL) |
| 7 | 8 | 7 | 154 | Mitch Lamoureux | C | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 8 | 9 | 7 | 175 | Dean Defazio | LW | Brantford Alexanders (OHA) |
| 9 | 10 | 7 | 196 | Dave Hannan | C | Brantford Alexanders (OHA) |
Steve Gatzos |
Tom Thornbury |
Norm Schmidt |
Paul Edwards |
Rod Buskas |
Geoff Wilson |
Mitch Lamoureux |
Dean Defazio |
Dave Hannan |