In terms of the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey design, player photos are either posed or game-action shots surrounded by a blue border. A team logo appears in the bottom right, which is surrounded by a solid-colored banner that runs up the right side and opens up above the photo to include the team name. The player's name and position appear above the team name. All-Star players have a banner added along the bottom of their base cards to signify the honor. The first eight cards in the 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey checklist feature the NHL leaders in various categories from the previous season. Card #83 recaps the most recent Stanley Cup finals, and record breakers are honored on cards #161 through #165. Team cards run from cards #244 through #261, including one that shows the Nordiques, one of four teams absorbed from the WHA. The other three teams (Oilers, Jets and Whalers) are scattered throughout the set. There are also three checklist cards

Several retiring stars are featured for the last time in 1979-80 O-Pee-Chee Hockey. These include Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Ken Dryden

Other notable rookie include Barry Melrose, Bobby Smith, Charlie Simmer and John Tonelli