1996–97 Hartford Whalers season

National Hockey League team season March 2026 August 2020 NHL 1996–97 1996 Hartford Whalers Northeast 5th Eastern 10th 32–39–11 23–15–3 9–24–8 226 256 Jim Rutherford Paul Maurice Kevin Dineen Glen Wesley Andrew Cassels Hartford Civic Center 13,680 (87.5%)https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045 Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph hockeydb.com Springfield Falcons (AHL) Richmond Renegades (ECHL) Geoff Sanderson (36) Andrew Cassels (44) Geoff Sanderson (67) Sami Kapanen (+6) Stu Grimson (218) Sean Burke (22) Sean Burke (2.69) 1997–98 (Carolina) The 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season was the 25th season of the franchise and the 18th and final NHL season in Hartford. The Whalers would move to Greensboro, North Carolina, the next season to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Off-season On June 22, the Whalers participated in the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Hartford did not have a selection in the first round, as the pick was traded to the Boston Bruins as part of the trade that brought Glen Wesley to the Whalers. In the second round, Hartford made their first selection of the draft, as they drafted Trevor Wasyluk from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League with the 34th overall pick in the draft. Wasyluk scored 25 goals and 46 points in 69 games during the 1995–96 season. Other notable selections by the Whalers included Craig MacDonald in the fourth round, and Craig Adams in the ninth round. The Whalers acquired Kevin Brown in a trade with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for Espen Knutsen on October 1. Brown played in seven games with the Los Angeles Kings during the 1995–96 season, scoring one goal. Brown spent the majority of the season with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL, scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 45 games. He also played in eight games with the Prince Edward Island Senators of the AHL, scoring three goals and nine points after he was traded from the Kings to the Ottawa Senators during the season. On October 2, Hartford claimed Kent Manderville off of waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. In 37 games with the Oilers during the 1995–96 where he scored three goals and eight points. Regular season On April 13, 1997, the Whalers played their last game in Hartford, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1. Team captain Kevin Dineen scored the final goal in Whaler history. The final words from SportsChannel New England with Play by play voice John Forslund at the end of the game were as follows: "It's over folks, it's been a great ride. The Whalers will go out, winners". Final standings HAR HAR Schedule and results background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 5px solid; 1996–97 regular season1996-97 Hartford Whalers Schedule https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1997_games.html Hockey-Reference.com July 16, 2023 y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; October: 5–2–2 (home: 4–0–1; road: 1–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |1||October 5, 1996||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||1–0–0 || 15,635 || 1996020005 W |- |2||October 8, 1996||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||2–0–0 || 11,240 || 1996020023 W |- |3||October 12, 1996||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||2–1–0 || 14,703 || 1996020049 L |- |4||October 17, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||3–1–0 || 8,019 || 1996020070 W |- |5||October 19, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||4–1–0 || 14,476 || 1996020081 W |- |6||October 24, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||5–1–0 || 12,328 || 1996020105 W |- |7||October 26, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||5–2–0 || 16,193 || 1996020115 L |- |8||October 30, 1996||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–2–1 || 11,936 || 1996020135 T |- |9||October 31, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||5–2–2 || 13,284 || 1996020146 T |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; November: 6–5–3 (home: 3–4–0; road: 3–1–3) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |10||November 2, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||5–3–2 || 13,425 || 1996020157 L |- |11||November 4, 1996||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||5–4–2 || 19,983 || 1996020173 L |- |12||November 6, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||6–4–2 || 13,026 || 1996020175 W |- |13||November 8, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||6–5–2 || 14,460 || 1996020189 L |- |14||November 9, 1996||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||7–5–2 || 13,352 || 1996020195 W |- |15||November 12, 1996||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||8–5–2 || 17,742 || 1996020214 W |- |16||November 14, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||9–5–2 || 14,968 || 1996020228 W |- |17||November 16, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||9–5–3 || 16,061 || 1996020242 T |- |18||November 20, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||10–5–3 || 13,033 || 1996020258 W |- |19||November 22, 1996||1–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||10–6–3 || 14,572 || 1996020270 L |- |20||November 23, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||10–6–4 || 14,648 || 1996020276 T |- |21||November 27, 1996||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||10–7–4 || 14,289 || 1996020293 L |- |22||November 29, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–7–5 || 14,703 || 1996020310 T |- |23||November 30, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||11–7–5 || 16,375 || 1996020317 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; December: 6–6–1 (home: 5–2–0; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |24||December 3, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||11–7–6 || 13,816 || 1996020327 T |- |25||December 5, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||12–7–6 || 14,955 || 1996020341 W |- |26||December 7, 1996||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||13–7–6 || 13,464 || 1996020354 W |- |27||December 11, 1996||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||14–7–6 || 11,884 || 1996020374 W |- |28||December 12, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||14–8–6 || 19,124 || 1996020382 L |- |29||December 14, 1996||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||14–9–6 || 14,590 || 1996020393 L |- |30||December 16, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||14–10–6 || 18,200 || 1996020406 L |- |31||December 17, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||15–10–6 || 12,922 || 1996020408 W |- |32||December 20, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||15–11–6 || 12,945 || 1996020424 L |- |33||December 21, 1996||6–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||16–11–6 || 12,082 || 1996020433 W |- |34||December 26, 1996||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||16–12–6 || 18,595 || 1996020456 L |- |35||December 28, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||17–12–6 || 14,092 || 1996020469 W |- |36||December 29, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||17–13–6 || 20,502 || 1996020479 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; January: 3–10–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 1–7–0) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |37||January 1, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||17–14–6 || 12,608 || 1996020496 L |- |38||January 2, 1997||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||17–15–6 || 14,403 || 1996020499 L |- |39||January 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||17–15–7 || 14,613 || 1996020514 T |- |40||January 6, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||17–16–7 || 20,292 || 1996020526 L |- |41||January 9, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||17–17–7 || 17,121 || 1996020545 L |- |42||January 10, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||17–18–7 || 17,378 || 1996020551 L |- |43||January 12, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||17–19–7 || 14,301 || 1996020564 L |- |44||January 15, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||17–20–7 || 14,502 || 1996020577 L |- |45||January 20, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||18–20–7 || 13,002 || 1996020586 W |- |46||January 22, 1997||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||19–20–7 || 12,627 || 1996020596 W |- |47||January 24, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||19–21–7 || 14,619 || 1996020610 L |- |48||January 25, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||20–21–7 || 18,595 || 1996020618 W |- |49||January 30, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||20–22–7 || 11,036 || 1996020650 L |- |50||January 31, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||20–23–7 || 17,174 || 1996020654 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; February: 4–6–2 (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |51||February 5, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||20–24–7 || 18,200 || 1996020680 L |- |52||February 6, 1997||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||21–24–7 || 15,213 || 1996020686 W |- |53||February 8, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||21–25–7 || 21,273 || 1996020697 L |- |54||February 12, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||21–26–7 || 12,710 || 1996020716 L |- |55||February 13, 1997||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||21–27–7 || 14,138 || 1996020724 L |- |56||February 15, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||22–27–7 || 13,767 || 1996020733 W |- |57||February 16, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||22–28–7 || 18,338 || 1996020746 L |- |58||February 19, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||22–28–8 || 19,484 || 1996020762 T |- |59||February 21, 1997||7–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||23–28–8 || 14,660 || 1996020771 W |- |60||February 22, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||24–28–8 || 14,311 || 1996020775 W |- |61||February 26, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||24–28–9 || 13,121 || 1996020798 T |- |62||February 28, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||24–29–9 || 13,547 || 1996020811 L |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; March: 5–7–1 (home: 4–3–0; road: 1–4–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |63||March 2, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||24–30–9 || 14,660 || 1996020825 L |- |64||March 5, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||25–30–9 || 12,140 || 1996020836 W |- |65||March 7, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||26–30–9 || 14,341 || 1996020850 W |- |66||March 8, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||26–30–10 || 15,726 || 1996020858 T |- |67||March 12, 1997||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||27–30–10 || 13,155 || 1996020878 W |- |68||March 13, 1997||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||27–31–10 || 16,244 || 1996020885 L |- |69||March 15, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||27–32–10 || 14,437 || 1996020896 L |- |70||March 16, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||27–33–10 || 18,130 || 1996020905 L |- |71||March 20, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||27–34–10 || 17,959 || 1996020928 L |- |72||March 21, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||27–35–10 || 16,522 || 1996020932 L |- |73||March 25, 1997||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||27–36–10 || 14,191 || 1996020951 L |- |74||March 27, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||28–36–10 || 19,984 || 1996020964 W |- |75||March 29, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||29–36–10 || 14,660 || 1996020971 W |- y background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid; April: 3–3–1 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–2–1) Game Date Score Opponent Record Attendance Recap |- |76||April 2, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–37–10 || 14,177 || 1996020993 L |- |77||April 3, 1997||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||29–37–11 || 17,284 || 1996020999 T |- |78||April 5, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||30–37–11 || 21,273 || 1996021013 W |- |79||April 7, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||31–37–11 || 14,660 || 1996021023 W |- |80||April 9, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||31–38–11 || 18,500 || 1996021031 L |- |81||April 11, 1997||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||31–39–11 || 15,382 || 1996021045 L |- |82||April 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||32–39–11 || 14,660 || 1996021061 W |- |- | Legend: #cfc Win (2 points) 1px solid black W #fcc Loss (0 points) 1px solid black L #ffc Tie (1 point) 1px solid black T Player statistics Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only. No. Jersey number Player Pos Position Regular season GP Games played G Goals A Assists Pts Points +/- Plus/minus PIM Penalties in minutes 8 Geoff Sanderson LW 82 36 31 67 −9 29 21 Andrew Cassels C 81 22 44 66 −16 46 55 Keith Primeau C 75 26 25 51 −3 161 11 Kevin Dineen RW 78 19 29 48 −6 141 16 Nelson Emerson RW 66 9 29 38 −21 34 12 Steven Rice RW 78 21 14 35 −11 59 20 Glen Wesley D 68 6 26 32 0 40 92 Jeff O'Neill RW 72 14 16 30 −24 40 24 Sami Kapanen RW 45 13 12 25 6 2 18 Robert Kron LW 68 10 12 22 −18 10 28 Paul Ranheim LW 67 10 11 21 −13 18 7 Curtis Leschyshyn D 64 4 13 17 −19 30 3 Steve Chiasson D 18 3 11 14 −10 7 6 Adam Burt D 71 2 11 13 −13 79 44 Kent Manderville C 44 6 5 11 3 18 4 Gerald Diduck D 56 1 10 11 −9 40 77 Paul Coffey D 20 3 5 8 0 18 14 Kevin Haller D 35 2 6 8 −11 48 36 Glen Featherstone D 41 2 5 7 0 87 10 Andrei Nikolishin C 12 2 5 7 −2 2 5 Alexander Godynyuk D 55 1 6 7 −10 41 27 Derek King LW 12 3 3 6 0 2 22 Mark Janssens C 54 2 4 6 −10 90 23 Marek Malik Marek Malík D 47 1 5 6 5 50 32 Stu Grimson LW 75 2 2 4 −7 218 46 Kevin Brown ice hockey RW 11 0 4 4 −6 6 17 Hnat Domenichelli LW 13 2 1 3 −4 7 39 Kelly Chase RW 28 1 2 3 2 122 17 Chris Murray ice hockey, born 1974 RW 8 1 1 2 1 10 1 Sean Burke G 51 0 2 2 14 37 Jeff Daniels ice hockey LW 10 0 2 2 2 0 41 Nolan Pratt D 9 0 2 2 0 6 7 Brian Glynn D 1 1 0 1 2 2 94 Brendan Shanahan LW 2 1 0 1 1 0 26 Steve Martins C 2 0 1 1 0 0 29 Jason Muzzatti G 31 0 1 1 18 27 Jeff Brown ice hockey, born 1966 D 1 0 0 0 0 0 47 Jean-Sebastien Giguere Jean-Sébastien Giguère G 8 0 0 0 0 25 Jason McBain D 6 0 0 0 −4 0 Goaltending No. Jersey number Player Regular season GP Games played W Wins L Losses T Ties SA Shots against GA Goals against GAA Goals against average SV% Save percentage SO Shutouts TOI Time on ice 1 Sean Burke 51 22 22 6 1560 134 2.69 .914 4 2985 29 Jason Muzzatti 31 9 13 5 815 91 3.43 .888 0 1591 47 Jean-Sebastien Giguere 8 1 4 0 201 24 3.65 .881 0 394 Awards and records Awards TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Geoff Sanderson1997 NHL All-Star Game Rosters https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1997_roster.html Hockey-Reference.com August 29, 2024 Team Award of Excellence Kevin DineenWhalers Team Awards http://www.whalershockey.com/awards.asp www.whalershockey.com September 11, 2023 Booster Club MVP Award Sean Burke Frank Keys Memorial Award Kent Manderville Mark Kravitz Award Sean Burke Most Valuable Defenseman Glen Wesley Three Star Award of Excellence Sean Burke Top Gun Award Geoff Sanderson True Grit Award Kevin Dineen Milestones MilestonePlayerDateRef First game Hnat Domenichelli October 5, 19961996-97 NHL Debuts https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1997_debut.html Hockey-Reference.com October 7, 2024 Nolan Pratt Jean-Sebastien Giguere December 12, 1996 Transactions The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season. Trades October 1, 1996To Anaheim Mighty DucksEspen KnutsenTo Hartford WhalersKevin Brown October 9, 1996To Detroit Red WingsBrendan Shanahan Brian GlynnTo Hartford WhalersPaul Coffey Keith Primeau 1st round pick in 1997 - Nikos Tselios November 9, 1996To Washington CapitalsAndrei NikolishinTo Hartford WhalersCurtis Leschyshyn December 15, 1996To Philadelphia FlyersPaul Coffey 3rd round pick in 1997 - Kris MalletteTo Hartford WhalersKevin Haller 1st round pick in 1997 - Scott Hannan 7th round pick in 1997 - Andrew Merrick March 5, 1997To Calgary FlamesHnat Domenichelli Glen Featherstone 2nd round pick in 1997 - Dmitri Kokorev 3rd round pick in 1998 - Paul ManningTo Hartford WhalersSteve Chiasson 3rd round pick in 1997 - Francis Lessard March 18, 1997To Toronto Maple LeafsKelly ChaseTo Hartford Whalers8th round pick in 1998 - Jaroslav Svoboda March 18, 1997To Anaheim Mighty DucksMark JanssensTo Hartford WhalersBates Battaglia 4th round pick in 1998 - Josef Vasicek March 18, 1997To New York Islanders5th round pick in 1997 - Adam EdingerTo Hartford WhalersDerek King March 18, 1997To Phoenix CoyotesGerald DiduckTo Hartford WhalersChris Murray Waivers October 2, 1996From Edmonton OilersKent Manderville October 12, 1996From Detroit Red WingsStu Grimson Free agents Player New Team Scott Daniels Philadelphia Flyers Brad McCrimmon Phoenix Coyotes David Williams Boston Bruins Kevin Smyth Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) John Stevens Philadelphia Flyers Draft picks Hartford's picks at the 1996 NHL entry draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.1996 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html www.hockeydb.com July 27, 2023 Round # Player Position Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)234Trevor WasylukLeft wingMedicine Hat Tigers (WHL)361Andrei PetruninRight wingCSKA Moscow (Russia)488Craig MacDonaldCenterHarvard University (ECAC)4104Steve WasylkoCenterDetroit Whalers (OHL)5116Mark McMahonDefenseKitchener Rangers (OHL)6143Aaron BakerGoaltenderTri-City Americans (WHL)7171Greg KuznikDefenseSeattle Thunderbirds (WHL)8197Kevin MarshLeft wingCalgary Hitmen (WHL)9223Craig AdamsRight wingHarvard University (ECAC)9231Askhat RakhmatullinLeft wingSalavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia) Departure from Hartford In 1994, Compuware founder Peter Karmanos purchased the Whalers. Karmanos pledged to keep the Whalers in Hartford for four years. Frustrated with lackluster attendance and corporate support, he announced in 1996 that if the Whalers were unable to sell at least 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season, he would likely move the team. Furthermore, ownership only made season tickets available in full-season (41-game) packages, eliminating the popular five- and ten-game "mini plans," in a strategy largely designed to spur purchases from wealthier corporations and individuals. Sales were underwhelming at the beginning of the campaign, and at the end of the 1995–96 season it was still unknown whether the Whalers would stay in Connecticut or move. However, thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign, and the creative efforts of many fans (who pooled together resources to purchase some of the full-season packages collectively) the Whalers announced that they would stay in Connecticut for the 1996–97 season. In early 1996, negotiations between the Whalers and Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland to build a new $147.5 million arena seemed to be going well. However, negotiations fell apart when Rowland and the State refused Karmanos' demand to reimburse the Whalers for up to $45 million in losses during the three years the new arena was to be built. As a result, the team announced on March 26, 1997, that they would leave Hartford, one of the few times that a team announced it would leave its current city without having already selected a new city. Many suspected that Governor John G. Rowland did not want to keep the Whalers, as he harbored hopes of instead landing an NFL franchise. Ideally, Rowland wanted to use the state's resources to build a new stadium to lure the New England Patriots to Connecticut and did not have serious intentions of building an NHL arena for the Whalers.How's It Goin', Pete? Part 4 http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=15 The Recorder 2008-01-14 https://web.archive.org/web/20070515165038/http://clubs.ccsu.edu/recorder/editorial/editorial_item.asp?NewsID=15 2007-05-15 dead The Patriots Nix Hartford, Stay in Foxboro - Background https://web.archive.org/web/20071013125150/http://sportslawnews.com/archive/articles%201999/Patriots1.html 2007-10-13 References Hartford Whalers 1996-97 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461997.html www.hockeydb.com July 16, 2023 1996-97 Hartford Whalers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1997.html Hockey-Reference.com July 16, 2023 1996-97 Category:1996–97 NHL season by team Hart Hart Category:20th century in Hartford, Connecticut