A Tribute to the Hartford Whalers

A Tribute to the Hartford Whalers
By Jim Iovino, Ace Reporter

Editor's Note: This article originally ran in issue 8, which was published on November 30, 1994.
What do you think of when you hear the words "Hartford Whalers"? Probably a bunch of drunken sailors with blubber stuck in their teeth, right? Well, LCS is about to change that. When you hear the words "Hartford Whalers" from now on, we want you to think of a damn cool hockey team that plays in the NHL.
Sure, we know we've stuck it to the Whale pretty hard in past issues of LCS, but it's only because we care so much about them. We feel that they're like a little brother to us. And what do big brothers do to little brothers? Taunt them as much, and as often, as possible. But this issue you will see no Whale bashing, unless it is done subliminally.
So, in hopes of persuading some of you out there to come join us in our quest to save the Whale, here now is the history of the Hartford Whaler franchise, in its entirety.
The Hartford Whalers started out as one of the original teams in the World Hockey Association as the New England Whalers. The inaugural season for the Whale was quite a success. They finished first overall during the regular season with a record of 46-30-2 (94 points) and went on to win the first-ever Avco World Cup over Bobby Hull's Winnipeg Jets. The Whalers finished first in the league the next two seasons, but they never got out of the first round of the playoffs either year. The fans didn't know it then, but it would take the Whale twelve seasons to finish first in a division again.
The team floundered in mediocrity for the next few years until "Mr. Hockey" and family saved the day. Gordie, Mark, and Marty Howe graced New England with their presence after a few seasons with the Houston Aeros, who had just recently dropped out of the WHA due to financial problems. Without the Howes, hockey might not have survived in Hartford, either. In their first season in New England (1977-78), they led the Whale to a respectable 44-31-5 record, good enough for second place during the regular season. Unfortunately, their magic ran out in the playoffs, and they lost in the finals.
The Whalers only spent one more season in the WHA, because in 1979, the WHA merged with the National Hockey League. Four out of the six teams that were still around for the final season in the World Hockey Association became part of the NHL. These four were the Edmonton Oilers, Quebec Nordiques, Winnipeg Jets, and the Whale, who officially changed their name to the Hartford Whalers. For those who don't know, the two leagues merged for a couple reasons. The WHA had always been a thorn in the side of the NHL, constantly trying to sign their top stars and driving the salaries of all players up around the league. Also, the NHL was starting to lose money because the WHA was catching on with fans around the country.
The first season for the Hartford Whalers turned out to be the last for the great Gordie Howe. Howe finished his career as the best player the game had ever seen. Gordie's career ended in style as he scored his 801st, and final, NHL goal in the last game of the season. Howe still calls Hartford home. He lives in Glastonbury, Connecticut, which is just east of the city.
The team finished 14th overall in the league that season, but that was expected because of the expansion draft which raped the newborn clubs of most of their young talent. Hartford did make the playoffs, though. Their first action in the postseason was against the Montreal Canadiens, who have perhaps the greatest playoff history of any team in professional sports. As predicted, the Whale were swept in three straight games by Les Canadiens.
Hartford's first two seasons were spent in the Norris Division before finally planting roots in the Adams Division. The Whale did not make the playoffs again until 1986. They finished fourth in their division and had to play the Quebec Nordiques, who won the Adams during the regular season. To everyone's surprise, the Whalers beat the Nords in six games. Their celebration didn't last long, however, as they lost to the Canadiens in the next series. Montreal then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The playoff victory over the Nordiques raised the spirits of everyone in the Hartford area that year. The Whalers looked as if they were finally going to contend with the big dogs in the league. They drafted wisely during this time, stockpiling their team with some talented players. Ron Francis, Sylvain Turgeon, Kevin Dineen, Ray Ferraro, and Ulf Samuelsson were all drafted by the Whalers without them having to make any trades. The season proved further that the Whale were for real. They clinched their first Adams Division title by winning 43 games during the regular season. But oh, how things run in cycles. Hartford had to play the Nordiques in the first round of the playoffs, and well, as you might have guessed, they lost in six.
After that tough loss to Quebec, the Whalers were never the same. They finished fourth in the Adams Division the next five years straight. Because of the playoff system installed then, Hartford had to play the top team in the division each year, which was usually either a strong Boston Bruin team or the equally powerful Canadiens. Twice in those five seasons, the Whale took their opponent to seven games and two other times they extended a series to six games.
Because of their mediocre seasons, they ended up with mediocre draft picks. Soon, the front office panicked because the fans were losing interest and the team was losing money. They started trading off some of their best players in hopes of adding a spark to a sleepy lineup. The one trade that hurt the team more than anything else happened towards the end of the 1990-91 season. The Whalers traded their captain and franchise leader in games, goals, assists, and points, Ron Francis. He was a fan favorite in Hartford and the heart and soul of the team. Francis, Ulf Samuelsson, and Grant Jennings were traded to Pittsburgh just in time for the playoffs. In return, the Penguins sent John Cullen, Zarley Zalapski, and Jeff Parker to Hartford. This could arguably be one of the most lopsided trades in NHL history. Since the trade, Francis and Samuelsson have led the Pens to two Stanley Cups, while none of the players acquired by the Whalers are still with the team.
Most of the other stars from the teams of the mid-80s have also been traded away, except for Pat Verbeek, who is still plugging away on Hartford's top line. Once all the established players were traded, management went to work on the rookies. At least four of Hartford's top prospects were dealt in a span of two years.
Now the team has started with a clean slate. They have started to inject a shot of youth into their lineup with the additions of Chris Pronger, Geoff Sanderson, and hopefully this year's top pick, Jeff O'Neill. To go along with the youth, management has gone out and acquired some experienced players such as veteran blueliner Glen Wesley.
These moves, along with a new ownership group, have made the outlook bright for the Hartford Whalers. As long as the fans come back and support the team like they have done in the past, Hartford should be able to compete with success against the other teams in the NHL.
The Hartford Whalers have always been underdogs, and it's fun to root for the underdog. We have a special place in our hearts for the Whalers here at LCS Towers. Why don't you come along and join LCS in our efforts to "SAVE THE WHALE!"