1991–92 Hartford Whalers season

The 1991–92 Hartford Whalers season saw the Whalers finish in fourth place in the Adams Division with a record of 26 wins, 41 losses, and 13 ties for 65 points. They lost the Adams Division semi-finals in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens, with Russ Courtnall scoring in double overtime of Game 7 at the Montreal Forum to end Hartford's season. This was the last time that the Whalers made the playoffs before moving to Raleigh.

1991–92 Hartford Whalers
Division4th Adams
Conference10th Wales
1991–92 record26–41–13
Home record13–17–10
Road record13–24–3
Goals for247
Goals against283
Team information
General managerEddie Johnston
CoachJim Roberts
CaptainRandy Ladouceur
Alternate captainsJohn Cullen
Pat Verbeek
ArenaHartford Civic Center
Average attendance10,896 (69.7%) [1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Springfield Indians (AHL)
Louisville IceHawks (ECHL)
Team leaders
GoalsJohn Cullen (26)
AssistsJohn Cullen (51)
PointsJohn Cullen (77)
Penalty minutesPat Verbeek (243)
Plus/minusMikael Andersson (+18)
WinsKay Whitmore (14)
Goals against averagePeter Sidorkiewicz (3.34)

Off-season

On May 29, the Whalers announced that head coach Rick Ley was relieved of his duties as head coach of the team. In two seasons, Ley led Hartford to a 69-71-20 record, earning two playoff berths.

On the following day, May 30, the Whalers lost Dave Babych to the Minnesota North Stars at the 1991 NHL Dispersal and Expansion Drafts. Babych appeared in only eight games with Hartford during the 1990-91 season, earning six assists. In 349 career games with the Whalers, Babych scored 44 goals and earned 240 points since joining the team in the 1985-86 season.

The Whalers announced the hiring of Jimmy Roberts as the new head coach of the club on June 7. Roberts was the head coach of the Springfield Indians from 1988-1991, leading the club to two Calder Cup championships in 1989-90 and 1990-91. Roberts had previous NHL head coaching experience with the Buffalo Sabres during the 1982-83 season, as he led the club to a 21-16-8 record in 45 games. As a player, Roberts played in 1006 career games with the Montreal Canadiens and St. Louis Blues in a career that spanned from 1963-1978. Roberts won five Stanley Cups as a player.

On June 21, the Whalers selected goaltender Shaun Gravistin from the University of Alaska Anchorage in the 1991 NHL Supplemental Draft.

The next day, the Whalers participated at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft held at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York. With the ninth overall selection in the first round, the club selected Patrick Poulin from the Saint-Hyacinthe Laser of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 56 games during the 1990-91 season, Poulin scored 32 goals and 70 points. In the third round, with the 59th overall selection, the Whalers selected Michael Nylander from Huddinge IK. In 33 games, Nylander scored 14 goals and 34 points. The only other player from the draft that would eventually play in the NHL was Jim Storm, who the Whalers selected in the fourth round.

On August 26, the Whalers acquired Paul Fenton from the Calgary Flames in exchange for future considerations. The future considerations would be a sixth round draft pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Fenton scored 10 goals and 27 points in 61 games as he split the 1990-91 with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Calgary Flames.

The Whalers signed free agent Mario Gosselin on September 4. Gosselin played with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL, posting a 24-15-4 record with a 3.86 GAA during the 1990-91 season. In 218 career NHL games, Gosselin earned a record of 86-94-13 with a 3.69 GAA while playing with the Quebec Nordiques and Los Angeles Kings from 1983-90.

The very next day, on September 5, the club announced the signing of Barry Pederson. Pederson spent the 1990-91 season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, scoring six goals and 14 points in 46 games. In 1982-83, Pederson scored a career high 46 goals while with the Boston Bruins. The next season with the Bruins in 1983-84, Pederson scored a career high 116 points. In 1986, the Bruins traded him to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Cam Neely and the Canucks first round selection at the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, in which Boston selected Glen Wesley.

On September 8, the Whalers traded Sylvain Cote to the Washington Capitals for future considerations. In 382 career games with Hartford, Cote scored 31 goals and 92 points since he broke into the NHL during the 1983-84 season. To complete the trade, the Capitals sent their second round draft pick in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.

The Whalers remained busy in September, as on September 17, the club acquired Andrew Cassels from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for the Whalers second round selection in the 1992 NHL Entry Draft. Cassels, the Canadiens first round draft pick with the 17th overall selection in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, scored six goals and 25 points in 51 games with Montreal during the 1990-91 season.

On October 2, the Whalers acquired Dan Keczmer from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for recently signed free agent Paul Fenton. Keczmer appeared in nine games with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1990-91, earning an assist. In 60 games with the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL, Keczmer scored four goals and 24 points.

The next day, on October 3, the Whalers traded Todd Krygier to the Washington Capitals in exchange for a fourth round draft pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Krygier scored 13 goals and 30 points in 72 games with the Whalers in the 1990-91 season. On the same day, Hartford acquired Lee Norwood from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for the Whalers fifth round draft pick in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft. Norwood split the 1990-91 season between the Detroit Red Wings and the Devils, as in 49 games, he scored six goals and 15 points.

NHL draft

Hartford's draft picks at the 1991 NHL Entry Draft held at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)
19Patrick Poulin CanadaSaint-Hyacinthe Laser (QMJHL)
231Martin Hamrlik CzechoslovakiaAC ZPS Zlín (Czechoslovakia)
353Todd Hall United StatesHamden High School (USHS-CT)
359Michael Nylander SwedenHuddinge IK (Sweden)
475Jim Storm United StatesMichigan Technological University (WCHA)
6119Mike Harding CanadaNorthern Michigan University (WCHA)
7141Brian Mueller United StatesSouth Kent School (USHS-CT)
8163Steven Yule CanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)
9185Chris Belanger CanadaWestern Michigan University (CCHA)
10207Jason Currie CanadaClarkson University (ECAC)
11229Mike Santonelli United StatesMatignon High School (USHS-MA)
12251Rob Peters United StatesOhio State University (CCHA)
S15Shaun Gravistin CanadaUniversity of Alaska Anchorage (WCHA)

Regular season

Final standings

Adams Division[2]
GP W L T GF GA Pts
1 Montreal Canadiens8041281126720793
2 Boston Bruins8036321227027584
3 Buffalo Sabres8031371228929974
4 Hartford Whalers8026411324728365
5 Quebec Nordiques8020481225531852

Schedule and results

Regular season

1991–92 game log
October: 5–3–2 (home: 3–1–2; road: 2–2–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
1October 5, 1991@ Quebec Nordiques2–4Quebec Coliseum0–1–00L1
2October 8, 1991Montreal Canadiens2–2OTHartford Civic Center0–1–11T1
3October 12, 1991New York Rangers5–2Hartford Civic Center1–1–13W1
4October 14, 1991@ Montreal Canadiens4–3Montreal Forum2–1–15W2
5October 16, 1991@ Winnipeg Jets3–2Winnipeg Arena3–1–17W3
6October 19, 1991Buffalo Sabres4–1Hartford Civic Center4–1–19W4
7October 23, 1991San Jose Sharks3–0Hartford Civic Center5–1–111W5
8October 26, 1991Chicago Blackhawks2–4Hartford Civic Center5–2–111L1
9October 27, 1991@ Buffalo Sabres1–5Buffalo Memorial Auditorium5–3–111L2
10October 30, 1991Los Angeles Kings4–4OTHartford Civic Center5–3–212T1
November: 6–7–1 (home: 2–3–1; road: 4–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
11November 1, 1991@ Detroit Red Wings5–8Hartford Civic Center5–4–212L1
12November 2, 1991@ Pittsburgh Penguins6–5Pittsburgh Civic Arena6–4–214W1
13November 6, 1991Calgary Flames2–3Hartford Civic Center6–5–214L1
14November 9, 1991@ St. Louis Blues4–3St. Louis Arena7–5–216W1
15November 10, 1991@ Chicago Blackhawks0–3Chicago Stadium7–6–216L1
16November 12, 1991Quebec Nordiques5–4Hartford Civic Center8–6–218W1
17November 14, 1991Montreal Canadiens2–2OTHartford Civic Center8–6–319T1
18November 16, 1991Boston Bruins4–5OTHartford Civic Center8–7–319L1
19November 17, 1991@ Toronto Maple Leafs3–1Maple Leaf Gardens9–7–321W1
20November 22, 1991@ New Jersey Devils2–8Brendan Byrne Arena9–8–321L1
21November 23, 1991Washington Capitals2–3Hartford Civic Center9–9–321L2
22November 25, 1991@ Quebec Nordiques2–5Quebec Coliseum9–10–321L3
23November 27, 1991@ Philadelphia Flyers7–3The Spectrum10–10–323W1
24November 30, 1991Montreal Canadiens3–2Hartford Civic Center11–10–325W2
December: 3–8–1 (home: 2–4–1; road: 1–4–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
25December 1, 1991@ Boston Bruins4–5Boston Garden11–11–325L1
26December 4, 1991Toronto Maple Leafs0–3Hartford Civic Center11–12–325L2
27December 7, 1991Buffalo Sabres6–6OTHartford Civic Center11–12–426T1
28December 13, 1991@ Buffalo Sabres8–4Buffalo Memorial Auditorium12–12–428W1
29December 14, 1991New York Rangers2–6Hartford Civic Center12–13–428L1
30December 17, 1991New York Islanders2–4Hartford Civic Center12–14–428L2
31December 19, 1991New Jersey Devils1–4Hartford Civic Center12–15–428L3
32December 21, 1991@ Montreal Canadiens2–3OTMontreal Forum12–16–428L4
33December 23, 1991Buffalo Sabres4–3Hartford Civic Center13–16–430W1
34December 26, 1991@ Boston Bruins2–3Boston Garden13–17–430L1
35December 28, 1991@ Quebec Nordiques1–4Quebec Coliseum13–18–430L2
36December 29, 1991New York Islanders6–4Hartford Civic Center14–18–432W1
January: 1–7–3 (home: 1–2–3; road: 0–5–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
37January 2, 1992Quebec Nordiques4–1Hartford Civic Center15–18–434W2
38January 4, 1992Washington Capitals2–2OTHartford Civic Center15–18–535T1
39January 9, 1992@ New York Islanders1–2Nassau Coliseum15–19–535L1
40January 11, 1992@ Montreal Canadiens2–3Montreal Forum15–20–535L2
41January 15, 1992Boston Bruins3–4Hartford Civic Center15–21–535L3
42January 16, 1992@ Boston Bruins3–4OTBoston Garden15–22–535L4
43rd All-Star Game in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
43January 21, 1992Winnipeg Jets3–3OTHartford Civic Center15–22–636T1
44January 25, 1992Boston Bruins4–4OTHartford Civic Center15–22–737T2
45January 26, 1992@ Montreal Canadiens1–3Montreal Forum15–23–737L1
46January 28, 1992Minnesota North Stare3–4Hartford Civic Center15–24–737L2
47January 31, 1992@ Edmonton Oilers1–4Northlands Coliseum15–25–737L3
February: 4–6–4 (home: 2–3–2; road: 2–3–2)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
48February 1, 1992@ Vancouver Canucks4–4OTPacific Coliseum15–25–838T1
49February 4, 1992@ San Jose Sharks5–6Cow Palace15–26–838L1
50February 6, 1992@ Los Angeles Kings5–5OTGreat Western Forum15–26–939T1
51February 9, 1992Minnesota North Stars4–4OTHartford Civic Center15–26–1040T2
52February 11, 1992Buffalo Sabres5–1Hartford Civic Center16–26–1042W1
53February 13, 1992Edmonton Oilers1–3Hartford Civic Center16–27–1042L1
54February 15, 1992@ New Jersey Devils1–4Hartford Civic Center16–28–1044W1
55February 16, 1992@ Buffalo Sabres4–5Buffalo Memorial Auditorium16–29–1044L1
56February 19, 1992Montreal Canadiens2–2OTHartford Civic Center16–29–1145T1
57February 22, 1992Quebec Nordiques4–0Hartford Civic Center17–29–1145L1
58February 23, 1992Detroit Red Wings0–4Hartford Civic Center17–30–1145L2
59February 25, 1992St. Louis Blues2–5Hartford Civic Center17–31–1145L3
60February 27, 1992@ Pittsburgh Penguins8–4Pittsburgh Civic Arena18–31–1147W1
61February 29, 1992@ Minnesota North Stars5–4Met Center19–31–1149W2
March: 6–9–2 (home: 3–4–1; road: 3–5–1)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
62March 1, 1992@ New York Rangers4–9Madison Square Garden19–32–1149L1
63March 3, 1992Boston Bruins4–0Hartford Civic Center20–32–1151W1
64March 5, 1992Quebec Nordiques4–10Hartford Civic Center20–33–1151L1
65March 7, 1992Vancouver Canucks1–5Hartford Civic Center20–34–1151L2
66March 9, 1992@ Quebec Nordiques0–2Quebec Coliseum20–35–1151L3
67March 11, 1992Los Angeles Kings4–0Hartford Civic Center21–35–1153W1
68March 13, 1992@ Winnipeg Jets1–0Winnipeg Arena22–35–1155W2
69March 14, 1992@ Edmonton Oilers1–3Northlands Coliseum22–36–1155L1
70March 16, 1992@ Calgary Flames4–3Olympic Saddledome23–36–1157W1
71March 18, 1992@ Vancouver Canucks2–3Pacific Coliseum23–37–1157L1
72March 21, 1992San Jose Sharks4–5Hartford Civic Center23–38–1157L2
73March 22, 1992Pittsburgh Penguins2–2OTHartford Civic Center23–38–1258T1
74March 24, 1992@ Washington Capitals8–2Capital Centre24–38–1260W1
75March 26, 1992@ St. Louis Blues2–7Hartford Civic Center24–39–1260L1
76March 28, 1992Chicago Blackhawks1–3Hartford Civic Center24–40–1260L2
77March 29, 1992@ Buffalo Sabres2–2OTBuffalo Memorial Auditorium24–40–1361T1
April: 2–1–0 (home: 1–0–0; road: 1–1–0)
GameDateOpponentScoreOTDecisionLocationAttendanceRecordPointsRecap
78April 12, 1992Philadelphia Flyers4–2Hartford Civic Center25–40–1363W1
79April 13, 1992@ Boston Bruins3–6Boston Garden25–41–1363L1
80April 15, 1992@ Philadelphia Flyers4–3OTThe Spectrum26–41–1365W1
1991–92 schedule

  Win (2 Points)   Loss (0 points)   Tie (1 point)

Playoffs

1992 Stanley Cup playoffs

Legend:   Win   Loss

Player statistics

Regular season

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM +/- PPG SHG GWG
John CullenC77265177141-281004
Pat VerbeekRW76223557243-161003
Zarley ZalapskiD79203757120-7403
Murray CravenLW6124305438-4841
Mikael AnderssonLW741829471418131
Bobby HolikC76212445444102
Andrew CasselsC67113041183223
Rob BrownRW4216153139-141302
Geoff SandersonLW64131831185201
Brad ShawD6232225441000
Adam BurtD669152493-16401
Marc BergevinD757172464-13411
Mark HunterRW63101323159-8500
Yvon CorriveauLW3812820365300
Randy CunneyworthLW397101771-5001
Steve KonroydD332101232-5100
James BlackLW30461010-4101
Randy LadouceurD741910127-1000
Doug HoudaD56369125-2101
Michel PicardLW253586-2100
Jim McKenzieLW6751687-6000
Kevin DineenRW1642623-6101
Mark GreigRW1705567000
Barry PedersonC52240-2100
Ed KastelicW2513461-4000
John StevensD2104419-4000
Paul CyrLW1703319-4000
Joe DayC2403310-2000
Daniel ShankRW1320218-4000
Terry YakeC151124-2000
Paul GillisC12022480000
Peter SidorkiewiczG3501120000
Kay WhitmoreG45011160000
Jergus BacaD10000-1000
Dan KeczmerD10000-1000
Lee NorwoodD6000160000
Frank PietrangeloG500000000
Patrick PoulinC10002-1000
Todd RichardsD60002-2000
Chris TancillC100002-6000
Mike TomlakC/LW60000-2000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L T GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Kay Whitmore256745142161553.62312921137.880
Peter Sidorkiewicz19953591961113.342940829.882
Frank Pietrangelo3065311122.350156144.923
Team:4868802641132783.43523882110.884

Playoffs

Scoring
Player Pos GP G A Pts PIM PPG SHG GWG
Murray CravenLW73366010
Andrew CasselsC72466100
Yvon CorriveauLW732518201
Zarley ZalapskiD72356000
Randy CunneyworthLW73039111
John CullenC721312101
Patrick PoulinC72130100
Todd RichardsD50334000
Mikael AnderssonLW70226000
Doug HoudaD602213000
Pat VerbeekRW702212000
Geoff SandersonLW71012000
Paul GillisC50110000
Bobby HolikC70116000
Steve KonroydD70112000
Randy LadouceurD701111000
Brad ShawD30114000
Marc BergevinD50002000
Adam BurtD20000000
Mark HunterRW40006000
Frank PietrangeloG70000000
Daniel ShankRW500022000
Kay WhitmoreG10000000
Goaltending
Player MIN GP W L GA GAA SO SA SV SV%
Frank Pietrangelo425734192.680244225.922
Kay Whitmore1910013.16054.800
Team:444734202.700249229.920

[3]

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/- = Plus-minus PIM = Penalty minutes; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals;
      MIN = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA=Shots against; SV=Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;

Transactions

The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1991–92 season.

Trades

June 22, 1991 To Winnipeg Jets
Ray Neufeld
To Hartford Whalers
Dave Babych
June 22, 1991 To Minnesota North Stars
5th round pick in 1991 - Mike Kennedy
To Hartford Whalers
Future Considerations - Jukka Suomalainen on Nov. 21/91
August 26, 1991 To Calgary Flames
6th round pick in 1992 - Joel Bouchard
To Hartford Whalers
Paul Fenton
September 8, 1991 To Washington Capitals
Sylvain Cote
To Hartford Whalers
2nd round pick in 1992 - Andrei Nikolishin
September 17, 1991 To Montreal Canadiens
2nd round pick in 1992 - Valeri Bure
To Hartford Whalers
Andrew Cassels
October 2, 1991 To San Jose Sharks
Dean Evason
To Hartford Whalers
Dan Keczmer
October 3, 1991 To New Jersey Devils
5th round pick in 1993 - John Guirestante
To Hartford Whalers
Lee Norwood
October 3, 1991 To Washington Capitals
Todd Krygier
To Hartford Whalers
4th round pick in 1993 - Jason Smith
October 18, 1991 To San Jose Sharks
Paul Fenton
To Hartford Whalers
Mike McHugh
November 13, 1991 To St. Louis Blues
Lee Norwood
To Hartford Whalers
5th round pick in 1993 - Nolan Pratt
November 13, 1991 To Philadelphia Flyers
Kevin Dineen
To Hartford Whalers
Murray Craven
4th round pick in 1992 - Kevin Smyth
November 14, 1991 To Boston Bruins
Barry Pederson
To Hartford Whalers
Future Considerations
December 18, 1991 To Detroit Red Wings
Chris Tancill
To Hartford Whalers
Daniel Shank
January 24, 1992 To Chicago Blackhawks
Rob Brown
To Hartford Whalers
Steve Konroyd
January 27, 1992 To Chicago Blackhawks
Paul Gillis
To Hartford Whalers
Future Considerations
March 10, 1992 To Pittsburgh Penguins
3rd round pick in 1994 - Sven Butenschon
7th round pick in 1994 - Serge Aubin
To Hartford Whalers
Frank Pietrangelo

Free agents

PlayerFormer Team
Shawn EvansBoston Bruins
Mario GosselinLos Angeles Kings
Barry PedersonPittsburgh Penguins
PlayerNew Team
Chris LindbergCalgary Flames

References

  1. "Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph". hockeydb.com.
  2. "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  3. "1991-92 Hartford Whalers Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
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