1988–89 Hartford Whalers season

The 1988–89 Hartford Whalers season saw the team finish in fourth place in the Adams Division with a record of 37 wins, 38 losses, and 5 ties for 79 points. They were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in four straight games in the Division Semi-finals.

1988–89 Hartford Whalers
Division4th Adams
Conference8th Wales
1988–89 record37–38–5
Home record21–17–2
Road record16–21–3
Goals for299
Goals against290
Team information
General managerEmile Francis
CoachLarry Pleau
CaptainRon Francis
Alternate captainsKevin Dineen
Dave Tippett
Joel Quenneville
ArenaHartford Civic Center
Average attendance13,821 (90.8%) [1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Binghamton Whalers (AHL)
Indianapolis Ice (IHL)
Team leaders
GoalsKevin Dineen (45)
AssistsRon Francis (48)
PointsKevin Dineen (89)
Penalty minutesUlf Samuelsson (181)
Plus/minusUlf Samuelsson (+23)
WinsPeter Sidorkiewicz (22)
Goals against averagePeter Sidorkiewicz (3.03)

Off-season

On June 11, 1988, the 1988 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. With their first round draft pick, the Whalers selected left winger Chris Govedaris from the Toronto Marlboros of the Ontario Hockey League. Govedaris scored 42 goals and 80 points in 69 games with the Marlboros during the 1987-88 season. With their second round selection, Hartford selected Barry Richter from the Culver Military Academy, where he scored 24 goals and 53 points in 35 games.

At the 1988 NHL Supplemental Draft, the Whalers selected Todd Krygier from the University of Connecticut. In 27 games with the Huskies, Krygier scored 32 goals and 71 points to lead the team in scoring. Following his season with Connecticut, Krygier signed with the New Haven Nighthawks of the American Hockey League, where he scored a goal and six points in 13 games during the 1987-88 season.

The Whalers signed Bob Bodak as a free agent on July 1st. Bobak appeared in three games with the Calgary Flames during the 1987-88, earning no points and 22 penalty minutes. He played a majority of the season with the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL, where in 44 games, Bobak scored 12 goals and 22 points.

On July 6, the Whalers acquired Grant Jennings and Ed Kastelic from the Washington Capitals in exchange for Neil Sheehy and Mike Millar. Jennings appeared in one post-season game with the Capitals, earning no points. He spent the rest of the season with the Binghamton Whalers of the American Hockey League, where he scored two goals and 14 points in 56 games during the 1987-88. Kastelic scored one goal in 35 games with the Capitals during the 1987-88 season.

On August 3, Hartford signed free agent Al Tuer. Tuer appeared in six games with the Minnesota North Stars during the 1987-88 season, scoring one goal. In 68 games with the Kalamazoo Wings of the IHL, Tuer scored two goals and 17 points, while racking up 303 penalty minutes. The Whalers also signed Larry Trader, who scored two goals and six points in 30 games with the Montreal Canadiens during 1987-88.

At the waiver draft held on October 3, the Whalers lost Stew Gavin and Tom Martin to the Minnesota North Stars.

Draft picks

Hartford's selections at the 1988 NHL Entry Draft:

Pick #PlayerPositionNationalityCollege/junior/club team
11Chris GovedarisLeft Wing CanadaToronto Marlboros (OHL)
32Barry RichterDefense United StatesCulver Military Academy (USHS-IN)
74Dean DyerCenter CanadaLake Superior State University (NCAA)
95Scott MorrowLeft Wing United StatesNorthwood School (USHS-NY)
116Corey BeaulieuLeft Wing United StatesNorthwood School (USHS-NY)
137Kerry RussellCenter CanadaMichigan State University (NCAA)
158Jim BurkeDefense United StatesUniversity of Maine (NCAA)
179Mark HirthCenter United StatesMichigan State University (NCAA)
200Wayde BucsisLeft Wing CanadaPrince Albert Raiders (WHL)
221Rob WhiteDefense CanadaSt. Lawrence University (NCAA)
242Dan SlatallaCenter United StatesDeerfield Academy (USHS-MA)
STodd KrygierLeft Wing United StatesUniversity of Connecticut (Atlantic Hockey)

Regular season

The Whalers finished the regular season with the fewest short-handed goals scored (3) and the most short-handed goals allowed (18).[2]

Final standings
Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA Pts
Montreal Canadiens8053189315218115
Boston Bruins8037291428925688
Buffalo Sabres803835729129983
Hartford Whalers803738529929079
Quebec Nordiques802746726934261

[3]Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
Note: Teams that qualified for the playoffs are highlighted in bold.

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 6, 19882–5Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)0–1–0
2LOctober 8, 19882–6Boston Bruins (1988–89)0–2–0
3LOctober 9, 19881–3@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)0–3–0
4WOctober 12, 19884–3@ New York Rangers (1988–89)1–3–0
5WOctober 15, 19887–5Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)2–3–0
6LOctober 19, 19884–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)2–4–0
7WOctober 22, 19888–6Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)3–4–0
8WOctober 26, 19887–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)4–4–0
9LOctober 28, 19883–5@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)4–5–0
10WOctober 29, 19883–0New Jersey Devils (1988–89)5–5–0
11LNovember 1, 19883–5Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)5–6–0
12WNovember 3, 19885–3@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)6–6–0
13LNovember 5, 19882–3 OTVancouver Canucks (1988–89)6–7–0
14LNovember 7, 19883–6@ Calgary Flames (1988–89)6–8–0
15TNovember 9, 19881–1 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)6–8–1
16LNovember 10, 19882–7@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)6–9–1
17WNovember 12, 19883–1@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)7–9–1
18LNovember 16, 19883–4Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)7–10–1
19LNovember 18, 19882–3@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)7–11–1
20LNovember 19, 19882–5Calgary Flames (1988–89)7–12–1
21WNovember 23, 19884–3Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)8–12–1
22WNovember 26, 19884–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)9–12–1
23LNovember 30, 19883–6Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)9–13–1
24WDecember 2, 19886–1@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)10–13–1
25LDecember 3, 19882–4Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)10–14–1
26WDecember 6, 19889–0Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)11–14–1
27WDecember 8, 19885–4New York Rangers (1988–89)12–14–1
28WDecember 10, 19884–1Calgary Flames (1988–89)13–14–1
29LDecember 14, 19883–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)13–15–1
30TDecember 15, 19883–3 OT@ St. Louis Blues (1988–89)13–15–2
31LDecember 17, 19882–4Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)13–16–2
32LDecember 19, 19881–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)13–17–2
33LDecember 21, 19883–4Boston Bruins (1988–89)13–18–2
34LDecember 23, 19884–5@ Philadelphia Flyers (1988–89)13–19–2
35LDecember 26, 19883–4 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)13–20–2
36TDecember 28, 19884–4 OT@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)13–20–3
37WDecember 30, 19884–3Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)14–20–3
38WDecember 31, 19883–2@ Detroit Red Wings (1988–89)15–20–3
39LJanuary 2, 19894–5@ New York Rangers (1988–89)15–21–3
40WJanuary 4, 19895–4 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)16–21–3
41WJanuary 10, 19892–1@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)17–21–3
42LJanuary 14, 19896–9@ Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)17–22–3
43LJanuary 16, 19893–5@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)17–23–3
44LJanuary 18, 19891–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)17–24–3
45WJanuary 19, 19896–4Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)18–24–3
46WJanuary 21, 19895–4Los Angeles Kings (1988–89)19–24–3
47WJanuary 23, 19895–0@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)20–24–3
48TJanuary 25, 19893–3 OTSt. Louis Blues (1988–89)20–24–4
49WJanuary 27, 19898–6@ New Jersey Devils (1988–89)21–24–4
50LJanuary 28, 19892–3 OTQuebec Nordiques (1988–89)21–25–4
51LJanuary 31, 19893–5Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)21–26–4
52LFebruary 3, 19890–1@ Washington Capitals (1988–89)21–27–4
53LFebruary 4, 19893–5@ New York Islanders (1988–89)21–28–4
54WFebruary 9, 19895–2Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)22–28–4
55WFebruary 11, 19897–3Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)23–28–4
56WFebruary 15, 19894–2@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)24–28–4
57WFebruary 18, 19894–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1988–89)25–28–4
58LFebruary 19, 19896–7 OT@ Winnipeg Jets (1988–89)25–29–4
59LFebruary 21, 19894–7@ Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)25–30–4
60WFebruary 23, 19894–2Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)26–30–4
61LFebruary 25, 19891–9Boston Bruins (1988–89)26–31–4
62WFebruary 26, 19898–6Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)27–31–4
63WFebruary 28, 19893–1@ New York Islanders (1988–89)28–31–4
64WMarch 2, 19892–1Vancouver Canucks (1988–89)29–31–4
65LMarch 4, 19891–6Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)29–32–4
66WMarch 5, 19893–0Toronto Maple Leafs (1988–89)30–32–4
67WMarch 8, 19897–3Edmonton Oilers (1988–89)31–32–4
68LMarch 11, 19893–5@ Montreal Canadiens (1988–89)31–33–4
69TMarch 12, 19893–3 OTPhiladelphia Flyers (1988–89)31–33–5
70WMarch 14, 19898–2New York Islanders (1988–89)32–33–5
71LMarch 16, 19891–6Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)32–34–5
72LMarch 18, 19892–8Washington Capitals (1988–89)32–35–5
73WMarch 19, 19893–2@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)33–35–5
74WMarch 22, 19894–2Boston Bruins (1988–89)34–35–5
75LMarch 23, 19893–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1988–89)34–36–5
76WMarch 25, 19894–0St. Louis Blues (1988–89)35–36–5
77LMarch 28, 19892–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1988–89)35–37–5
78WMarch 30, 19899–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1988–89)36–37–5
79WApril 1, 19896–1Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)37–37–5
80LApril 2, 19892–3@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)37–38–5

Playoffs

Division semi-finals

Hartford Whalers vs. Montreal Canadiens

Date Away Score Home Score Notes
April 5Hartford Whalers2Montreal Canadiens6
April 6Hartford Whalers2Montreal Canadiens3
April 8Montreal Canadiens5Hartford Whalers4(OT)
April 9Montreal Canadiens4Hartford Whalers3

Montreal wins best-of-seven series 4 games to 0

Player statistics

Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G AST PTS PIM
Kevin Dineen79454489167
Ron Francis6929487736
Ray Ferraro8041357686
Scott Young7619405927
Paul MacDermid74172744141
Dave Tippett8017244145
John Anderson6216244028
Jody Hull6016183410
Sylvain Turgeon4216143040
Dean Evason6711172860
Brian Lawton3510162628
Carey Wilson3411112214
Brent Peterson664131761
Don Maloney213111423
Tom Martin387613113
Torrie Robertson2724684
Ed Kastelic1002215
Mark Reeds70226
Dallas Gaume41120
Terry Yake20000
Jim Thomson500014

Defensemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points

Player GP G AST PTS PIM
Dave Babych706414754
Ulf Samuelsson7192635181
Norm Maciver371222324
Sylvain Côté78891749
Grant Jennings5531013159
Joel Quenneville69471132
Randy Ladouceur7525795
Brad Shaw31010
Scot Kleinendorst2401136
Al Tuer400023
Adam Burt50006
Jim Pavese50005

Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against

Player GP W L T SO GAA
Peter Sidorkiewicz442218443.03
Mike Liut351319114.25
Kay Whitmore321003.33

[4]

Awards and records

Transactions

The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1988–89 season.

Trades
July 6, 1988 To Washington Capitals
Neil Sheehy
Mike Millar		 To Hartford Whalers
Grant Jennings
Ed Kastelic
October 6, 1988 To Chicago Blackhawks
Future Considerations		 To Hartford Whalers
Mark LaVarre
December 26, 1988 To New York Rangers
Carey Wilson
5th round pick in 1990 - Lubos Rob		 To Hartford Whalers
Brian Lawton
Don Maloney
Norm Maciver
March 6, 1989 To Washington Capitals
Scot Kleinendorst		 To Hartford Whalers
Jim Thomson
March 7, 1989 To Detroit Red Wings
Torrie Robertson		 To Hartford Whalers
Jim Pavese

Waivers
October 3, 1988 To Minnesota North Stars
Stew Gavin
October 3, 1988 To Minnesota North Stars
Tom Martin
December 1, 1988 From Minnesota North Stars
Tom Martin

Free agents
PlayerFormer Team
Mike TomlakUniversity of Western Ontario (OUAA)
Ross McKayUniversity of Saskatchewan (CWUAA)
Bob BodakCalgary Flames
Al TuerMinnesota North Stars
Larry TraderMontreal Canadiens
Chris LindbergUniversity of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA)
PlayerNew Team
Gord ShervenSportbund DJK Rosenheim (Germany)
Mike McEwenEHC Olten (Switzerland)
Shawn CroninWashington Capitals

Roster
1988-89 Hartford Whalers
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

References
  1. https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045
  2. https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1989.html
  3. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  4. 1988-89 Hartford Whalers at Hockey Reference
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