1989–90 Hartford Whalers season

The 1988–90 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' eleventh season in the National Hockey League.

1989–90 Hartford Whalers
Division4th Adams
Conference5th Wales
1989–90 record38–33–9
Home record17–18–5
Road record21–15–4
Goals for275
Goals against268
Team information
General managerEddie Johnston
CoachRick Ley
CaptainRon Francis
Alternate captainsDave Tippett
Joel Quenneville
ArenaHartford Civic Center
Average attendance13,705 (87.7%) [1]
Minor league affiliate(s)Binghamton Whalers (AHL)
Team leaders
GoalsPat Verbeek (44)
AssistsRon Francis (69)
PointsRon Francis (101)
Penalty minutesPat Verbeek (228)
Plus/minusUlf Samuelsson (+15)
WinsPeter Sidorkiewicz (19)
Goals against averageMike Liut (2.64)

Offseason

On May 12, 1989, the Whalers announced that general manager Emile Francis would be promoted to team president. Replacing Francis as general manager of the club was Eddie Johnston. Johnston had previously held the general manager position with the Pittsburgh Penguins from 1983-1988. During his tenure with the Penguins, the club drafted Mario Lemieux with the first overall selection in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.

Four days later, on May 16, Johnston fired head coach Larry Pleau. Pleau led the Whalers to a 81-117-26 record over parts of five seasons as head coach of the club from 1980-1988. Pleau also had previously been the general manager of the club from 1981-1983. Just over two weeks later, Hartford hired Rick Ley to take over as head coach of the team. Ley had played with the Whalers when they played in the World Hockey Association from 1972-79, then in the National Hockey League from 1979-1981. Ley would have his number retired by the club on December 26, 1982. In 1981-82, Ley worked as an assistant coach with the Whalers. Midway in the 1982-83, Ley took over head coaching duties with the Binghamton Whalers, leading them to a 22-17-5 record in 44 games. From 1984-1988, Ley was the head coach of the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the IHL, leading the club to three 50+ win seasons in four years, while winning the Turner Cup during the 1985-86 season. In 1988-89, Ley coached the Milwaukee Admirals, leading the team to a 54-23-5 record in his only season with the club.

At the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota on June 17th, the Whalers selected Bobby Holik from Dukla Jihlava of the Czechoslovak Extraliga. In 36 games during the 1988-89 season, Holik scored 10 goals and 25 points in 35 games. Other notable selections that Hartford made include Blair Atcheynum, Jim McKenzie, James Black, Scott Daniels and Michel Picard.

At the draft, the Whalers made a trade with the New Jersey Devils. Hartford acquired Pat Verbeek from the Devils in exchange for Sylvain Turgeon. In 1988-89, Verbeek scored 26 goals and 47 points in 77 games. His best season with New Jersey was in 1987-88, as Verbeek scored 46 goals and 77 points in 73 games, helping the club reach the post-season for the first time since the team relocated to New Jersey. In 463 career games, Verbeek scored 170 goals and 320 points since joining the Devils in 1982.

At the 1989 NHL Supplemental Draft, the Whalers selected Chris Tancill. In 44 games during the 1988-89 season with the Wisconsin Badgers, Tancill scored 20 goals and 43 points.

On July 1, Brent Peterson announced his retirement from hockey. Nineteen days later, the Whalers hired Peterson as an assistant coach.

The Whalers acquired Mikael Andersson from the Minnesota North Stars at the Waiver Draft held on October 2. Andersson played in 14 games with the Buffalo Sabres during the 1988-89 season, earning an assist. In 56 games with the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League, Andersson scored 18 goals and 51 points.

Regular season

Final standings
Adams Division
GP W L T GF GA PTS
Boston Bruins8046259289232101
Buffalo Sabres804527828624898
Montreal Canadiens8041281128823493
Hartford Whalers803833927526885
Quebec Nordiques801261724040731

[2]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.

Wales Conference[3]
R Div GP W L T GF GA Pts
1p – Boston BruinsADM8046259289232101
2Buffalo SabresADM804527828624898
3Montreal CanadiensADM8041281128823493
4Hartford WhalersADM803833927526885
5New York RangersPTK8036311327926785
6New Jersey DevilsPTK803734929528883
7Washington CapitalsPTK803638628427578
8New York IslandersPTK8031381128128873
9Pittsburgh PenguinsPTK803240831835972
10Philadelphia FlyersPTK8030391129029771
11Quebec NordiquesADM801261724040731

Divisions: PTK – Patrick, ADM – Adams

bold – Qualified for playoffs; p – Won Presidents' Trophy

Schedule and results
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 5, 19891–4Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)0–1–0
2LOctober 7, 19894–6Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)0–2–0
3WOctober 8, 19899–6@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)1–2–0
4WOctober 11, 19894–1Washington Capitals (1989–90)2–2–0
5LOctober 13, 19891–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)2–3–0
6LOctober 14, 19892–3New Jersey Devils (1989–90)2–4–0
7WOctober 18, 19892–1Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)3–4–0
8LOctober 19, 19893–7@ New York Rangers (1989–90)3–5–0
9TOctober 21, 19893–3 OTDetroit Red Wings (1989–90)3–5–1
10LOctober 23, 19892–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)3–6–1
11WOctober 25, 19892–0Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)4–6–1
12WOctober 26, 19897–3@ New Jersey Devils (1989–90)5–6–1
13WOctober 28, 19891–0@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)6–6–1
14LNovember 1, 19893–5St. Louis Blues (1989–90)6–7–1
15WNovember 3, 19894–3@ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90)7–7–1
16WNovember 4, 19896–3Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)8–7–1
17LNovember 8, 19893–6Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)8–8–1
18WNovember 10, 19894–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)9–8–1
19LNovember 12, 19892–4@ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)9–9–1
20WNovember 14, 19893–0@ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90)10–9–1
21LNovember 15, 19892–5Boston Bruins (1989–90)10–10–1
22LNovember 18, 19892–3New York Rangers (1989–90)10–11–1
23LNovember 22, 19892–4Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)10–12–1
24WNovember 25, 19895–2Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)11–12–1
25LNovember 26, 19892–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)11–13–1
26LNovember 28, 19892–4Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)11–14–1
27WNovember 30, 19895–3@ St. Louis Blues (1989–90)12–14–1
28WDecember 2, 19894–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)13–14–1
29LDecember 6, 19893–4New York Islanders (1989–90)13–15–1
30WDecember 7, 19894–3@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)14–15–1
31WDecember 9, 19897–3New Jersey Devils (1989–90)15–15–1
32LDecember 13, 19892–5Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)15–16–1
33WDecember 14, 19893–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)16–16–1
34LDecember 16, 19892–5Washington Capitals (1989–90)16–17–1
35WDecember 19, 19898–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)17–17–1
36WDecember 20, 19894–3Boston Bruins (1989–90)18–17–1
37WDecember 23, 19894–3Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)19–17–1
38TDecember 26, 19893–3 OT@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)19–17–2
39LDecember 30, 19893–7@ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)19–18–2
40LJanuary 3, 19902–4Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)19–19–2
41LJanuary 5, 19904–6@ Calgary Flames (1989–90)19–20–2
42TJanuary 6, 19904–4 OT@ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90)19–20–3
43WJanuary 10, 19903–1@ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)20–20–3
44WJanuary 13, 19906–3@ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90)21–20–3
45LJanuary 15, 19901–4@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)21–21–3
46TJanuary 17, 19905–5 OTBoston Bruins (1989–90)21–21–4
47TJanuary 19, 19903–3 OTCalgary Flames (1989–90)21–21–5
48WJanuary 23, 19904–2New York Islanders (1989–90)22–21–5
49LJanuary 25, 19902–3@ St. Louis Blues (1989–90)22–22–5
50WJanuary 27, 19906–4Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90)23–22–5
51TJanuary 30, 19904–4 OTEdmonton Oilers (1989–90)23–22–6
52LFebruary 1, 19901–2@ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90)23–23–6
53WFebruary 3, 19905–1@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)24–23–6
54LFebruary 4, 19900–2@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)24–24–6
55WFebruary 7, 19905–3@ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90)25–24–6
56LFebruary 9, 19901–4Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)25–25–6
57WFebruary 10, 19906–2Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)26–25–6
58TFebruary 14, 19906–6 OT@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)26–25–7
59LFebruary 17, 19903–7@ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)26–26–7
60WFebruary 18, 19906–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)27–26–7
61WFebruary 21, 19903–2Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)28–26–7
62LFebruary 23, 19903–7@ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)28–27–7
63LFebruary 24, 19901–3Winnipeg Jets (1989–90)28–28–7
64WFebruary 28, 19903–1Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)29–28–7
65WMarch 2, 19904–3@ Washington Capitals (1989–90)30–28–7
66WMarch 3, 19906–4New York Rangers (1989–90)31–28–7
67WMarch 6, 19904–2@ New York Islanders (1989–90)32–28–7
68LMarch 8, 19906–7Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90)32–29–7
69LMarch 10, 19900–5Buffalo Sabres (1989–90)32–30–7
70LMarch 11, 19903–4Boston Bruins (1989–90)32–31–7
71WMarch 13, 19901–0@ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90)33–31–7
72LMarch 17, 19904–5@ Calgary Flames (1989–90)33–32–7
73WMarch 18, 19903–1@ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90)34–32–7
74WMarch 21, 19904–1Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)35–32–7
75WMarch 24, 19907–4Montreal Canadiens (1989–90)36–32–7
76WMarch 25, 19904–2Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)37–32–7
77TMarch 27, 19903–3 OT@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90)37–32–8
78LMarch 29, 19902–3@ Boston Bruins (1989–90)37–33–8
79WMarch 31, 19903–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90)38–33–8
80TApril 1, 19901–1 OTMontreal Canadiens (1989–90)38–33–9

Playoffs

The Whalers lost to the Bruins 4 games to 3 in the Adams semi-finals.

Transactions

The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season.

Trades
June 17, 1989 To New Jersey Devils
Sylvain Turgeon		 To Hartford Whalers
Pat Verbeek
October 7, 1989 To Minnesota North Stars
Kevin Sullivan		 To Hartford Whalers
Mike Berger
October 10, 1989 To Edmonton Oilers
Norm Maciver		 To Hartford Whalers
Jim Ennis
October 31, 1989 To New Jersey Devils
Jim Thomson		 To Hartford Whalers
Chris Cichocki
December 13, 1989 To Winnipeg Jets
Paul MacDermid		 To Hartford Whalers
Randy Cunneyworth
March 3, 1990 To Boston Bruins
Steve Dykstra		 To Hartford Whalers
Jeff Sirkka
March 5, 1990 To Washington Capitals
Mike Liut		 To Hartford Whalers
Yvon Corriveau
March 6, 1990 To Edmonton Oilers
Marc Laforge		 To Hartford Whalers
Cam Brauer

Waivers
October 2, 1989 From Buffalo Sabres
Mikael Andersson
December 1, 1989 To Quebec Nordiques
Brian Lawton

Free agents
PlayerFormer Team
Daryl ReaughEdmonton Oilers
Steve DykstraPittsburgh Penguins
Emanuel ViveirosMinnesota North Stars

Roster
1989-90 Hartford Whalers
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

Draft picks

Hartford's draft picks at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft held at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota.

Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club Team (League)
110Bobby Holik CzechoslovakiaDukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
352Blair Atcheynum CanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
473Jim McKenzie CanadaVictoria Cougars (WHL)
594James Black CanadaPortland Winter Hawks (WHL)
6115Jerome Bechard CanadaMoose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
7136Scott Daniels CanadaRegina Pats (WHL)
8157Raymond Saumier CanadaTrois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
9178Michel Picard CanadaTrois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
10199Trevor Buchanan CanadaKamloops Blazers (WHL)
11220John Battice CanadaLondon Knights (OHL)
12241Peter Kasowski CanadaSwift Current Broncos (WHL)
S15Chris Tancill United StatesUniversity of Wisconsin (WCHA)

See also

References
  1. https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045
  2. Dinger, Ralph, ed. (2011). The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book 2012. Dan Diamond & Associates. p. 153. ISBN 9781894801225.
  3. "1989–1990 Conference Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
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