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 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 North Carolina.

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
Pat Verbeek
Alternate captainsJohn Cullen
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
No. R Date Score Opponent Record
1LOctober 5, 19912–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)0–1–0
2TOctober 8, 19912–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1991–92)0–1–1
3WOctober 12, 19915–2New York Rangers (1991–92)1–1–1
4WOctober 14, 19914–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)2–1–1
5WOctober 16, 19913–2@ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92)3–1–1
6WOctober 19, 19914–1Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)4–1–1
7WOctober 23, 19913–0San Jose Sharks (1991–92)5–1–1
8LOctober 26, 19912–4Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)5–2–1
9LOctober 27, 19911–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)5–3–1
10TOctober 30, 19914–4 OTLos Angeles Kings (1991–92)5–3–2
11LNovember 1, 19915–8@ Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)5–4–2
12WNovember 2, 19916–5@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)6–4–2
13LNovember 6, 19912–3Calgary Flames (1991–92)6–5–2
14WNovember 9, 19914–3@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)7–5–2
15LNovember 10, 19910–3@ Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)7–6–2
16WNovember 12, 19915–4Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)8–6–2
17TNovember 14, 19912–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1991–92)8–6–3
18LNovember 16, 19914–5 OTBoston Bruins (1991–92)8–7–3
19WNovember 17, 19913–1@ Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92)9–7–3
20LNovember 22, 19912–8@ New Jersey Devils (1991–92)9–8–3
21LNovember 23, 19912–3Washington Capitals (1991–92)9–9–3
22LNovember 25, 19912–5@ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)9–10–3
23WNovember 27, 19917–3@ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)10–10–3
24WNovember 30, 19913–2Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)11–10–3
25LDecember 1, 19914–5@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)11–11–3
26LDecember 4, 19910–3Toronto Maple Leafs (1991–92)11–12–3
27TDecember 7, 19916–6 OTBuffalo Sabres (1991–92)11–12–4
28WDecember 13, 19918–4@ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)12–12–4
29LDecember 14, 19912–6New York Rangers (1991–92)12–13–4
30LDecember 17, 19912–4New York Islanders (1991–92)12–14–4
31LDecember 19, 19911–4New Jersey Devils (1991–92)12–15–4
32LDecember 21, 19912–3 OT@ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)12–16–4
33WDecember 23, 19914–3Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)13–16–4
34LDecember 26, 19912–3@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)13–17–4
35LDecember 28, 19911–4@ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)13–18–4
36WDecember 29, 19916–4New York Islanders (1991–92)14–18–4
37WJanuary 2, 19924–1Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)15–18–4
38TJanuary 4, 19922–2 OTWashington Capitals (1991–92)15–18–5
39LJanuary 9, 19921–2@ New York Islanders (1991–92)15–19–5
40LJanuary 11, 19922–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)15–20–5
41LJanuary 15, 19923–4Boston Bruins (1991–92)15–21–5
42LJanuary 16, 19923–4 OT@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)15–22–5
43TJanuary 21, 19923–3 OTWinnipeg Jets (1991–92)15–22–6
44TJanuary 25, 19924–4 OTBoston Bruins (1991–92)15–22–7
45LJanuary 26, 19921–3@ Montreal Canadiens (1991–92)15–23–7
46LJanuary 28, 19923–4Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)15–24–7
47LJanuary 31, 19921–4@ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)15–25–7
48TFebruary 1, 19924–4 OT@ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)15–25–8
49LFebruary 4, 19925–6@ San Jose Sharks (1991–92)15–26–8
50TFebruary 6, 19925–5 OT@ Los Angeles Kings (1991–92)15–26–9
51TFebruary 9, 19924–4 OTMinnesota North Stars (1991–92)15–26–10
52WFebruary 11, 19925–1Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)16–26–10
53LFebruary 13, 19921–3Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)16–27–10
54LFebruary 15, 19921–4@ New Jersey Devils (1991–92)16–28–10
55LFebruary 16, 19924–5@ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)16–29–10
56TFebruary 19, 19922–2 OTMontreal Canadiens (1991–92)16–29–11
57WFebruary 22, 19924–0Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)17–29–11
58LFebruary 23, 19920–4Detroit Red Wings (1991–92)17–30–11
59LFebruary 25, 19922–5St. Louis Blues (1991–92)17–31–11
60WFebruary 27, 19928–4@ Pittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)18–31–11
61WFebruary 29, 19925–4 OT@ Minnesota North Stars (1991–92)19–31–11
62LMarch 1, 19924–9@ New York Rangers (1991–92)19–32–11
63WMarch 3, 19924–0Boston Bruins (1991–92)20–32–11
64LMarch 5, 19924–10Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)20–33–11
65LMarch 7, 19921–5Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)20–34–11
66LMarch 9, 19920–2@ Quebec Nordiques (1991–92)20–35–11
67WMarch 11, 19924–0Los Angeles Kings (1991–92)21–35–11
68WMarch 13, 19921–0@ Winnipeg Jets (1991–92)22–35–11
69LMarch 14, 19921–3@ Edmonton Oilers (1991–92)22–36–11
70WMarch 16, 19924–3@ Calgary Flames (1991–92)23–36–11
71LMarch 18, 19922–3@ Vancouver Canucks (1991–92)23–37–11
72LMarch 21, 19924–5San Jose Sharks (1991–92)23–38–11
73TMarch 22, 19922–2 OTPittsburgh Penguins (1991–92)23–38–12
74WMarch 24, 19928–2@ Washington Capitals (1991–92)24–38–12
75LMarch 26, 19922–7@ St. Louis Blues (1991–92)24–39–12
76LMarch 28, 19921–3Chicago Blackhawks (1991–92)24–40–12
77TMarch 29, 19922–2 OT@ Buffalo Sabres (1991–92)24–40–13
78WApril 12, 19924–2Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)25–40–13
79LApril 13, 19923–6@ Boston Bruins (1991–92)25–41–13
80WApril 15, 19924–3 OT@ Philadelphia Flyers (1991–92)26–41–13

[3]

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

[4]

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

Roster
1991–92 Hartford Whalers
Goaltenders

Defensemen

Wingers

Centers

References
  1. https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045
  2. "1991-1992 Division Standings". National Hockey League. Retrieved March 25, 2012.
  3. "1991–92 Hartford Whalers Games". Hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 3, 2009.
  4. "1991-92 Hartford Whalers Statistics - Hockey-Reference.com". hockey-reference.com. Retrieved June 2, 2009.
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