# 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.

## Off-season

On June 11, 1988, the 1988 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Montreal Forum in Montreal. 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 1. 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 # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
| 11 | Chris Govedaris | Left Wing | Canada | Toronto Marlboros (OHL) |
| 32 | Barry Richter | Defense | United States | Culver Military Academy (USHS-IN) |
| 74 | Dean Dyer | Center | Canada | Lake Superior State University (CCHA) |
| 95 | Scott Morrow | Left Wing | United States | Northwood School (USHS-NY) |
| 116 | Corey Beaulieu | Left Wing | United States | Northwood School (USHS-NY) |
| 137 | Kerry Russell | Center | Canada | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 158 | Jim Burke | Defense | United States | University of Maine (Hockey East) |
| 179 | Mark Hirth | Center | United States | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 200 | Wayde Bucsis | Left Wing | Canada | Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) |
| 221 | Rob White | Defense | Canada | St. Lawrence University (ECAC Hockey) |
| 242 | Dan Slatalla | Center | United States | Deerfield Academy (USHS-MA) |
| S | Todd Krygier | Left Wing | United States | University of Connecticut (ECAC East) |

## Regular season

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

### Final standings

Adams Division :
| | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA | Pts |
| Montreal Canadiens | 80 | 53 | 18 | 9 | 315 | 218 | 115 |
| Boston Bruins | 80 | 37 | 29 | 14 | 289 | 256 | 88 |
| Buffalo Sabres | 80 | 38 | 35 | 7 | 291 | 299 | 83 |
| Hartford Whalers | 80 | 37 | 38 | 5 | 299 | 290 | 79 |
| Quebec Nordiques | 80 | 27 | 46 | 7 | 269 | 342 | 61 |
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.

### Record vs. opponents
#### Vs. Wales Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | BOS | BUF | HFD | MTL | QUE | Total |
| Boston | — | 0–5–3 | 5–3 | 0–7–1 | 4–1–3 | 9–16–7 |
| Buffalo | 5–0–3 | — | 3–5 | 3–5 | 3–4–1 | 14–13–5 |
| Hartford | 3–5 | 5–3 | — | 1–7 | 4–3–1 | 13–18–1 |
| Montreal | 7–0–1 | 5–3 | 7–1 | — | 4–4 | 23–8–1 |
| Quebec | 1–4–3 | 4–3–1 | 3–4–1 | 4–4 | — | 12–15–5 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | NJD | NYI | NYR | PHI | PIT | WSH | Total |
| Boston | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 1–1–1 | 9–4–5 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 11–7–0 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 9–8–1 |
| Montreal | 3–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 1–1–1 | 11–4–3 |
| Quebec | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 7–10–1 |

#### Vs. Campbell Conference

1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CHI | DET | MIN | STL | TOR | Total |
| Boston | 3–0 | 0–2–1 | 0–2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 9–4–2 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 3–0 | 0–1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 8–5–2 |
| Hartford | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0–2 | 2–1 | 9–4–2 |
| Montreal | 1–0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0–2 | 2–0–1 | 2–1 | 7–3–5 |
| Quebec | 0–2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 4–10–1 |
1988–89 NHL records :
| Team | CGY | EDM | LAK | VAN | WIN | Total |
| Boston | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 10–5–0 |
| Buffalo | 2–1 | 0–2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 5–9–1 |
| Hartford | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1–1 | 2–1 | 6–8–1 |
| Montreal | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 12–3–0 |
| Quebec | 1–2 | 0–3 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–11–0 |

## Schedule and results

1988–89 regular season :
October
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
November
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
December
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
January
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
February
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
March
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
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 :
April
GameResultDateScoreOpponentRecord
79WApril 1, 19896–1Chicago Blackhawks (1988–89)37–37–5
80LApril 2, 19892–3@ Boston Bruins (1988–89)37–38–5 :
Legend:
  Win (2 points)
  Loss (0 points)
  Tie (1 point) :

## Division semi-finals
### Canadiens 4, Whalers 0
#### Adams Division Semi-finals
##### (1) Montreal Canadiens vs. (4) Hartford Whalers

* Montreal wins series 4 – 0

## Player statistics
### Forwards

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
| Player | GP | G | AST | PTS | PIM |
| Kevin Dineen | 79 | 45 | 44 | 89 | 167 |
| Ron Francis | 69 | 29 | 48 | 77 | 36 |
| Ray Ferraro | 80 | 41 | 35 | 76 | 86 |
| Scott Young | 76 | 19 | 40 | 59 | 27 |
| Paul MacDermid | 74 | 17 | 27 | 44 | 141 |
| Dave Tippett | 80 | 17 | 24 | 41 | 45 |
| John Anderson | 62 | 16 | 24 | 40 | 28 |
| Jody Hull | 60 | 16 | 18 | 34 | 10 |
| Sylvain Turgeon | 42 | 16 | 14 | 30 | 40 |
| Dean Evason | 67 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 60 |
| Brian Lawton | 35 | 10 | 16 | 26 | 28 |
| Carey Wilson | 34 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 14 |
| Brent Peterson | 66 | 4 | 13 | 17 | 61 |
| Don Maloney | 21 | 3 | 11 | 14 | 23 |
| Tom Martin | 38 | 7 | 6 | 13 | 113 |
| Torrie Robertson | 27 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 84 |
| Ed Kastelic | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 15 |
| Mark Reeds | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Dallas Gaume | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Terry Yake | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jim Thomson | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 |

### Defensemen

Note: GP= Games played; G= Goals; AST= Assists; PTS = Points; PIM = Points
| Player | GP | G | AST | PTS | PIM |
| Dave Babych | 70 | 6 | 41 | 47 | 54 |
| Ulf Samuelsson | 71 | 9 | 26 | 35 | 181 |
| Norm Maciver | 37 | 1 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Sylvain Côté | 78 | 8 | 9 | 17 | 49 |
| Grant Jennings | 55 | 3 | 10 | 13 | 159 |
| Joel Quenneville | 69 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 32 |
| Randy Ladouceur | 75 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 95 |
| Brad Shaw | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Scot Kleinendorst | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 36 |
| Al Tuer | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| Adam Burt | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Jim Pavese | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |

### Goaltending

Note: GP= Games played; W= Wins; L= Losses; T = Ties; SO = Shutouts; GAA = Goals Against
| Player | GP | W | L | T | SO | GAA |
| Peter Sidorkiewicz | 44 | 22 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 3.03 |
| Mike Liut | 35 | 13 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 4.25 |
| Kay Whitmore | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3.33 |

## Awards and records

* Peter Sidorkiewicz, Goaltender, NHL First All-Rookie Team

## Transactions

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

### Trades

| July 6, 1988 | To Washington CapitalsNeil Sheehy Mike Millar | To Hartford WhalersGrant Jennings Ed Kastelic |
| October 6, 1988 | To Chicago BlackhawksFuture Considerations | To Hartford WhalersMark LaVarre |
| December 26, 1988 | To New York RangersCarey Wilson 5th round pick in 1990 – Lubos Rob | To Hartford WhalersBrian Lawton Don Maloney Norm Maciver |
| March 6, 1989 | To Washington CapitalsScot Kleinendorst | To Hartford WhalersJim Thomson |
| March 7, 1989 | To Detroit Red WingsTorrie Robertson | To Hartford WhalersJim Pavese |

### Waivers

| October 3, 1988 | To Minnesota North StarsStew Gavin |
| October 3, 1988 | To Minnesota North StarsTom Martin |
| December 1, 1988 | From Minnesota North StarsTom Martin |

### Free agents

| Player | Former Team |
| Mike Tomlak | University of Western Ontario (OUAA) |
| Ross McKay | University of Saskatchewan (CWUAA) |
| Bob Bodak | Calgary Flames |
| Al Tuer | Minnesota North Stars |
| Larry Trader | Montreal Canadiens |
| Chris Lindberg | University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) |
| Player | New Team |
| Gord Sherven | Sportbund DJK Rosenheim (Germany) |
| Mike McEwen | EHC Olten (Switzerland) |
| Shawn Cronin | Washington Capitals |