| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1989–90 |
| Year: | 1989 |
| Team: | Hartford Whalers |
| Division: | Adams |
| Divisionrank: | 4th |
| Conference: | Wales |
| Conferencerank: | 5th |
| Record: | 38–33–9 |
| Homerecord: | 17–18–5 |
| Roadrecord: | 21–15–4 |
| Goalsfor: | 275 |
| Goalsagainst: | 268 |
| Generalmanager: | Eddie Johnston |
| Coach: | Rick Ley |
| Captain: | Ron Francis |
| Altcaptain: | Dave Tippett Joel Quenneville |
| Arena: | Hartford Civic Center |
| Attendance: | 13,705 (87.7%) [1] |
| Minorleague: | Binghamton Whalers (AHL) |
| Goalsleader: | Pat Verbeek (44) |
| Assistsleader: | Ron Francis (69) |
| Pointsleader: | Ron Francis (101) |
| Plusminusleader: | Ulf Samuelsson (+15) |
| Pimleader: | Pat Verbeek (228) |
| Winsleader: | Peter Sidorkiewicz (19) |
| Gaaleader: | Mike Liut (2.64) |
The 1988–90 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' eleventh season in the National Hockey League.
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 to 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 to 1988. Pleau also had previously been the general manager of the club from 1981 to 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 to 1979, then in the National Hockey League from 1979 to 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 to 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 17, 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.
| No. | R | Date | Score | Opponent | Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | L | October 5, 1989 | 1–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 0–1–0 | |
| 2 | L | October 7, 1989 | 4–6 | Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 0–2–0 | |
| 3 | W | October 8, 1989 | 9–6 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 1–2–0 | |
| 4 | W | October 11, 1989 | 4–1 | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 2–2–0 | |
| 5 | L | October 13, 1989 | 1–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 2–3–0 | |
| 6 | L | October 14, 1989 | 2–3 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 2–4–0 | |
| 7 | W | October 18, 1989 | 2–1 | Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 3–4–0 | |
| 8 | L | October 19, 1989 | 3–7 | @ New York Rangers (1989–90) | 3–5–0 | |
| 9 | T | October 21, 1989 | 3–3 OT | Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 3–5–1 | |
| 10 | L | October 23, 1989 | 2–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 3–6–1 | |
| 11 | W | October 25, 1989 | 2–0 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 4–6–1 | |
| 12 | W | October 26, 1989 | 7–3 | @ New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 5–6–1 | |
| 13 | W | October 28, 1989 | 1–0 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 6–6–1 | |
| 14 | L | November 1, 1989 | 3–5 | St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 6–7–1 | |
| 15 | W | November 3, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 7–7–1 | |
| 16 | W | November 4, 1989 | 6–3 | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 8–7–1 | |
| 17 | L | November 8, 1989 | 3–6 | Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 8–8–1 | |
| 18 | W | November 10, 1989 | 4–2 | @ Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 9–8–1 | |
| 19 | L | November 12, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 9–9–1 | |
| 20 | W | November 14, 1989 | 3–0 | @ Detroit Red Wings (1989–90) | 10–9–1 | |
| 21 | L | November 15, 1989 | 2–5 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 10–10–1 | |
| 22 | L | November 18, 1989 | 2–3 | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 10–11–1 | |
| 23 | L | November 22, 1989 | 2–4 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 10–12–1 | |
| 24 | W | November 25, 1989 | 5–2 | Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 11–12–1 | |
| 25 | L | November 26, 1989 | 2–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 11–13–1 | |
| 26 | L | November 28, 1989 | 2–4 | Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 11–14–1 | |
| 27 | W | November 30, 1989 | 5–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 12–14–1 | |
| 28 | W | December 2, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 13–14–1 | |
| 29 | L | December 6, 1989 | 3–4 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 13–15–1 | |
| 30 | W | December 7, 1989 | 4–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 14–15–1 | |
| 31 | W | December 9, 1989 | 7–3 | New Jersey Devils (1989–90) | 15–15–1 | |
| 32 | L | December 13, 1989 | 2–5 | Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 15–16–1 | |
| 33 | W | December 14, 1989 | 3–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 16–16–1 | |
| 34 | L | December 16, 1989 | 2–5 | Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 16–17–1 | |
| 35 | W | December 19, 1989 | 8–4 | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 17–17–1 | |
| 36 | W | December 20, 1989 | 4–3 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 18–17–1 | |
| 37 | W | December 23, 1989 | 4–3 | Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 19–17–1 | |
| 38 | T | December 26, 1989 | 3–3 OT | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 19–17–2 | |
| 39 | L | December 30, 1989 | 3–7 | @ Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 19–18–2 | |
| 40 | L | January 3, 1990 | 2–4 | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 19–19–2 | |
| 41 | L | January 5, 1990 | 4–6 | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 19–20–2 | |
| 42 | T | January 6, 1990 | 4–4 OT | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 19–20–3 | |
| 43 | W | January 10, 1990 | 3–1 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 20–20–3 | |
| 44 | W | January 13, 1990 | 6–3 | @ Los Angeles Kings (1989–90) | 21–20–3 | |
| 45 | L | January 15, 1990 | 1–4 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 21–21–3 | |
| 46 | T | January 17, 1990 | 5–5 OT | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 21–21–4 | |
| 47 | T | January 19, 1990 | 3–3 OT | Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 21–21–5 | |
| 48 | W | January 23, 1990 | 4–2 | New York Islanders (1989–90) | 22–21–5 | |
| 49 | L | January 25, 1990 | 2–3 | @ St. Louis Blues (1989–90) | 22–22–5 | |
| 50 | W | January 27, 1990 | 6–4 | Chicago Blackhawks (1989–90) | 23–22–5 | |
| 51 | T | January 30, 1990 | 4–4 OT | Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 23–22–6 | |
| 52 | L | February 1, 1990 | 1–2 | @ Philadelphia Flyers (1989–90) | 23–23–6 | |
| 53 | W | February 3, 1990 | 5–1 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 24–23–6 | |
| 54 | L | February 4, 1990 | 0–2 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 24–24–6 | |
| 55 | W | February 7, 1990 | 5–3 | @ Minnesota North Stars (1989–90) | 25–24–6 | |
| 56 | L | February 9, 1990 | 1–4 | Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 25–25–6 | |
| 57 | W | February 10, 1990 | 6–2 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 26–25–6 | |
| 58 | T | February 14, 1990 | 6–6 OT | @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 26–25–7 | |
| 59 | L | February 17, 1990 | 3–7 | @ Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 26–26–7 | |
| 60 | W | February 18, 1990 | 6–4 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 27–26–7 | |
| 61 | W | February 21, 1990 | 3–2 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 28–26–7 | |
| 62 | L | February 23, 1990 | 3–7 | @ Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 28–27–7 | |
| 63 | L | February 24, 1990 | 1–3 | Winnipeg Jets (1989–90) | 28–28–7 | |
| 64 | W | February 28, 1990 | 3–1 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 29–28–7 | |
| 65 | W | March 2, 1990 | 4–3 | @ Washington Capitals (1989–90) | 30–28–7 | |
| 66 | W | March 3, 1990 | 6–4 | New York Rangers (1989–90) | 31–28–7 | |
| 67 | W | March 6, 1990 | 4–2 | @ New York Islanders (1989–90) | 32–28–7 | |
| 68 | L | March 8, 1990 | 6–7 | Toronto Maple Leafs (1989–90) | 32–29–7 | |
| 69 | L | March 10, 1990 | 0–5 | Buffalo Sabres (1989–90) | 32–30–7 | |
| 70 | L | March 11, 1990 | 3–4 | Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 32–31–7 | |
| 71 | W | March 13, 1990 | 1–0 | @ Vancouver Canucks (1989–90) | 33–31–7 | |
| 72 | L | March 17, 1990 | 4–5 | @ Calgary Flames (1989–90) | 33–32–7 | |
| 73 | W | March 18, 1990 | 3–1 | @ Edmonton Oilers (1989–90) | 34–32–7 | |
| 74 | W | March 21, 1990 | 4–1 | Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 35–32–7 | |
| 75 | W | March 24, 1990 | 7–4 | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 36–32–7 | |
| 76 | W | March 25, 1990 | 4–2 | Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 37–32–7 | |
| 77 | T | March 27, 1990 | 3–3 OT | @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1989–90) | 37–32–8 | |
| 78 | L | March 29, 1990 | 2–3 | @ Boston Bruins (1989–90) | 37–33–8 | |
| 79 | W | March 31, 1990 | 3–2 | @ Quebec Nordiques (1989–90) | 38–33–8 | |
| 80 | T | April 1, 1990 | 1–1 OT | Montreal Canadiens (1989–90) | 38–33–9 |
The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1989–90 season.
| 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 |
| October 2, 1989 | From Buffalo Sabres Mikael Andersson | |
| December 1, 1989 | To Quebec Nordiques Brian Lawton |
| Player | Former Team | |
| Edmonton Oilers | ||
| Pittsburgh Penguins | ||
| Minnesota North Stars |
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) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | Bobby Holik | Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia) | ||
| 3 | 52 | Blair Atcheynum | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | ||
| 4 | 73 | Jim McKenzie | Victoria Cougars (WHL) | ||
| 5 | 94 | James Black | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) | ||
| 6 | 115 | Jerome Bechard | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | ||
| 7 | 136 | Scott Daniels | Regina Pats (WHL) | ||
| 8 | 157 | Raymond Saumier | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) | ||
| 9 | 178 | Michel Picard | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) | ||
| 10 | 199 | Trevor Buchanan | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) | ||
| 11 | 220 | John Battice | London Knights (OHL) | ||
| 12 | 241 | Peter Kasowski | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | ||
| S | 15 | Chris Tancill | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |