| League: | NHL |
| Season: | 1996–97 |
| Year: | 1996 |
| Team: | Hartford Whalers |
| Division: | Northeast |
| Divisionrank: | 5th |
| Conference: | Eastern |
| Conferencerank: | 10th |
| Record: | 32–39–11 |
| Homerecord: | 23–15–3 |
| Roadrecord: | 9–24–8 |
| Goalsfor: | 226 |
| Goalsagainst: | 256 |
| Generalmanager: | Jim Rutherford |
| Coach: | Paul Maurice |
| Captain: | Kevin Dineen |
| Altcaptain: | Glen Wesley Andrew Cassels |
| Arena: | Hartford Civic Center |
| Attendance: | 13,680 (87.5%) [1] |
| Minorleague: | Springfield Falcons (AHL) Richmond Renegades (ECHL) |
| Goalsleader: | Geoff Sanderson (36) |
| Assistsleader: | Andrew Cassels (44) |
| Pointsleader: | Geoff Sanderson (67) |
| Plusminusleader: | Sami Kapanen (+6) |
| Pimleader: | Stu Grimson (218) |
| Winsleader: | Sean Burke (22) |
| Gaaleader: | Sean Burke (2.69) |
| Next Season: | 1997–98 (Carolina) |
The 1996–97 Hartford Whalers season was the 25th season of the franchise and the 18th and final season in Hartford. The Whalers would move to Greensboro, North Carolina, the next season to become the Carolina Hurricanes.
On June 22, the Whalers participated in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Hartford did not have a selection in the first round, as the pick was traded to the Boston Bruins as part of the trade that brought Glen Wesley to the Whalers. In the second round, Hartford made their first selection of the draft, as they drafted Trevor Wasyluk from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League with the 34th overall pick in the draft. Wasyluk scored 25 goals and 46 points in 69 games during the 1995-96 season. Other notable selections by the Whalers included Craig MacDonald in the fourth round, and Craig Adams in the ninth round.
The Whalers acquired Kevin Brown in a trade with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for Espen Knutsen on October 1. Brown played in seven games with the Los Angeles Kings during the 1995-96 season, scoring one goal. Brown spent the majority of the season with the Phoenix Roadrunners of the IHL, scoring 10 goals and 26 points in 45 games. He also played in eight games with the Prince Edward Island Senators of the AHL, scoring three goals and nine points after he was traded from the Kings to the Ottawa Senators during the season.
On October 2, Hartford claimed Kent Manderville off of waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. In 37 games with the Oilers during the 1995-96 where he scored three goals and eight points.
On April 13, 1997, the Whalers played their last game in Hartford, defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–1. Fittingly, team captain Kevin Dineen scored the final goal in Whaler history.
The final words from SportsChannel New England with Play by play voice John Forslund at the end of the game were as follows:
"It's over folks, it's been a great ride. The Whalers will go out, winners".
|- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|1||W||October 5, 1996||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||1–0–0 || 15,635 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|2||W||October 8, 1996||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||2–0–0 || 11,240 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|3||L||October 12, 1996||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||2–1–0 || 14,703 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|4||W||October 17, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||3–1–0 || 8,019 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|5||W||October 19, 1996||6–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||4–1–0 || 14,476 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|6||W||October 24, 1996||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||5–1–0 || 12,328 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|7||L||October 26, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||5–2–0 || 16,193 || |- style="text-align:center;"|8||T||October 30, 1996||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||5–2–1 || 11,936 || |- style="text-align:center;"|9||T||October 31, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||5–2–2 || 13,284 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|10||L||November 2, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||5–3–2 || 13,425 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|11||L||November 4, 1996||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||5–4–2 || 19,983 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|12||W||November 6, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||6–4–2 || 13,026 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|13||L||November 8, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1996–97) ||6–5–2 || 14,460 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|14||W||November 9, 1996||4–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||7–5–2 || 13,352 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|15||W||November 12, 1996||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||8–5–2 || 17,742 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|16||W||November 14, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Phoenix Coyotes (1996–97) ||9–5–2 || 14,968 || |- style="text-align:center;"|17||T||November 16, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||9–5–3 || 16,061 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|18||W||November 20, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||10–5–3 || 13,033 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|19||L||November 22, 1996||1–7 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||10–6–3 || 14,572 || |- style="text-align:center;"|20||T||November 23, 1996||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||10–6–4 || 14,648 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|21||L||November 27, 1996||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||10–7–4 || 14,289 || |- style="text-align:center;"|22||T||November 29, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||10–7–5 || 14,703 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|23||W||November 30, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||11–7–5 || 16,375 || |-|- style="text-align:center;"|24||T||December 3, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||11–7–6 || 13,816 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|25||W||December 5, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||12–7–6 || 14,955 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|26||W||December 7, 1996||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||13–7–6 || 13,464 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|27||W||December 11, 1996||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||14–7–6 || 11,884 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|28||L||December 12, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||14–8–6 || 19,124 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|29||L||December 14, 1996||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||14–9–6 || 14,590 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|30||L||December 16, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||14–10–6 || 18,200 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|31||W||December 17, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||15–10–6 || 12,922 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|32||L||December 20, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||15–11–6 || 12,945 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|33||W||December 21, 1996||6–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||16–11–6 || 12,082 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|34||L||December 26, 1996||1–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||16–12–6 || 18,595 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|35||W||December 28, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||17–12–6 || 14,092 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|36||L||December 29, 1996||3–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||17–13–6 || 20,502 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|37||L||January 1, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||17–14–6 || 12,608 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|38||L||January 2, 1997||4–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||17–15–6 || 14,403 || |- style="text-align:center;"|39||T||January 4, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||17–15–7 || 14,613 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|40||L||January 6, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||17–16–7 || 20,292 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|41||L||January 9, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||17–17–7 || 17,121 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|42||L||January 10, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1996–97) ||17–18–7 || 17,378 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|43||L||January 12, 1997||1–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||17–19–7 || 14,301 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|44||L||January 15, 1997||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||17–20–7 || 14,502 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|45||W||January 20, 1997||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||18–20–7 || 13,002 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|46||W||January 22, 1997||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1996–97) ||19–20–7 || 12,627 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|47||L||January 24, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1996–97) ||19–21–7 || 14,619 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|48||W||January 25, 1997||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||20–21–7 || 18,595 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|49||L||January 30, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1996–97) ||20–22–7 || 11,036 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|50||L||January 31, 1997||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996–97) ||20–23–7 || 17,174 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|51||L||February 5, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1996–97) ||20–24–7 || 18,200 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|52||W||February 6, 1997||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||21–24–7 || 15,213 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|53||L||February 8, 1997||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||21–25–7 || 21,273 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|54||L||February 12, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||21–26–7 || 12,710 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|55||L||February 13, 1997||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||21–27–7 || 14,138 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|56||W||February 15, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||22–27–7 || 13,767 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|57||L||February 16, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||22–28–7 || 18,338 || |- style="text-align:center;"|58||T||February 19, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||22–28–8 || 19,484 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|59||W||February 21, 1997||7–2 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||23–28–8 || 14,660 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|60||W||February 22, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||24–28–8 || 14,311 || |- style="text-align:center;"|61||T||February 26, 1997||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1996–97) ||24–28–9 || 13,121 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|62||L||February 28, 1997||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1996–97) ||24–29–9 || 13,547 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|63||L||March 2, 1997||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1996–97) ||24–30–9 || 14,660 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|64||W||March 5, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1996–97) ||25–30–9 || 12,140 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|65||W||March 7, 1997||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||26–30–9 || 14,341 || |- style="text-align:center;"|66||T||March 8, 1997||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1996–97) ||26–30–10 || 15,726 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|67||W||March 12, 1997||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1996–97) ||27–30–10 || 13,155 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|68||L||March 13, 1997||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1996–97) ||27–31–10 || 16,244 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|69||L||March 15, 1997||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1996–97) ||27–32–10 || 14,437 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|70||L||March 16, 1997||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1996–97) ||27–33–10 || 18,130 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|71||L||March 20, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1996–97) ||27–34–10 || 17,959 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|72||L||March 21, 1997||0–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1996–97) ||27–35–10 || 16,522 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|73||L||March 25, 1997||0–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1996–97) ||27–36–10 || 14,191 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|74||W||March 27, 1997||5–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||28–36–10 || 19,984 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|75||W||March 29, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1996–97) ||29–36–10 || 14,660 || |-|- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|76||L||April 2, 1997||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||29–37–10 || 14,177 || |- style="text-align:center;"|77||T||April 3, 1997||5–5 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1996–97) ||29–37–11 || 17,284 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|78||W||April 5, 1997||4–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1996–97) ||30–37–11 || 21,273 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|79||W||April 7, 1997||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1996–97) ||31–37–11 || 14,660 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|80||L||April 9, 1997||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1996–97) ||31–38–11 || 18,500 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#fbb;"|81||L||April 11, 1997||4–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1996–97) ||31–39–11 || 15,382 || |- style="text-align:center; background:#cfc;"|82||W||April 13, 1997||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1996–97) ||32–39–11 || 14,660 || |-|-| Legend:
| Regular season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | |||||||||
| 8 | LW | 82 | 36 | 31 | 67 | −9 | 29 | ||
| 21 | C | 81 | 22 | 44 | 66 | −16 | 46 | ||
| 55 | C | 75 | 26 | 25 | 51 | −3 | 161 | ||
| 11 | RW | 78 | 19 | 29 | 48 | −6 | 141 | ||
| 16 | RW | 66 | 9 | 29 | 38 | −21 | 34 | ||
| 12 | RW | 78 | 21 | 14 | 35 | −11 | 59 | ||
| 20 | D | 68 | 6 | 26 | 32 | 0 | 40 | ||
| 92 | RW | 72 | 14 | 16 | 30 | −24 | 40 | ||
| 24 | RW | 45 | 13 | 12 | 25 | 6 | 2 | ||
| 18 | LW | 68 | 10 | 12 | 22 | −18 | 10 | ||
| 28 | LW | 67 | 10 | 11 | 21 | −13 | 18 | ||
| 7 | D | 64 | 4 | 13 | 17 | −19 | 30 | ||
| 3 | D | 18 | 3 | 11 | 14 | −10 | 7 | ||
| 6 | D | 71 | 2 | 11 | 13 | −13 | 79 | ||
| 44 | C | 44 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 18 | ||
| 4 | D | 56 | 1 | 10 | 11 | −9 | 40 | ||
| 77 | D | 20 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 18 | ||
| 14 | D | 35 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −11 | 48 | ||
| 36 | D | 41 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 87 | ||
| 10 | C | 12 | 2 | 5 | 7 | −2 | 2 | ||
| 5 | D | 55 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −10 | 41 | ||
| 27 | LW | 12 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 22 | C | 54 | 2 | 4 | 6 | −10 | 90 | ||
| 23 | D | 47 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 50 | ||
| 32 | LW | 75 | 2 | 2 | 4 | −7 | 218 | ||
| 46 | RW | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | −6 | 6 | ||
| 17 | LW | 13 | 2 | 1 | 3 | −4 | 7 | ||
| 39 | RW | 28 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 122 | ||
| 17 | RW | 8 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 10 | ||
| 1 | G | 51 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | |||
| 37 | LW | 10 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 41 | D | 9 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | ||
| 7 | D | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | ||
| 94 | LW | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 26 | C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 29 | G | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | |||
| 27 | D | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 47 | G | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 25 | D | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −4 | 0 | ||
| Regular season | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ||||||||||||
| 1 | 51 | 22 | 22 | 6 | 1560 | 134 | 2.69 | .914 | 4 | 2985 | ||
| 29 | 31 | 9 | 13 | 5 | 815 | 91 | 3.43 | .888 | 0 | 1591 | ||
| 47 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 201 | 24 | 3.65 | .881 | 0 | 394 | ||
| Type | Award/honor | Recipient | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| League (in-season) | NHL All-Star Game selection | Geoff Sanderson | [2] |
| Team | Award of Excellence | Kevin Dineen | [3] |
| Booster Club MVP Award | Sean Burke | ||
| Frank Keys Memorial Award | Kent Manderville | ||
| Mark Kravitz Award | Sean Burke | ||
| Most Valuable Defenseman | Glen Wesley | ||
| Three Star Award of Excellence | Sean Burke | ||
| Top Gun Award | Geoff Sanderson | ||
| True Grit Award | Kevin Dineen |
The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1996–97 season.
| October 2, 1996 | From Edmonton Oilers Kent Manderville | |
| October 12, 1996 | From Detroit Red Wings Stu Grimson |
| Player | New Team | |
| Philadelphia Flyers | ||
| Phoenix Coyotes | ||
| Boston Bruins | ||
| Orlando Solar Bears (IHL) | ||
| Philadelphia Flyers |
Hartford's picks at the 1996 NHL Entry Draft held at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri.[4]
| Round | Player | Position | Nationality | College/Junior/Club team (League) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 34 | Trevor Wasyluk | Left wing | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) | ||
| 3 | 61 | Andrei Petrunin | Right wing | CSKA Moscow (Russia) | ||
| 4 | 88 | Craig MacDonald | Center | Harvard University (ECAC) | ||
| 4 | 104 | Steve Wasylko | Center | Detroit Whalers (OHL) | ||
| 5 | 116 | Mark McMahon | Defense | Kitchener Rangers (OHL) | ||
| 6 | 143 | Aaron Baker | Goaltender | Tri-City Americans (WHL) | ||
| 7 | 171 | Greg Kuznik | Defense | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | ||
| 8 | 197 | Kevin Marsh | Left wing | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | ||
| 9 | 223 | Craig Adams | Right wing | Harvard University (ECAC) | ||
| 9 | 231 | Askhat Rakhmatullin | Left wing | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (Russia) |
In 1994, Compuware founder Peter Karmanos purchased the Whalers. Karmanos pledged to keep the Whalers in Hartford for four years. Frustrated with lackluster attendance and corporate support, he announced in 1996 that if the Whalers were unable to sell at least 11,000 season tickets for the 1996–97 season, he would likely move the team. Furthermore, ownership only made season tickets available in full-season (41-game) packages, eliminating the popular five- and ten-game "mini plans," in a strategy largely designed to spur purchases from wealthier corporations and individuals. Sales were underwhelming at the beginning of the campaign, and at the end of the 1995–96 season it was still unknown whether the Whalers would stay in Connecticut or move. However, thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign, and the creative efforts of many fans (who pooled together resources to purchase some of the full-season packages collectively) the Whalers announced that they would stay in Connecticut for the 1996–97 season.
In early 1996, negotiations between the Whalers and Connecticut Governor John G. Rowland to build a new $147.5 million arena seemed to be going well. However, negotiations fell apart when Rowland and the State refused Karmanos' demand to reimburse the Whalers for up to $45 million in losses during the three years the new arena was to be built. As a result, the team announced on March 26, 1997, that they would leave Hartford, one of the few times that a team announced it would leave its current city without having already selected a new city. Many suspected that Governor John G. Rowland did not want to keep the Whalers, as he harbored hopes of instead landing an NFL franchise. Ideally, Rowland wanted to use the state's resources to build a new stadium to lure the New England Patriots to Connecticut and did not have serious intentions of building an NHL arena for the Whalers.[5] [6] [7]