Could the Hartford Whalers Return to the NHL?!?

[Brian Damage]

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The former owner of the Hartford Whalers is planning an outdoor hockey festival that he hopes will help re-energize efforts to bring the NHL back to Connecticut.

Howard Baldwin, who moved the World Hockey League's New England Whalers to Hartford in 1975 and brought the team into the NHL in 1979, launched a marketing campaign Wednesday designed to bring the Whalers name, and ultimately an NHL team back to Connecticut's capital.

"We have got to get people talking about Hartford again when they talk about hockey," Baldwin said. "That stopped, and if we ever want something to happen here, we've got to get it started again."

Baldwin is hoping a 10-day outdoor festival in February, based on the NHL Winter Classic, will do just that.

The "Whalers Hockey Fest," is expected to feature up to 20 minor league, college, high school, prep and youth hockey games at a rink to be built at Rentschler Field, the University of Connecticut's football stadium in East Hartford.

UConn already has signed on, and will play a men's and women's doubleheader at the outdoor rink on Feb. 13. The men will take on Sacred Heart, and the women will follow with a game against Providence, said athletic director Jeff Hathaway.

The 10-day festival also will feature a game between Hartford Whalers alumni and former members of the Boston Bruins, Baldwin said. Another contest, he said, will have NHL legends taking on a team of Hollywood stars called "Mystery Alaska" and based on the Baldwin-produced movie of the same name.

"We want this to be the go-to event for hockey in New England," he said.

Baldwin also plans to reactivate the Whalers Hall of Fame, and induct new members for the first time since 1990. He has planned a summer "Fan Fest" that will include a celebrity golf tournament and a reunion of former Whalers players.

His plans have fans, such as 51-year-old Joanne Cortesa of Hartford, excited.

"I have a feeling we'll get a team within the next three years or so," she said. "We just need to build a new arena. I think he's going to get this done."

But Baldwin has his work cut out for him. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Tuesday that he couldn't foresee another Whalers team in Hartford. The franchise left Connecticut in 1997 and moved to North Carolina, where they became the Carolina Hurricanes.

The NHL didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment about Baldwin's announcement Wednesday.

Baldwin acknowledges that Hartford has some major obstacles to overcome. The city's XL Center is 35 years old, and there are no current plans for a new arena; the minor-league Hartford Wolf Pack ranks 18th in the AHL in attendance, drawing just over 4,100 fans per game. And, the city's mayor is currently preoccupied by a corruption trial. Other areas, including Kansas City, Winnipeg, and Quebec also are vying for NHL teams.

"The NHL is a different bird today than it was before," Baldwin said. "They are very careful, as they should be, about who gets in the league and who doesn't, and there's a lot of criteria that goes into it. But if we do a great job here, they'll come to us."

Former Whaler captain Kevin Dineen wouldn't say if he believes Hartford can again support an NHL team, but said if anyone can get one to come here, he believes it is Baldwin.

"I think Howard's a guy who over the course of his career has really done a job of connecting people and putting the pieces together that will really make any business work," Dineen said. "Howard is the right guy for the job."

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[Marvo301]

Just a slight correction. Prior to joining the NHL in 1979 the Whalers played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) not the World Hockey League. By the way i think the NHL returning to Hartford is a long shot at best.

[MrCleveland]

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Just a slight correction. Prior to joining the NHL in 1979 the Whalers played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) not the World Hockey League. By the way i think the NHL returning to Hartford is a long shot at best.

The Whalers in the NHL is the same scenario as Cleveland winning a Championship!

[James]

The best way to resurrect the Hartford Whalers would be to uproot the Chicago Blackhawks!

[TMC]

How did a team with the best logo and the catchiest song in hockey history simply vanish? Tonight, we’re looking past the neon lights to uncover the surreal story of the Hartford Whalers.

From the high-energy goals of the WHA years to the literal collapse of their arena roof, the Whalers were a franchise defined by defiance. In this documentary, we trace the journey of "The Whale"—from their two-year "exile" in Springfield to the nostalgic days of playing in a shopping mall, and finally, the heartbreaking trade of Ron Francis that signaled the beginning of the end.

Whether you grew up humming "Brass Bonanza" or you’re a new fan wondering why everyone still wears that green and blue hat, this is the definitive story of hockey’s greatest underdog.

[Key Chapters / Timestamps]

• 0:00 The Greatest Hook in Hockey
  
• 0:42 The 1990s: Orange Julius & The Mall
  
• 1:23 WHA Days
  
• 2:10 NHL Absorption
  
• 3:31 Coming Soon: The Trade that Broke Hartford
  
• 4:12 Civic Center Disaster
  
• 5:12 The Greatest Song In Sports
  
• 6:05 The Greatest Logo In Sports
  
• 7:10 Karmanos Era
  
• 8:42 Relocation
  
• 9:38 Outro

In this All Sports History video we'll look back at what happened to the Hartford Whalers and how a new stadium deal that went south (literally) could have helped save the team...

Here's what this "Hartford Whalers History" video covers:

The Hartford Whalers existed for just over 25 years as a professional hockey team, first as a WHA team and then as an NHL franchise. In this video we’ll look back at the rise and fall of the Whalers, and how a deal for a new arena fell through that could have saved the team (before the Whalers left Hartford).

We'll also look back at some Hartford Whalers highlights throughout their history, such as how the Whalers logo was created. Then we'll go through playoff runs during the 1980s, featuring matchups like the Hartford Whalers vs Quebec Nordiques, and the Hartford Whalers vs Boston Bruins. Finally, we'll see how the team's legacy has continued to this day with Hartford Whalers night during Hurricanes home games.

What did you think about the Whalers moving to North Carolina and becoming the Hurricanes? And what’s one of your favorite memories of the Whalers? Let me know in the comments below!

Looking back at the history of the Hartford Whalers, from their early days in the WHA, up to their relocation to Carolina.

"When you lost the Whalers, you lost the heart and soul of the community."

It's the story of a beloved professional hockey team that has been gone longer than it stayed.

"Hartford Whalers: From Heartbeat to Heartbreak" is a documentary about how memorable it can be when a professional hockey team finds its perfect place in a loving community.

[Dude111]

Lets hope they return!!

They are a good team...

[TMC]

The Story of the Hartford Whalers | NHL History Documentary

In this video, we explore the fascinating history of the Hartford Whalers, one of the NHL’s most unique and beloved franchises. From their early beginnings in the WHA as the New England Whalers to their move into the NHL, the Whalers built a passionate fanbase and left behind one of hockey’s most iconic logos, uniforms, and traditions. Despite their cultural impact, the team was plagued by financial struggles, arena issues, and poor ownership decisions, which ultimately led to the team relocating and becoming the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997.

We’ll dive into the rise and fall of the Hartford Whalers, their evolution from the WHA to the NHL years, and the events leading to the team's ultimate relocation in the late 1990s. The team still holds a special place in the hearts of many NHL fans, Canadian hockey fans, American hockey fans, and European hockey fans alike. From legends like Ron Francis to unforgettable playoff battles, this video is a documentary of a franchise that was small-market but larger than life. Like and subscribe for more!

[Dude111]

Danke TMC!!

[KurtfromPitts]

I would love to see them return, especially the Kelly green jerseys.