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1995–96 Hartford Whalers season

{{short description|National Hockey League team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}

{{Infobox ice hockey team season

| League = NHL

| Season = 1995–96

| year = 1995

| Team = Hartford Whalers

| Division = Northeast

| DivisionRank = 4th

| Conference = Eastern

| ConferenceRank = 10th

| Record = 34–39–9

| HomeRecord = 22–15–4

| RoadRecord = 12–24–5

| GoalsFor = 237

| GoalsAgainst = 259

| GeneralManager = Jim Rutherford

| Coach = Paul Holmgren {{small|(Oct.–Nov.)}}
Paul Maurice {{small|(Nov.–Apr.)}}

| Captain = Brendan Shanahan

| AltCaptain = Glen Wesley
Andrew Cassels

| Arena = Hartford Civic Center

| Attendance = 11,983 (76.6%) {{cite web |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/nhl-attendance/att_graph.php?tmi=6045 |title=Hartford Whalers Yearly Attendance Graph |website=hockeydb.com}}

| MinorLeague = Springfield Falcons (AHL)
Richmond Renegades (ECHL)

| GoalsLeader = Brendan Shanahan (44)

| AssistsLeader = Andrew Cassels (43)

| PointsLeader = Brendan Shanahan (78)

| PlusMinusLeader = Brad McCrimmon (+15)

| PIMLeader = Scott Daniels (254)

| WinsLeader = Sean Burke (28)

| GAALeader = Jason Muzzatti (2.90)

}}

The 1995–96 Hartford Whalers season was the 24th season of the franchise, 17th season in the NHL. The Whalers missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

Off-season

On May 31, the Whalers acquired a fourth round draft pick in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Jan Vopat.

The Whalers participated in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta on July 8. With their first round selection, 13th overall, Hartford selected Jean-Sébastien Giguère from the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Giguere had a record of 14-27-5 with a 3.94 GAA and a .889 save percentage with the Mooseheads during the 1994-95 season. In the fourth round, the club selected Sami Kapanen from HIFK of the SM-liiga. In 49 games, Kapanen scored 14 goals and 42 points. Other notable players the Whalers selected in the draft include Ian MacNeil, Byron Ritchie and Mike Rucinski.

Hartford signed free agent Jeff Daniels on July 18. Daniels played in three games with the Florida Panthers during the 1994-95, earning no points. He played a majority of the season with the Detroit Vipers of the IHL, scoring eight goals and 20 points in 25 games.

On July 27, the Whalers and St. Louis Blues were involved in a blockbuster trade. Hartford acquired Brendan Shanahan from the Blues in exchange for Chris Pronger. In 45 games during the 1994-95 season, Shanahan scored 20 goals and 41 points. Shanahan had back-to-back 50+ goal seasons in 1992-93 and 1993-94. Shanahan was named to the NHL First All-Star Team during the 1993-94 season, as he scored 52 goals and 102 points in 81 games, while accumulating 211 penalty minutes.

The Whalers signed free agent Gerald Diduck on August 24. Diduck split the 1994-95 season between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks. In 35 games, he scored two goals and five points.

On October 6, the Whalers acquired Nelson Emerson in a trade with the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for Darren Turcotte. In 1994-95, Emerson scored 14 goals and 37 points in 48 games with the Jets. During the 1993-94 season, Emerson scored a career high 33 goals and 74 points in 83 games with Winnipeg. Also, on October 6, at the NHL Waiver Draft, the Whalers selected Jason Muzzatti from the Calgary Flames. Muzzatti had a 10-14-4 record with the Saint John Flames during the 1994-95 season.

Regular season

Against the Hartford Whalers on March 6, 1996, Chris Osgood became the third goaltender in NHL history to score a goal.{{cite web |title=Red Wings 4, Whalers 2 - UPI Archives |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1996/03/06/Red-Wings-4-Whalers-2/9969826088400/ |website=UPI |access-date=August 7, 2023 |date=March 6, 1996}}

The Whalers were shutout a league-high 8 times during the regular season.

=Final standings=

{{1995–96 NHL Northeast Division standings|team=HAR}}

{{1995–96 NHL Eastern Conference standings|team=HAR}}

Schedule and results

{{Game log start|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 5px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 5px solid;|title=1995–96 regular season{{cite web |title=1995-96 Hartford Whalers Schedule |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1996_games.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=August 7, 2023}}}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=October: 4–4–1 (home: 3–2–1; road: 1–2–0)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|1||W||October 7, 1995||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||1–0–0 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020003}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|2||W||October 11, 1995||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||2–0–0 || 8,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020023}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|3||W||October 14, 1995||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||3–0–0 || 15,500 || {{NHL recap|1995020038}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|4||W||October 16, 1995||7–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||4–0–0 || 18,200 || {{NHL recap|1995020054}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|5||T||October 20, 1995||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||4–0–1 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020072}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|6||L||October 21, 1995||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||4–1–1 || 12,503 || {{NHL recap|1995020081}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|7||L||October 25, 1995||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||4–2–1 || 10,527 || {{NHL recap|1995020097}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|8||L||October 27, 1995||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||4–3–1 || 11,157 || {{NHL recap|1995020109}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|9||L||October 28, 1995||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||4–4–1 || 17,565 || {{NHL recap|1995020114}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=November: 5–7–1 (home: 3–4–0; road: 2–3–1)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|10||L||November 2, 1995||0–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||4–5–1 || 10,458 || {{NHL recap|1995020146}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|11||W||November 4, 1995||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||5–5–1 || 8,794 || {{NHL recap|1995020157}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|12||L||November 5, 1995||1–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||5–6–1 || 17,218 || {{NHL recap|1995020166}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|13||W||November 7, 1995||7–3 || style="text-align:left;"| San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||6–6–1 || 8,628 || {{NHL recap|1995020171}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|14||L||November 11, 1995||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Rangers (1995–96) ||6–7–1 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020195}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|15||L||November 14, 1995||0–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||6–8–1 || 11,916 || {{NHL recap|1995020211}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|16||W||November 15, 1995||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||7–8–1 || 7,641 || {{NHL recap|1995020220}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|17||L||November 18, 1995||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||7–9–1 || 13,910 || {{NHL recap|1995020238}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|18||L||November 20, 1995||3–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||7–10–1 || 16,312 || {{NHL recap|1995020250}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|19||W||November 22, 1995||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||8–10–1 || 11,642 || {{NHL recap|1995020259}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|20||W||November 24, 1995||4–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||9–10–1 || 15,726 || {{NHL recap|1995020273}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|21||L||November 25, 1995||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||9–11–1 || 13,108 || {{NHL recap|1995020276}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|22||T||November 29, 1995||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||9–11–2 || 15,203 || {{NHL recap|1995020298}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=December: 2–10–3 (home: 2–3–1; road: 0–7–2)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|23||L||December 1, 1995||1–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||9–12–2 || 12,036 || {{NHL recap|1995020310}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|24||L||December 2, 1995||3–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||9–13–2 || 10,092 || {{NHL recap|1995020317}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|25||W||December 6, 1995||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||10–13–2 || 8,760 || {{NHL recap|1995020339}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|26||L||December 9, 1995||0–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||10–14–2 || 16,114 || {{NHL recap|1995020356}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|27||L||December 10, 1995||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1995–96) ||10–15–2 || 17,955 || {{NHL recap|1995020367}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|28||L||December 13, 1995||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||10–16–2 || 7,547 || {{NHL recap|1995020378}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|29||W||December 15, 1995||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||11–16–2 || 9,826 || {{NHL recap|1995020391}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|30||T||December 16, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||11–16–3 || 8,251 || {{NHL recap|1995020400}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|31||L||December 18, 1995||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||11–17–3 || 16,237 || {{NHL recap|1995020411}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|32||L||December 20, 1995||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||11–18–3 || 6,563 || {{NHL recap|1995020420}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|33||T||December 22, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Rangers (1995–96) ||11–18–4 || 18,200 || {{NHL recap|1995020433}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|34||T||December 23, 1995||3–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||11–18–5 || 12,262 || {{NHL recap|1995020440}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|35||L||December 28, 1995||4–9 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||11–19–5 || 17,181 || {{NHL recap|1995020463}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|36||L||December 30, 1995||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||11–20–5 || 18,130 || {{NHL recap|1995020478}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|37||L||December 31, 1995||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||11–21–5 || 19,983 || {{NHL recap|1995020483}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=January: 8–4–1 (home: 4–0–1; road: 4–4–0)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|38||W||January 3, 1996||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||12–21–5 || 8,087 || {{NHL recap|1995020494}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|39||W||January 5, 1996||4–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||13–21–5 || 12,239 || {{NHL recap|1995020507}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|40||L||January 6, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||13–22–5 || 17,565 || {{NHL recap|1995020515}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|41||W||January 9, 1996||5–1 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||14–22–5 || 9,702 || {{NHL recap|1995020537}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|42||L||January 10, 1996||2–3 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Calgary Flames (1995–96) ||14–23–5 || 16,469 || {{NHL recap|1995020544}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|43||W||January 12, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||15–23–5 || 9,709 || {{NHL recap|1995020554}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|44||W||January 16, 1996||3–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||16–23–5 || 11,124 || {{NHL recap|1995020572}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|45||W||January 17, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New York Islanders (1995–96) ||17–23–5 || 8,544 || {{NHL recap|1995020580}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|46||L||January 24, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||17–24–5 || 12,808 || {{NHL recap|1995020597}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|47||W||January 25, 1996||8–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||18–24–5 || 13,757 || {{NHL recap|1995020607}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|48||T||January 27, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||18–24–6 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020617}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|49||L||January 30, 1996||2–8 || style="text-align:left;"| @ San Jose Sharks (1995–96) ||18–25–6 || 17,190 || {{NHL recap|1995020636}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|50||W||January 31, 1996||6–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1995–96) ||19–25–6 || 11,775 || {{NHL recap|1995020644}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=February: 6–3–1 (home: 2–2–1; road: 4–1–0)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|51||W||February 2, 1996||4–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1995–96) ||20–25–6 || 17,174 || {{NHL recap|1995020654}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|52||W||February 7, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1995–96) ||21–25–6 || 16,758 || {{NHL recap|1995020682}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|53||W||February 9, 1996||3–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Colorado Avalanche (1995–96) ||22–25–6 || 16,061 || {{NHL recap|1995020691}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|54||W||February 11, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||23–25–6 || 15,397 || {{NHL recap|1995020708}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|55||L||February 14, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||23–26–6 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995020717}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|56||W||February 17, 1996||2–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||24–26–6 || 15,291 || {{NHL recap|1995020735}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|57||W||February 21, 1996||5–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||25–26–6 || 14,311 || {{NHL recap|1995020755}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|58||L||February 23, 1996||4–5 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||25–27–6 || 17,235 || {{NHL recap|1995020767}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|59||L||February 25, 1996||2–6 || style="text-align:left;"| Dallas Stars (1995–96) ||25–28–6 || 11,143 || {{NHL recap|1995020783}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|60||T||February 28, 1996||4–4 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Edmonton Oilers (1995–96) ||25–28–7 || 9,360 || {{NHL recap|1995020795}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=March: 6–6–2 (home: 6–3–0; road: 0–3–2)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|61||L||March 1, 1996||2–5 || style="text-align:left;"| Winnipeg Jets (1995–96) ||25–29–7 || 11,552 || {{NHL recap|1995020807}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|62||W||March 2, 1996||7–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||26–29–7 || 11,935 || {{NHL recap|1995020815}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|63||L||March 6, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Detroit Red Wings (1995–96) ||26–30–7 || 11,252 || {{NHL recap|1995020835}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|64||W||March 8, 1996||7–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1995–96) ||27–30–7 || 10,979 || {{NHL recap|1995020845}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|65||L||March 9, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| @ St. Louis Blues (1995–96) ||27–31–7 || 20,803 || {{NHL recap|1995020855}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|66||W||March 13, 1996||3–2 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||28–31–7 || 11,850 || {{NHL recap|1995020869}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|67||W||March 16, 1996||2–1 || style="text-align:left;"| Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||29–31–7 || 13,213 || {{NHL recap|1995020886}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|68||W||March 18, 1996||6–3 || style="text-align:left;"| Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||30–31–7 || 11,440 || {{NHL recap|1995020901}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|69||L||March 20, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1995–96) ||30–32–7 || 21,255 || {{NHL recap|1995020910}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|70||T||March 22, 1996||1–1 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Ottawa Senators (1995–96) ||30–32–8 || 13,596 || {{NHL recap|1995020921}}

|- {{Game-tied}}

|71||T||March 23, 1996||2–2 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| @ Washington Capitals (1995–96) ||30–32–9 || 18,130 || {{NHL recap|1995020932}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|72||L||March 25, 1996||0–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1995–96) ||30–33–9 || 17,380 || {{NHL recap|1995020943}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|73||L||March 27, 1996||5–6 OT|| style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||30–34–9 || 13,884 || {{NHL recap|1995020951}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|74||W||March 30, 1996||3–1 || style="text-align:left;"| New York Islanders (1995–96) ||31–34–9 || 13,628 || {{NHL recap|1995020970}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

{{Game log section start|hide=y|style=background:#fff; border-top:#00205B 2px solid; border-bottom:#046A38 2px solid;|title=April: 3–5–0 (home: 2–1–0; road: 1–4–0)|Game |Result |Date |Score |Opponent |Record |Attendance |Recap}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|75||L||April 1, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Florida Panthers (1995–96) ||31–35–9 || 13,159 || {{NHL recap|1995020985}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|76||L||April 3, 1996||2–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Tampa Bay Lightning (1995–96) ||31–36–9 || 22,576 || {{NHL recap|1995020993}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|77||W||April 4, 1996||1–0 || style="text-align:left;"| @ New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||32–36–9 || 17,757 || {{NHL recap|1995021002}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|78||L||April 6, 1996||3–6 || style="text-align:left;"| New Jersey Devils (1995–96) ||32–37–9 || 13,521 || {{NHL recap|1995021011}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|79||W||April 8, 1996||5–4 || style="text-align:left;"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1995–96) ||33–37–9 || 12,683 || {{NHL recap|1995021025}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|80||L||April 11, 1996||2–3 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||33–38–9 || 17,565 || {{NHL recap|1995021041}}

|- {{Game-won}}

|81||W||April 13, 1996||2–0 || style="text-align:left;"| Boston Bruins (1995–96) ||34–38–9 || 15,635 || {{NHL recap|1995021053}}

|- {{Game-lost}}

|82||L||April 14, 1996||1–4 || style="text-align:left;"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1995–96) ||34–39–9 || 16,230 || {{NHL recap|1995021060}}

|-

{{Game log section end}}

|-

|

Legend:

{{legend2|#cfc|Win (2 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#fcc|Loss (0 points)|border=1px solid black}}

{{legend2|#ffc|Tie (1 point)|border=1px solid black}}

{{Game log end}}

Player statistics

=Scoring=

  • Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left Wing; RW = Right Wing
  • {{dagger}} = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only.
  • {{double-dagger}} = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only.

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" data-sort-type="number" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|No.|Jersey number}}

!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Player

!scope="col" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|Pos|Position}}

!scope=colgroup colspan=6 | Regular season

scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}}

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|G|Goals}}

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|A|Assists}}

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|Pts|Points}}

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|+/-|Plus/minus}}

!scope="col" data-sort-type="number" | {{abbr|PIM|Penalties in minutes}}

scope="row"| 94align="left" | {{Sortname|Brendan|Shanahan}}LW744434782125
scope="row"| 8align="left" | {{Sortname|Geoff|Sanderson}}LW81343165040
scope="row"| 21align="left" | {{Sortname|Andrew|Cassels}}C81204363839
scope="row"| 16align="left" | {{Sortname|Nelson|Emerson}}RW81292958−778
scope="row"| 13{{efn|Nikolishin wore number 11 until Dineen was acquired.}}align="left" | {{Sortname|Andrei|Nikolishin}}C61143751−234
scope="row"| 18align="left" | {{Sortname|Robert|Kron}}LW77222850−16
scope="row"| 27align="left" | {{Sortname|Jeff|Brown|dab=ice hockey, born 1966}}{{dagger}}D4873138238
scope="row"| 28align="left" | {{Sortname|Paul|Ranheim}}LW73102030−214
scope="row"| 92align="left" | {{Sortname|Jeff|O'Neill}}RW6581927−340
scope="row"| 20align="left" | {{Sortname|Glen|Wesley}}D6881624−988
scope="row"| 12align="left" | {{Sortname|Steven|Rice}}RW59101222−447
scope="row"| 6align="left" | {{Sortname|Adam|Burt}}D784913−4121
scope="row"| 36align="left" | {{Sortname|Glen|Featherstone}}D682101210138
scope="row"| 4{{efn|Diduck wore number 44 through December 18.}}align="left" | {{Sortname|Gerald|Diduck}}D791910788
scope="row"| 24align="left" | {{Sortname|Sami|Kapanen}}RW3554906
scope="row"| 10align="left" | {{Sortname|Brad|McCrimmon}}D583691562
scope="row"| 11align="left" | {{Sortname|Kevin|Dineen}}{{dagger}}RW20279767
scope="row"| 22align="left" | {{Sortname|Mark|Janssens}}C81279−13155
scope="row"| 4align="left" | {{Sortname|Frantisek|Kucera|František Kučera}}{{double-dagger}}D30268−310
scope="row"| 15align="left" | {{Sortname|Scott|Daniels|dab=ice hockey}}LW53347−4254
scope="row"| 39align="left" | {{Sortname|Kelly|Chase}}RW55246−4230
scope="row"| 1align="left" | {{Sortname|Sean|Burke}}G66066style="background:#ccc|16
scope="row"| 32align="left" | {{Sortname|Steve|Martins}}C23134−38
scope="row"| 7align="left" | {{Sortname|Brian|Glynn}}D54044−1544
scope="row"| 14align="left" | {{Sortname|Kevin|Smyth}}LW21213−58
scope="row"| 26align="left" | {{Sortname|Jocelyn|Lemieux}}{{double-dagger}}RW29123−1131
scope="row"| 33align="left" | {{Sortname|Jimmy|Carson}}{{double-dagger}}C1110110
scope="row"| 5align="left" | {{Sortname|Alexander|Godynyuk}}D3000−12
scope="row"| 23align="left" | {{Sortname|Marek|Malik|Marek Malík}}D7000−34
scope="row"| 25align="left" | {{Sortname|Jason|McBain}}D3000−10
scope="row"| 29align="left" | {{Sortname|Jason|Muzzatti}}G22000style="background:#ccc|33
scope="row"| 35align="left" | {{Sortname|Jeff|Reese}}{{double-dagger}}G7000style="background:#ccc|0

=Goaltending=

  • {{double-dagger}} = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Whalers only.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2"| {{abbr|No.|Jersey number}}

!scope="col" rowspan="2"| Player

!scope=colgroup colspan=10 | Regular season

scope="col" | {{abbr|GP|Games played}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|W|Wins}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|L|Losses}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|T|Ties}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|SA|Shots against}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|GA|Goals against}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|GAA|Goals against average}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|SV%|Save percentage}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|SO|Shutouts}}

!scope="col" | {{abbr|TOI|Time on ice}}

scope="row"| 1align="left" | Sean Burke662828620341903.11.90743669
scope="row"| 29align="left" | Jason Muzzatti22483551492.90.91111013
scope="row"| 35align="left" | Jeff Reese{{double-dagger}}7230170143.06.9181275

Awards and records

=Awards=

class="wikitable"
scope="col" |Type

! scope="col" |Award/honor

! scope="col" |Recipient

! scope="col" |Ref

scope="row" | League
(in-season)

| NHL All-Star Game selection

| Brendan Shanahan{{efn|Shanahan was voted to the starting lineup.{{cite web |title=NHL All-Star Game Starting Lineups by Year (since 1986) |url=https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 |website=NHL.com |access-date=August 29, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322193353/https://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=29185 |archive-date=March 22, 2023}}}}

|{{cite web |title=1996 NHL All-Star Game Rosters |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/allstar/NHL_1996_roster.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=August 29, 2024}}

scope="row" rowspan="8"| Team

| Award of Excellence

| Brad McCrimmon

|{{cite web |title=Whalers Team Awards |url=http://www.whalershockey.com/awards.asp |website=www.whalershockey.com |access-date=September 11, 2023}}

Booster Club MVP Award

| Sean Burke

|

Frank Keys Memorial Award

| Brad McCrimmon

|

Mark Kravitz Award

| Sean Burke

|

Most Valuable Defenseman

| Jeff Brown

|

Three Star Award of Excellence

| Sean Burke

|

Top Gun Award

| Brendan Shanahan

|

True Grit Award

| Nelson Emerson

|

=Milestones=

class="wikitable"
scope="col" |Milestone

! scope="col" |Player

! scope="col" |Date

! scope="col" |Ref

rowspan=4| First game

| Jeff O'Neill

| October 7, 1995

| rowspan=4|{{cite web |title=1995-96 NHL Debuts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1996_debut.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=October 6, 2024}}

Steve Martins

| December 6, 1995

Sami Kapanen

| December 13, 1995

Jason McBain

| April 11, 1996

Transactions

The Whalers were involved in the following transactions during the 1995–96 season.

=Trades=

class="wikitable"
May 31, 1995

| valign="top"|To Los Angeles Kings

Jan Vopat

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

4th round pick in 1995 - Ian MacNeil
style="background:#eee;"

| July 27, 1995

| valign="top"|To St. Louis Blues

Chris Pronger

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Brendan Shanahan
October 6, 1995

| valign="top"|To Winnipeg Jets

Darren Turcotte

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Nelson Emerson
style="background:#eee;"

| November 29, 1995

| valign="top"|To Dallas Stars

Robert Petrovicky

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Dan Kesa
December 1, 1995

| valign="top"|To Tampa Bay Lightning

Jeff Reese

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

9th round pick in 1996 - Askhat Rakhmatulin
style="background:#eee;"

| December 19, 1995

| valign="top"|To New Jersey Devils

Jocelyn Lemieux
2nd round pick in 1998 - John Erskine

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Jim Dowd
2nd round pick in 1997 - Dmitri Kokorev
December 19, 1995

| valign="top"|To Vancouver Canucks

Jim Dowd
Frantisek Kucera
2nd round pick in 1997 - Ryan Bonni

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Jeff Brown
3rd round pick in 1998 - Paul Manning
style="background:#eee;"

| December 28, 1995

| valign="top"|To Philadelphia Flyers

3rd round pick in 1997 - Kris Mallette
7th round pick in 1997 - Andrew Merrick

| valign="top"|To Hartford Whalers

Kevin Dineen

=Waivers=

class="wikitable"
October 6, 1995

| valign="top"|From Calgary Flames

Jason Muzzatti

=Free agents=

cellspacing="10"
valign="top" |

{|class="wikitable"

style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"

| Player

Former Team
Jeff DanielsDetroit Vipers (IHL)
style="background:#eee;"

| Gerald Diduck

Chicago Blackhawks
David WilliamsAnaheim Mighty Ducks

| valign="top" |

class="wikitable"
style="text-align:center; background:#ddd;"

| Player

New Team
Jeff BloembergDetroit Red Wings
style="background:#eee;"

| Jim Sandlak

Vancouver Canucks

|}

Draft picks

Hartford's picks at the 1995 NHL entry draft held at the Edmonton Coliseum in Edmonton, Alberta.{{cite web |title=1995 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1995e.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=August 28, 2023}}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| Round

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:16.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:11.0%;"| Position

! style="background:#ddf; width:15.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:40.0%;"| College/Junior/Club team (League)

113Jean-Sebastien GiguereGoaltender{{CAN}}Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
235Sergei FedotovDefense{{RUS}}Dynamo Moscow (Russia)
485Ian MacNeilCenter{{CAN}}Oshawa Generals (OHL)
487Sami KapanenRight wing{{FIN}}HIFK (Finland)
5113Hugh HamiltonDefense{{CAN}}Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
7165Byron RitchieCenter{{CAN}}Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
8191Milan KostolnyRight wing{{SVK}}Detroit Junior Red Wings (OHL)
9217Mike RucinskiDefense{{USA}}Detroit Junior Red Wings (OHL)

See also

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite web |title=Hartford Whalers 1995-96 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com |url=https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/teams/0000461996.html |website=www.hockeydb.com |access-date=August 7, 2023}}
  • {{cite web |title=1995-96 Hartford Whalers Roster, Stats, Injuries, Scores, Results, Shootouts |url=https://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/HAR/1996.html |website=Hockey-Reference.com |access-date=August 7, 2023}}

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}

{{Hartford Whalers seasons}}

{{1995–96 NHL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartford Whalers season, 1995-96}}

1995-96

Category:1995–96 NHL season by team

Category:1995 in sports in Connecticut

Category:1996 in sports in Connecticut