The 1987–88 Hartford Whalers season was the Whalers' ninth season in the National Hockey League (NHL).
Offseason On June 13, 1987, the 1987 NHL entry draft was held at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan. With their first round draft pick, the Whalers selected Jody Hull from the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League. During the 1986–87 season with the Petes, Hull scored 18 goals and 52 points in 49 games. With their second round selection, the Whalers selected defenceman Adam Burt from the North Bay Centennials of the OHL, while in the fourth round, the club selected center Terry Yake from the Brandon Wheat Kings from the Western Hockey League.
On July 29, the Whalers signed free agent Tom Martin. In 11 games with the Winnipeg Jets during the 1986–87 season, Martin scored one goal. He also played in 18 games with the Adirondack Red Wings of the American Hockey League, scoring five goals and 11 points.
The Whalers and Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade on September 8, with Hartford acquiring Bill Root from Toronto for Dave Semenko. Root scored three goals and six points in 34 games with the Maple Leafs during the 1986–87 season.
On September 15, Hartford signed free agent Roger Kortko to a contract. Kortko was a member of the New York Islanders organization, and scored 16 goals and 46 points with their AHL affiliate, the Springfield Indians, during the 1986–87 season.
Wayne Babych announced his retirement from hockey on September 29. Babych appeared in four games with Hartford during the 1986–87 season, earning no points. He played a majority of the season with the Binghamton Whalers of the American Hockey League, scoring nine goals and 42 points in 78 games. During his NHL career, which began with the St. Louis Blues in 1978–79, Babych scored 192 goals and 438 points in 519 games while playing for the Blues, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, and the Whalers.
On October 5, the Whalers acquired Mark Reeds from the St. Louis Blues in a trade in which Hartford sent St. Louis their third round draft selection in the 1989 NHL entry draft. Reeds scored nine goals and 25 points in 68 games with the Blues in the 1986–87 season.
During the waiver draft, which was held on October 5, the Whalers claimed Brent Peterson from the Vancouver Canucks and Doug Wickenheiser from the St. Louis Blues. Hartford lost newly signed free agent Bill Root in the waiver draft to the St. Louis Blues, while Wickenheiser was then claimed by the Vancouver Canucks. Peterson, who remained with the Whalers, scored seven goals and 22 points in 69 games with the Canucks during the 1986–87 season.
Draft picks Hartford's draft picks at the 1987 NHL entry draft held at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.
Round # Player Nationality College/Junior/Club team (League)118Jody HullPeterborough Petes (OHL)239Adam BurtNorth Bay Centennials (OHL)481Terry YakeBrandon Wheat Kings (WHL)5102Mark RousseauUniversity of Denver (WCHA)6132Jeff St. CyrMichigan Technological University (WCHA)7144Gregg WolfBuffalo Regals (EEMHL)8165John MooreYale University (ECAC)9186Joe DaySt. Lawrence University (ECAC)11228Kevin SullivanPrinceton University (ECAC)12249Steve LaurinDartmouth College (ECAC)S219Ken LovsinUniversity of Saskatchewan (CIAU)
Regular season
The Whalers had the league's best penalty-kill percentage, with 84.27% (359 for 426).
Final standings
Record vs. opponents
Schedule and results
|1||L||October 8, 1987||1–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||0–1–0
|2||L||October 10, 1987||2–6 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||0–2–0
|3||L||October 11, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||0–3–0
|4||L||October 14, 1987||1–3 || align="left"| @ New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||0–4–0
|5||L||October 16, 1987||2–6 || align="left"| @ Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||0–5–0
|6||W||October 17, 1987||4–3 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||1–5–0
|7||W||October 21, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||2–5–0
|8||W||October 24, 1987||5–3 || align="left"| Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||3–5–0
|9||T||October 28, 1987||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||3–5–1
|10||W||October 31, 1987||7–4 || align="left"| Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||4–5–1
|11||W||November 1, 1987||5–1 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||5–5–1
|12||T||November 4, 1987||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||5–5–2
|13||L||November 6, 1987||1–3 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||5–6–2
|14||L||November 7, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||5–7–2
|15||T||November 11, 1987||0–0 OT|| align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||5–7–3
|16||L||November 14, 1987||1–4 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||5–8–3
|17||T||November 16, 1987||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||5–8–4
|18||W||November 18, 1987||9–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||6–8–4
|19||L||November 21, 1987||3–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||6–9–4
|20||L||November 25, 1987||5–6 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||6–10–4
|21||W||November 27, 1987||4–2 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||7–10–4
|22||W||November 28, 1987||4–2 || align="left"| @ Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||8–10–4
|23||L||December 2, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||8–11–4
|24||L||December 3, 1987||2–5 || align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||8–12–4
|25||W||December 5, 1987||2–1 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||9–12–4
|26||W||December 8, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||10–12–4
|27||W||December 9, 1987||5–4 || align="left"| Washington Capitals (1987–88) ||11–12–4
|28||W||December 12, 1987||3–2 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||12–12–4
|29||T||December 15, 1987||2–2 OT|| align="left"| Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||12–12–5
|30||L||December 17, 1987||0–2 || align="left"| St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||12–13–5
|31||W||December 19, 1987||4–3 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||13–13–5
|32||T||December 20, 1987||3–3 OT|| align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||13–13–6
|33||L||December 22, 1987||5–6 OT|| align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||13–14–6
|34||L||December 26, 1987||2–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||13–15–6
|35||L||December 27, 1987||3–5 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||13–16–6
|36||W||December 30, 1987||3–1 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||14–16–6
|37||T||January 2, 1988||1–1 OT|| align="left"| New Jersey Devils (1987–88) ||14–16–7
|38||L||January 6, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||14–17–7
|39||L||January 8, 1988||1–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||14–18–7
|40||W||January 9, 1988||5–4 OT|| align="left"| Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||15–18–7
|41||W||January 11, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||16–18–7
|42||L||January 13, 1988||1–2 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||16–19–7
|43||L||January 14, 1988||2–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||16–20–7
|44||W||January 16, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| @ Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||17–20–7
|45||W||January 19, 1988||6–3 || align="left"| @ Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||18–20–7
|46||W||January 21, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||19–20–7
|47||W||January 23, 1988||5–0 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||20–20–7
|48||W||January 24, 1988||2–1 OT|| align="left"| Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||21–20–7
|49||L||January 27, 1988||1–5 || align="left"| @ Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||21–21–7
|50||W||January 29, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| @ Vancouver Canucks (1987–88) ||22–21–7
|51||L||January 30, 1988||2–5 || align="left"| @ Edmonton Oilers (1987–88) ||22–22–7
|52||L||February 1, 1988||4–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||22–23–7
|53||L||February 3, 1988||2–5 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||22–24–7
|54||L||February 6, 1988||4–5 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||22–25–7
|55||W||February 7, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| Toronto Maple Leafs (1987–88) ||23–25–7
|56||W||February 13, 1988||4–1 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||24–25–7
|57||L||February 15, 1988||4–5 OT|| align="left"| @ Philadelphia Flyers (1987–88) ||24–26–7
|58||W||February 17, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||25–26–7
|59||L||February 20, 1988||0–3 || align="left"| @ New York Islanders (1987–88) ||25–27–7
|60||L||February 21, 1988||2–7 || align="left"| New York Islanders (1987–88) ||25–28–7
|61||W||February 23, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||26–28–7
|62||L||February 25, 1988||2–5 || align="left"| @ Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||26–29–7
|63||L||February 27, 1988||3–4 || align="left"| Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||26–30–7
|64||L||March 1, 1988||3–6 || align="left"| @ Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||26–31–7
|65||W||March 2, 1988||2–1 || align="left"| @ Chicago Blackhawks (1987–88) ||27–31–7
|66||W||March 5, 1988||3–1 || align="left"| New York Rangers (1987–88) ||28–31–7
|67||L||March 8, 1988||4–6 || align="left"| @ Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||28–32–7
|68||W||March 9, 1988||5–4 || align="left"| Los Angeles Kings (1987–88) ||29–32–7
|69||L||March 12, 1988||0–5 || align="left"| @ Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||29–33–7
|70||L||March 13, 1988||1–4 || align="left"| Quebec Nordiques (1987–88) ||29–34–7
|71||L||March 15, 1988||6–8 || align="left"| Calgary Flames (1987–88) ||29–35–7
|72||W||March 19, 1988||5–3 || align="left"| @ St. Louis Blues (1987–88) ||30–35–7
|73||L||March 20, 1988||1–2 || align="left"| @ New York Rangers (1987–88) ||30–36–7
|74||W||March 22, 1988||4–3 || align="left"| Winnipeg Jets (1987–88) ||31–36–7
|75||W||March 24, 1988||3–2 || align="left"| @ Detroit Red Wings (1987–88) ||32–36–7
|76||W||March 26, 1988||8–1 || align="left"| Minnesota North Stars (1987–88) ||33–36–7
|77||W||March 27, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| Montreal Canadiens (1987–88) ||34–36–7
|78||L||March 31, 1988||2–3 || align="left"| @ Buffalo Sabres (1987–88) ||34–37–7
|79||W||April 2, 1988||4–2 || align="left"| Boston Bruins (1987–88) ||35–37–7
|80||L||April 3, 1988||2–4 || align="left"| @ Pittsburgh Penguins (1987–88) ||35–38–7
Legend:
Playoffs Canadiens 4, Whalers 2 The Whalers opened the 1988 Stanley Cup playoffs against the Montreal Canadiens in a best-of-seven series. Montreal finished the regular season with a 45–22–13 record, earning 103 points, which placed them first in the Adams Division. The Canadiens finished with 26 more points than Hartford during the regular season. Previously, the Whalers and Canadiens met twice in the post-season, with Montreal winning both series. Their most recent match-up was during the 1986 Stanley Cup playoffs, as Montreal defeated Hartford with an overtime goal in game seven of the Adams Division final. The Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup that season.