Hockey fans love tradition, but love nostalgia far more. Teams wear the sweaters of defunct teams, profiting on that desire for a touchstone to history to turn a profit on their 3rd jersey sales. This takes us to the Hartford Whalers, because more than 25 years after the Hartford Whalers left the NHL, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont is trying to bring them back. 

If the Whalers are still popular now, then why did they even leave in the first place and why are they never coming back in the NHL? They relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1997 to become the Carolina Hurricanes. Now, the governor sees an opportunity to poach the Arizona Coyotes for Connecticut. 

The Hartford Whalers uniforms worn by the Carolina Hurricanes makes me want to break out and play “The Brass Bonanza”. @PhilHecken @UniWatch pic.twitter.com/hz9uY7jQSg

— Gershon Rabinowitz (@GershOnline) March 6, 2019

Arizona had their arena plans in Tempe crushed by an overwhelming show of non-support by the community in a referendum that would have seen their arena funded privately, not publicly, yet they still said no. This was after years of problems as tenants in NHL acceptable arenas before taking residence in a refurbished NCAA rink at Arizona State University, where the Coyotes are still not the main tenant. 

Because of this, they are seen as a team without a home and Governor Lamont wants Hartford to become their new home. The govenor said he’s had early discussions with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about the possibility of the Coyotes relocating to Hartford. 

 

“I’ve talked to Gary Bettman, right now the Coyotes don’t have a place to play on a permanent basis, so they’re looking around trying to find options. Connecticut is definitely on the radar screen.” – Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont 

There has been speculation that that Houston, Kansas City and even Atlanta could be candidates for relocation, even expansion. But still no credible talk of Quebec City for some reason, why have an NHL team in a new NHL style arena in a hockey mad market…..but I digress. Meanwhile, those opposed to Hartford’s return point to a market in the North East that is already crowded with the Boston Bruins, New York Islander, New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. They feel that the reborn Whalers wouldn’t have enough of a fan base to make it a viable NHL city. 

“It’s a hockey center here. We love hockey. We have the national champions here,” Lamont said, referencing the 2023 National Champion Quinnipiac men’s hockey team. “And the fact that the Rangers and the Bruins are nearby is a good thing, because it means we have a lot of hockey interest.” – Gov Lamont 

Unlike Quebec City, Hartford has significant hurdles to be overcome. The first is the lack of a modern NHL arena. The Whalers’ old home arena, The XL Center (Formerly Harford Civic Center), would need major upgrades. In the end, the city may need to build an entirely new venue, much like the Seattle Kraken had done.  

Best sea-themed name since…

Bring back the Hartford Whalers!
[cue Brass Bonanza 🎶] pic.twitter.com/jwfNdZ2Br8

— Anthony DiCicco (@DiCiccoMethod) July 23, 2020

Second, currently, the Hurricanes own the rights to the Whalers and their merchandise. Either Hartford would need to return with a new name and color scheme, or they would need to negotiate the purchase of those trademarks back from Tom Dundon, who is better known as a ruthless businessman and not someone tied to nostalgia. 

The third, and perhaps most important, Hartford would need to find a local buyer for the team with deep pockets, willing to put in the investment needed to make it a viable franchise. Lamont did mention that he “knows a guy” with deep pockets who would buy the Coyotes in an instant if he got the green light to relocate to Hartford….but is that the father of that “girlfriend from Canada” so many young teen boys in the USA would speak about? 

It is a steep climb for the Whalers to return to the NHL. As fun as it would be to see the team led to the NHL by Gordie Howe in 1980, and a return to the old Adams Division rivalries with the Bruins and Montreal Canadiens, it is highly unlikely. Hartford isn’t a major TV market, something Bettman is intent on adding (or in the case of Arizona, keeping) with the NHL. Also, it would be considered a small market, and the NHL seems loathe to allowing more into the fold. 

Nostalgia may sell some t-shirts, but in the case of Hartford, they will need much much more to convince the NHL.