The Whalers were in their final season. They were leaving Hartford, and no one knew what was next for them.
In 1996-97, the Whalers were announced to be leaving the Hartford Civic Center. They would be leaving Hartford, and leaving the New England area entirely to relocate to a brand new market. Hall of Fame owner Peter Karmanos took the Whale down south, originally to Greensboro where they would become the Carolina Hurricanes that we know today.
In their final game in Hartford, the Whalers beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1. It would end the existence of the Whalers, leaving them only a memory for 2 decades. Kevin Dineen would score the final goal in Whalers history, Craig Adams would be the last active Whalers draft pick, and Glen Wesley would be the final Whaler to play in Carolina.
And thus closed the Whale tale. It had been beached and abandoned. Nothing but a memory for the fans to remind themselves of their age. Gone, but never forgotten, Hartford no longer had an NHL team. The Binghamton Rangers did move to Hartford to become the Hartford Wolf Pack shortly after, but they are the New York Rangers AHL affiliate.