During their 18-year run in the NHL, the Hartford Whalers were rarely contenders. They only ever finished higher than fourth in the division once, winning the Adams Division in 1986-87 before losing in the division semifinals to Quebec. The Whalers only won a playoff round once, advancing to the division finals in 1986 and losing in seven games to the Montreal Canadiens.
While never the top dogs in the league, the Whalers had plenty of big-time players come through Connecticut. Eight Hall-of-Famers called Hartford home during their careers, headlined by Ron Francis, Bobby Hull, and "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. Another notable name, who made the journey from Hartford to Raleigh with the organization, was Glen Wesley.
Drafted 3rd overall in 1987 by the Boston Bruins, Wesley immediately made his mark in the NHL, finishing fourth in Calder Trophy voting during his rookie campaign and being named to his only All-Star Game the following season. He was usually good for 40-55 points with the Bruins during his seven seasons in Beantown.
On August 26, 1994, coming off the best offensive season in Wesley's career, the Hartford Whalers made a move to bring in the blueliner. The Whalers sent their first-round picks in the next three drafts to Boston in return. In hindsight, it was a curious move for a team that wasn't close to the playoffs in 1994 to give up three picks that were certain to be high.
Outside of a short stint with Toronto after the 2003 trade deadline, Wesley spent the remainder of his days with the organization, playing 913 games across 13 seasons with Hartford and Carolina. He never reached the same offensive peak, topping out at 32 points in 1996-97, but he was a staple on the blue line for many years to come. His #2 is one of four numbers hanging from the rafters.
What if the Whalers never made that decision, valuing their high draft picks over the excellent, young defenseman? How could history have been rewritten if Hartford had maintained their picks? It's not a perfect science, especially since the standings would've changed, but here's what the Whalers missed out on during the next three NHL Drafts.