Despite not playing a game since 1997, no team seems to capture the heart of hockey fans like the Hartford Whalers. It seems like every time the topic of defunct teams comes up, they are one of the first teams that come to mind. Whether it's the logo or the color scheme, it's a team that won't die despite no longer playing hockey. However, what if that wasn't the case? What would've happened had the Whalers never left for Raleigh in 1997?
The expansion and relocation of the late 90s and early 2000s look different
With the Wahlers staying in Connecticut, we could see a boom in their popularity. In the first five years after moving to Carolina, the Hurricanes qualified for the playoffs three times and advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals in the 2001-02 season. It's safe to assume the Whalers would have similar success.
This will lead to a renewed interest in the team, especially among younger fans. Even with them being stuck between two huge media markets, the Whalers are likely to run the hockey fandom in the Constitution State. It could also lead to more leagues considering Hartford/Connecticut as a potential location for new franchises.
However, the Whalers' decision to stay in Connecticut changed how the NHL grew in the late 1990s and early 2000s. During that time, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman implemented his "Southern Strategy," which aimed to increase interest in hockey in non-traditional markets, most notably the American South. This is why areas like Dallas, Atlanta, the Carolinas, and Florida got teams, while places like Winnipeg and Quebec City lost theirs.
The first change happened in 1999. In our timeline, that's when the Atlanta Thrashers join the league. However, in this alternate timeline, the NHL will opt to enter a new market in the Carolinas rather than returning to a place where they have previously failed. The Carolina Hurricanes still exist, but they were established as an expansion team a few years later. They're also likely not the powerhouse they are today if the ownership situation is anything like the Thrashers.
With the Atlanta Thrashers no longer existing, it means they were not bought by TNSE in 2011. This means that Winnipeg does not get a team back. There are two outcomes to this situation. One, Winnipeg is similar to Quebec City, which is constantly in the running but never lands a team. Alternatively, TNSE could buy the Coyotes or another NHL franchise at some point in the 2010s and relocate it to Winnipeg.
It will also affect the expansion of 2000. That year, the NHL added the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Minnesota Wild, more traditional hockey markets. However, with the Whalers still in Hartford, adding two more traditional markets seems unlikely. The Wild is likely still added; however, it's doubtful the Blue Jackets will be.
Instead, the NHL looks south to places like New Orleans, Kansas City, or Houston. Maybe that's how the Atlanta Thrashers come into existence. Regardless, the geographical footprint of the NHL would be significantly different if the Whalers were still in existence. Of course, this is just one possible scenario.