Jean-Sébastien Giguère, the last player from Quebec drafted by the Hartford Whalers, reflects on his unique journey in the NHL. Drafted 13th overall in 1995, he cherishes his memories with the Whalers, including his first NHL win in their uniform. Despite a lifelong admiration for the Nordiques, he embraced his time with the Whalers, ultimately achieving success with the Anaheim Ducks. Giguère contemplates his early career choices, wishing he could have participated in the World Junior Championship.
Jean-Sébastien Giguère: The Last Whalers Connection
Jean-Sébastien Giguère, the former goalie from Quebec, holds a unique place in hockey history as the last player from Quebec to be drafted by the Hartford Whalers. Not only did he wear the Whalers colors, but he was also the final active NHL player associated with the team.
When Giguère took to the ice for his last professional game donning the Colorado Avalanche jersey on April 13, 2014, he was the only player left in the league who had previously played for the Whalers. Reflecting on his time with the team, Giguère fondly recalls, “I have good memories of the Whalers. You always remember the team that drafted you and your first experiences in the NHL.”
A Surprising Draft Experience
At just 18 years old, Giguère was selected in the first round as the 13th overall pick during the 1995 NHL Draft. “It was a surprise for me,” he reminisces about that moment in Edmonton. “I didn’t expect to go so high; I thought I would be picked towards the end of the first round. When the Whalers called my name, I wasn’t even listening. It was my father, Claude, who informed me that I had just been drafted. I couldn’t believe it, especially since I hadn’t spoken to the Whalers prior to the draft.”
Giguère’s joy was palpable as he expressed his happiness about joining the Whalers, despite being a lifelong fan of the Quebec Nordiques. “It’s a bit strange because I’ve always been a die-hard Nordiques fan, but I also liked the Whalers,” he shares. “For me, it was anyone but the Montreal Canadiens.” Growing up in Blainville, where his family supported the Canadiens, Giguère has since made peace with the team but still cherishes his memories with the Whalers. A framed jersey from his draft day proudly hangs in his basement.
During the 1996-1997 season, he played eight games for the Whalers. However, when the franchise relocated to Carolina, he was traded to the Calgary Flames along with Andrew Cassels in exchange for Gary Roberts and Trevor Kidd.
A Memorable First Win
Interestingly, Giguère’s first NHL victory came while wearing the Whalers uniform. On December 28, 1996, he secured a win against the Ottawa Senators with a score of 3-2. “Alexandre Daigle scored both goals for the Senators on breakaways,” Giguère recalls with a smile. “Hartford was a unique place to play. Even in their last season, the arena had character, and the atmosphere was special. When you’re 19 and playing in the NHL, every moment is thrilling. I remember the Brass Bonanza playing when we stepped onto the ice and after we scored at home; it really got us pumped.”
While Giguère’s journey began with the Whalers, he later found tremendous success with the Anaheim Ducks, culminating in winning the Stanley Cup in 2007 and earning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2003 as the playoffs’ most valuable player.
Reflecting on Choices
Giguère often reflects on a pivotal choice he made at the beginning of his career that still lingers in his mind. “During the World Junior Hockey Championship, the Whalers gave me the option to join the Canadian team or stay with them in the NHL,” he explains. “They assured me that I would play if I chose to stay, and they honored that promise.” Despite Marc Denis being the likely starting goalie for Canada due to his previous experience, Giguère opted to remain with the Whalers. “Looking back, I wonder if I would make the same decision now that I know the career I had.”
At only 19, Giguère achieved what many dream of, but he still wishes he could have experienced a World Junior Championship. “My goal was always to play in the NHL, and the Whalers promised I would play, which they did,” he notes. While he may not have a Canadian team jersey to display in his home, the Whalers jersey he treasures serves as a constant reminder of his early days in professional hockey.