Kammala jumla mai zuwa: Kafin a fara kakar wasa ta bana, a ranar 1 ga Oktoba, Whalers sun shiga cikin yarjejeniya uku tare da New York Rangers da Minnesota North Stars. Kasuwanci na farko ya kasance tsakanin Whalers da Arewa Stars, kamar yadda Hartford ya sami dama winger Kent-Erik Andersson da kuma cibiyar Mark Johnson daga Minnesota don zagaye na biyar na zagaye a cikin
1984 NHL Entry Draft da kuma tunanin gaba. Hartford sannan ya yi musayar Andersson zuwa Rangers don Ed Hospodar. Johnson ya raba lokacin 1981-82 tsakanin Pittsburgh Penguins da Minnesota North Stars, inda ya ci kwallaye 12 da maki 25 a wasanni 56. A cikin wasanni hudu na wasan kwaikwayo tare da Minnesota, Johnson ya zira kwallaye biyu. Hospodar ya bayyana a wasanni 41 tare da New York, inda ya zira kwallaye uku da maki 11, yayin da ya yi rajistar mintuna 153 na horo.