Glen Wesley was drafted third overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. That year, he made his NHL debut on October 8 and registered an assist in a 4-3 win against the Washington Capitals. In 1983-84, Wesley began his ascent to the NHL in 1983-84 with Red Deer Rustlers of the AJHL. That year, he also played his first three major junior games with the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks. The following season, he joined the Winter Hawks full time and scored 16 goals and 68 points. In 1985-86, he improved to 75 assists and 91 points and was named a WHL West First Team All-Star. In 1986-87, he tallied 46 assists and 62 points and was again named a WHL West First Team All-Star. A member of Canada's 1987 World Junior team, Wesley played 79 games that rookie season and scored 39 points. He was named an All-Rookie Team defenceman. In the playoffs, he helped the Bruins win the Prince of Wales Trophy before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals. In 1988-89, Wesley scored 19 goals and 54 points from the blueline. He also played in his first mid-season All-Star Game.



In 1989-90, he scored 36 points as the Bruins won the Adams Division season title. In the playoffs, Wesley and the Bruins won the Prince of Wales Trophy before losing once again to the Oilers in the Stanley Cup finals. In 1990-91, the Red Deer native scored eleven goals and 43 points as the Bruins won the Adams Division season title. In the playoffs, the team reached the Wales Conference finals before losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who would go on to win their first Stanley Cup. In what appeared to be a case of déjà vu in next year's playoffs, they again reached the Wales Conference finals before losing to the Penguins, who would go on to win their second successive Stanley Cup. On August 26, 1994, Wesley was traded to the Hartford Whalers for three first-round draft picks (1995, 1996, and 1997). In 1997-98, he moved with the franchise to Carolina (now the Hurricanes) and scored 25 points while playing all 82 games. In 2001-02, Wesley was a key component on the Hurricane blue line as the team reached the Stanley Cup final for the first time in team history. After knocking off the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs, Carolina fell in five games to the Detroit Red Wings. After parts of seven seasons in Hartford/Carolina, Wesley was acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2003 March trading deadline before opting to return to Carolina as an unrestricted free-agent in the summer of 2003. Wesley won a silver medal for Canada at the 1996 World Championships. His older brother is former NHL defenceman Blake Wesley.