Whitney is at the cusp of a 1000 career points with 999 points after getting 2 assists tonight. He is 39 and playing unbelievably well and could very well be the next player who can play at a high level well into his 40's
Whitney is at the cusp of a 1000 career points with 999 points after getting 2 assists tonight. He is 39 and playing unbelievably well and could very well be the next player who can play at a high level well into his 40's
I was hoping the Islanders or Leafs would have signed this guy the last TWO times he was a UFA. Very smart player, incredibly efficient and great vision. He reminds me of Cliff Ronning and Martin St. Louis (but not as good).
The fact that he's leading his team in scoring, at his age, by a fair margin, a playoff team (for now), and something he really hasn't done his whole career - well, that's impressive.
I always felt Whitney was a player that could play on ANY team, but more of a support player, secondary scorer, great complementary player - but a player that you can win with. He's ageless like Selanne.
He's an older Alex Tanguay: a top-6 passing winger who thrives in the open ice.
He, like Cammalleri, has benefited greatly from the less physical new NHL. Before the lockout Whitney had been waived once and a few years later traded for Kevyn Adams, plagued by injuries, easily bumped around.
Considering he's been somewhat of a journeyman playing for 5-6 teams, I'd say he has been under appreciated. Many wingers in this era have been under appreciated. They score 60 points on the second or third line and the GM envisions 80, so he's traded or becomes a free agent. Alex Tanguay is one of those guys. I think Cammalleri may turn out to be one too. For the record, trading Cammy was one of PG's worst moves.
He's an older Alex Tanguay: a top-6 passing winger who thrives in the open ice.
He, like Cammalleri, has benefited greatly from the less physical new NHL. Before the lockout Whitney had been waived once and a few years later traded for Kevyn Adams, plagued by injuries, easily bumped around.
This entire post reflects poorly on your knowledge of the sport.
What do you think he would look like with Spezza and Michalek next season? If Phoenix moves to Quebec he could choose to pursue a new team in the off season.
Could he go a point a game at 40 with a quality goal scoring playmaking centre and a goal scoring RWer?
Whitney never ceases to amaze me. The guy is putting up amazing numbers despite being 40. Good player who is showing no signs of slowing down.
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Exhibit A as to how hockey doesn't matter on ESPN:
Last night an ESPN program was discussing how the Detroit Pistons needed a hero citing the heroes on the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions and no mention of the Detroit Red Wings. All this despite the Red Wings probably being the most succesful team in Detroit right now.
Not a bad player for what he does. A bit of a journeyman and if you wanted to pick a team which you would best associate him with you could pick 3-4 teams which is never a good thing. I wouldn't kick him off my team as a 2nd liner though.
i always thought whitney and cory stillman had similar careers. quietly put up PPG or near-PPG seasons for a long time, stuck around longer than you'd think they would, both were rarely if ever the go-to scorer on their teams when they were on teams that mattered (overshadowed by bure, turgeon, demitra, tkachuk, st. louis, richards, lecavalier, staal). but stillman is done and the older whitney, after a few lower years, is back producing at the same rate as his prime. pretty amazing.
He's an older Alex Tanguay: a top-6 passing winger who thrives in the open ice.
He, like Cammalleri, has benefited greatly from the less physical new NHL. Before the lockout Whitney had been waived once and a few years later traded for Kevyn Adams, plagued by injuries, easily bumped around.
Whitney is not someone who shys away from physical play.
Pre-lockout whitney
He was traded when Sharks started to rebuild after their fiasco season in '96. He was waived by Oilers for some dumb reason. He was traded for Kevin Adams when Adams was considered a good defensive checking line kinda player and thats what dumbass Chuck Fletcher thought he needed.
Yeah I was going to say, Kevyn Adams wasn't exactly a bad player and really he was pretty highly regarded for a while. Not quite like Darren Helm right now but not that terribly far off it.
Yeah I was going to say, Kevyn Adams wasn't exactly a bad player and really he was pretty highly regarded for a while. Not quite like Darren Helm right now but not that terribly far off it.
He was only 25-26 too so he was hoped to develop even more.
What do you think he would look like with Spezza and Michalek next season? If Phoenix moves to Quebec he could choose to pursue a new team in the off season.
Could he go a point a game at 40 with a quality goal scoring playmaking centre and a goal scoring RWer?
I think he'd look pretty good there. Spezza might score 40 goals with Whitney on his wing.
I dont get to watch him much at all. What i do know is that he is like a fine wine. This guys longevity is incredible. You just have to root for this guy.
This entire post reflects poorly on your knowledge of the sport.
Why?
He has certainly earned a lot more respect the last few years thanks to his enduring longevity, but pre-lockout the guy was just seen as a pretty consistently productive 2nd liner.
Ray Whitney is not an NHL caliber player and will not make any meaningful contributions to teams in the future.
Sincerely,
The Edmonton Oilers
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Yep that's right folks, Ray Whitney was deemed not good enough for the 1998 Oilers who put him on waivers nine games into the season. The local kid was incredibly disappointed to be waived by a team he grew up idolizing, but 900 points and a Stanley Cup later I think it's safe to say it worked out for him.
One of my earliest hockey memories is Whitney scoring in OT to sink the Flames in Game 7. Congrats on 1000 points, Ray.
