Ray Whitney

Raymond D. Whitney (born May 8, 1972) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who was a left winger for 22 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars.

Whitney excelled for the Spokane Chiefs, with the 1990–91 season seeing him lead the Western Hockey League (WHL) in points with 185 while leading the team to their first ever Memorial Cup championship. He was the second player to be drafted by the expansion team San Jose Sharks in the 1991 NHL draft, where he played for six years before spending the next four seasons for four different teams while being named to the All-Star Game in the season.

With a short frame of 5-foot-10 and 180-pounds, Whitney managed to cultivate a career of 1,330 games while acquiring the nickname "The Wizard" for his passing and playmaking skills that had him labeled as one of the most underrated players in league history.

Whitney played the most games of his career with the Carolina Hurricanes, where he signed as a free agent prior to the season. In the Stanley Cup playoff run, he recorded 15 points in 24 games as the Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup for his only championship. After five seasons in Carolina, he played the final four seasons with Phoenix and Dallas. In 2012, he became the 79th player to record 1,000 points. He retired in 2014, having recorded 1,064 points in his career. In 2016, Whitney had his number 14 jersey retired by the Chiefs, the first player to receive the honor in team history.

Playing career Before Whitney played in the NHL, he and his brother Dean were stick boys for the NHL's Wayne Gretzky era Edmonton Oilers. The third stick boy with the Whitney brothers was another future NHL player, Ryan Smyth. During his junior career, Whitney spent three years with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League (WHL), leading the entire league with 185 points during the 1990-91 season. Whitney and the Chiefs won the 1991 Memorial Cup as champions of the Canadian Hockey League.

Whitney was the second player ever drafted by the San Jose Sharks, picked in the second round (23rd overall) in the 1991 NHL entry draft. Pat Falloon, his teammate with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs, was the Sharks' first pick. Whitney started his professional career in the 1991-92 season, playing with teams in the German Deutsche Eishockey Liga and the International Hockey League, as well as two games with the San Jose Sharks. Whitney has played for several different NHL teams during his 24-year career, including the San Jose Sharks (1991–92 to 1996–97), Edmonton Oilers (1997–98), Florida Panthers (1997–98 to 2000–01), Columbus Blue Jackets (2000–01 to 2002–03), Detroit Red Wings (2003–04), Carolina Hurricanes, Phoenix Coyotes, and Dallas Stars.

On August 6, 2005, Whitney signed a two-year contract with the Carolina Hurricanes paying him $1.5 million per year. In his first season with the Hurricanes in 2005–06, Whitney helped Carolina win their first Stanley Cup with fellow Fort Saskatchewan native Mike Commodore. On February 8, 2007, Whitney scored a natural hat trick in 1 minute and 40 seconds. On April 13, 2007, Whitney re-signed with the Hurricanes, agreeing to a three-year contract that pays him $3.5 million per year.

On July 1, 2010, Whitney signed a 2-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes for $3 million per year. Whitney was the last remaining member of the San Jose Sharks inaugural team (1991–92) active in the NHL until his retirement on January 21, 2015. He was also the last remaining active player to get his start in the NHL as a member of the expansion San Jose Sharks.

On March 31, 2012, Whitney became the 79th player in the history of the NHL to score 1,000 regular-season points when he registered an assist in a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Whitney recorded the milestone at the age of 39 years and 328 days, making him the oldest player to reach the plateau, a mark he still holds. On July 1, 2012, Whitney signed a 2-year, $9 million contract with the Dallas Stars. On January 21, 2015, he announced his retirement as an NHL player, ending his career after producing 1,064 points (385-679) in 1,330 regular-season games.

The last active member of his 1991 NHL draft class, Whitney ranked 1st in points, assists, and games played among players for that year.

Personal life Ray and wife Brijet married in 2000 and have three children; two daughters and a son.

International play Whitney was a member of Team Canada at four different Ice Hockey World Championships. He made his debut at the 1998 World Championship, recording six points in seven games while Canada finished out of the medals. Whitney notched seven points in 10 games at the 1999 World Championship, again missing a medal when Canada lost in the semifinals to the Czech Republic. He joined Team Canada at the 2002 World Championship, with Canada again failing to medal. At the 2010 World Championship, Whitney replaced Ryan Smyth as Canada's captain when Smyth broke his foot early in the tournament. Canada did not win a medal in that year's world championship.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 1987–88 Fort Saskatchewan Pop Shop Selects AMBHL 71 80 155 235 119 — — — — — 1988–89 Spokane Chiefs WHL 71 17 33 50 16 — — — — — 1989–90 Spokane Chiefs WHL 71 57 56 113 50 6 3 4 7 6 1990–91 Spokane Chiefs WHL 72 67 118 185 36 15 13 18 31 12 1991–92 Kölner Haie 1.GBun 10 3 6 9 4 — — — — — 1991–92 San Diego Gulls IHL 63 36 54 90 12 4 0 0 0 0 1991–92 San Jose Sharks NHL 2 0 3 3 0 — — — — — 1992–93 Kansas City Blades IHL 46 20 33 53 14 12 5 7 12 2 1992–93 San Jose Sharks NHL 26 4 6 10 4 — — — — — 1993–94 San Jose Sharks NHL 61 14 26 40 14 14 0 4 4 8 1994–95 San Jose Sharks NHL 39 13 12 25 14 11 4 4 8 2 1995–96 San Jose Sharks NHL 60 17 24 41 16 — — — — — 1996–97 San Jose Sharks NHL 12 0 2 2 4 — — — — — 1997–98 Edmonton Oilers NHL 9 1 3 4 0 — — — — — 1997–98 Florida Panthers NHL 68 32 29 61 28 — — — — — 1998–99 Florida Panthers NHL 81 26 38 64 18 — — — — — 1999–00 Florida Panthers NHL 81 29 42 71 35 4 1 0 1 4 2000–01 Florida Panthers NHL 43 10 21 31 28 — — — — — 2000–01 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 3 0 3 3 2 — — — — — 2001–02 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 67 21 40 61 12 — — — — — 2002–03 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL 81 24 52 76 22 — — — — — 2003–04 Detroit Red Wings NHL 67 14 29 43 22 12 1 3 4 4 2005–06 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 63 17 38 55 42 24 9 6 15 14 2006–07 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 81 32 51 83 46 — — — — — 2007–08 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 66 25 36 61 30 — — — — — 2008–09 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 82 24 53 77 32 18 3 8 11 4 2009–10 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 80 21 37 58 26 — — — — — 2010–11 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 75 17 40 57 24 4 1 2 3 2 2011–12 Phoenix Coyotes NHL 82 24 53 77 28 16 2 5 7 10 2012–13 Dallas Stars NHL 32 11 18 29 4 — — — — — 2013–14 Dallas Stars NHL 69 9 23 32 14 5 0 0 0 0 NHL totals 1,330 385 679 1,064 465 108 21 32 53 48

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 1998 Canada WC 6th 6 4 2 6 4 1999 Canada WC 4th 10 1 6 7 22 2002 Canada WC 6th 7 1 3 4 2 2010 Canada WC 7th 7 2 6 8 0 Senior totals 30 8 17 25 28

Awards and honours Award Year WHL West first All-Star team 1991 Bob Clarke Trophy 1991 Four Broncos Memorial Trophy 1991 WHL Champion 1991 Memorial Cup All-Star team 1991 Memorial Cup Most Sportsmanlike Player 1991 Memorial Cup Champion 1991 NHL All-Star Games 2000, 2003 Stanley Cup champion 2006 Second All-Star team 2012