For Ray Whitney, leaving the Canes for the Phoenix Coyotes was a financial decision, pure and simple
The Coyotes offered the veteran winger a two-year deal for $3 million a year. The Canes couldn't come close to matching it and Whitney, an unrestricted free agent, is headed to the Western Conference.
Not that he won't miss the Hurricanes, who he helped win the Stanley Cup in 2006, and Raleigh.
"I'm excited to be going to a team that had a tremendous year last season and a team that's on the rise," he said today. "But I'm not sure it's fully hit me yet that I'm leaving.
"It's sad to leave Raleigh. It has been a great five years and I enjoyed all of it. I wish something could have been done to keep me here, but this was a deal that other teams couldn't do."
Including the Hurricanes. Whitney did not say what the Canes offered but it was believed to be a one-year deal at considerably less than the $3.55 million he made last year.
In recent weeks, general manager Jim Rutherford had said the two sides were far apart financially but added he was "leaving the door open" to a Whitney return. But it was not to be.
"I'm not mad," Whitney said of the outcome. "I'm disappointed. I think us not making the playoffs last season changed things, so we all have ourselves to blame in a way.
"I'm not mad at all. I have the utmost respect for Jim and understand the situation he's in. I was hoping he could get it done but he couldn't. With the money situation they have, I did not fit into their plans."
Winning the Cup will always be a career highlight, Whitney said. The friendships he built with his teammates, he said, will always be cherished. And the five years, he said, was his longest stint with any NHL team.
"I felt entrenched in the organization," he said. "I felt my career would come to an end here and then I would move into management with the team. That's not to say that (front-office job) won't still happen one day.
"It's a sad day for my family. My kids are sad to be leaving their friends. But it's part of the business."
(Be sure to check out this N&O photo gallery on Whitney's career with the Canes.)
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at
Comments
Move On
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 23:39 — gmwannabeeThe only thing I regret about Whitney leaving is the timing and the no trade clause. I really thought he was going to be traded at the deadline for a first round pick considering he was on a roll prior to that. This is a young mans game. We have a lot of young players that can fill holes. As far as veterans on the team? Hockey players are some of the most mature athletes in sports. Just listen to how many of the players speak and carry themselves especially 20 year olds. We have leadership and players that are hungry for a spot. I said this on here last year and I will say it again. How many players since the Hurricanes have come here has JR not resigned...that went on to put up big numbers? I really thought that since he waived his ntc, it meant he would resign here. I preferred that they would have traded him then and got another high pick. He scored some big goals and was a solid team player. We have a lot of upcoming forwards who may do the same.
Like who?
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 23:52 — jgrant641Who has left hear and gone on to put up big numbers?
If anything players leave here and flame out.
Exactly
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 15:35 — gmwannabeeThat is what I was asking...who has left to put up big numbers. NOBODY.
A
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 22:26 — Biff_BeersBrind'Amour and Whitney were both assistant captains at the end of last season, and neither of them will be next season. Who gets the A's? I'd pick Gleason and Sutter.
As the line-up stands today,
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 22:51 — ctillAs the line-up stands today, the oldest players on the team are Cole, Kostopoulos, and Samsonov (all age 31). Wouldn't surprise me if Cole gets an A.
A's
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 22:47 — scomilGreat question. Gleason for sure. The other one is a tougher call. Perhaps that would make a great "Monday Debate"?
Sutter
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 08:33 — biggssalvatoreIt will be Sutter. If you recall he wore it for at least one game and maybe more towards the end of the season. There is no debate here, it will be Gleason and Sutter.
Staal's team now
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 20:56 — scomilThis is entirely Staal's team now, which is probably the way it should be. It's going to be interesting to watch, because he will have a lot of young guys looking up to him.
Cullen to Minnesota
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 20:32 — ctillAnother goes west.
Good luck Ray
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:41 — HockeydogYou were a fan favorite and one of the best players on this team during your tenure here.
Ray Whitney is a great
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:45 — DrActualFactualRay Whitney is a great player, you never should have let him get away.
At least he won't score many
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:42 — ctillAt least he won't score many goals against us, unless Carolina plays Phoenix for the Cup.
JR's own fault
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:41 — heelzfanJR can't blame anybody but himself after giving out bloated contracts to Erik Cole and Chad LaRose last year, in another one of his sentimental lapses in judgement. Erik Cole hasn't been worth a crap since he broke his neck, and while Chad LaRose is a great energy guy, who plays hard, we have at least half a dozen guys in the system that can do the same things Rosey does, for a fraction of the price.
This one's on you JR.
I will give you Cole, but I
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 23:59 — jgrant641I will give you Cole, but I seem to recall Samsonov as pretty popular and effective when signed, and LaRose has been injured. Plus Can you imagine the uproar if Rosey goes anywhere?
I love how fans can monday morning quarterback and say what a GM should have done Ray Whitney held all the cards on this. NTC back in march and his desire for more money and multiple years. No teams these days are offering long term for anyone over 35, and when they do it makes them look stupid. This isn't pre-cap days.
You got it half right
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:40 — HockeydogMore like Cole and Samsonov. Totally agree that he should not have re-signed Cole, but Samsonov is less bang for the buck than LaRose. Rosey was playing rather hurt most of the year. Once he regained some of his health he looked pretty good with Staal. Not saying he is a first liner, and there are not players out there who could be as effective for less, but I'd much rather keep him and move Cole and Samsonov - and have kept Whitney. With Roddy retiring and Ray moving on, I'd like to see Cole and Samsonov moved so the team can just jump headlong into the rebuilding process. That, unfortunately will not be likely with their contracts and performance levels. That is what JR should be blamed for, and what he should try against all hope to fix over the summer.
Agreed. So JR overpays for
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 19:22 — DesertCaniacAgreed. So JR overpays for Cole and LaRose who are next to worthless so then we couldn't afford to sign someone who ACTUALLY CONTRIBUTED to the team.
I also blame Whitney to some extent because he wouldn't waive his NTC at the deadline. That way we could've gotten something for him in return (e.g. draft picks), but now we get nothing. The whole situation angers me.
Wait a minute, he expressed
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 18:14 — ncsurveygirlWait a minute, he expressed interest in retiring here AND staying with the organization even after retirement, and yet they dont re-sign him. The man was third in points and goals last year for CAR, why in the world couldnt they have signed him?!
Thank you Ray for your years
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 17:01 — FREDDY32Thank you Ray for your years here.
Also, thank you Jimmy for not throwing that kind of money at him to try to get him to come back. We've been down that road too many times before and it has never worked.
Greed
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:25 — canescupIts always about the money!! I'll be pulling against the Cotes this season, have fun in Arizona.
Ray and JR
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 16:20 — hockey101It's sad to see Ray go but come on JR you should have talked to PK about raising the cap ceiling to sign Ray. 2 year contract for 6mil, come on, the organization should have ponied up and given him that. After losing Rod to retirement we needed some veteran leadership in the locker room. I know the organization wants to control costs but this is blundering move on managements part. I guess theirs Bill Guerin. Everyone is saying he could be signed for 1 to 1.2 mil. Hey maybe Matt Cullen. We need leadership and I don't see it coming from Eric Staal.
So let me understand this...
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 21:40 — AN0NYM0USTicket prices go up, but the payroll is down 20%. The Business plan is to break even--or even make money--with a non-playoff team. I understand the Youth movement, but experience and character go a long way. It will be interesting to see how the STHs respond to these developments.....