Checking In With an Old Friend

Last night the Anaheim Ducks knocked off the San Jose Sharks, the NHL's top team in the regular season, to earn a second round matchup with the vaunted Detroit Red Wings. Not too shabby for a team that was out of playoff contention at the trade deadline (sound familiar?) At the deadline, in order to shake things up a bit, the Ducks moved one of their most popular players in Chris Kunitz to the Pittsburgh Penguins for an underachieving offensive defenseman named Ryan Whitney.

The only love Whitney received in Pittsburgh over the past year.

Whitney, a one-time top 5 pick for the Pens, was mercurial at best in his time on the Pittsburgh blue line. He was once looked upon as the heir apparent to Sergei Gonchar, but with his recent injury problems, inconsistent play and the rise of up-and-coming players like Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski, Whitney was now a trading chip for Ray Shero that could be used to acquire much-needed depth on the wing. So Ryan Whitney was shipped off to the West Coast, much to the chagrin (I kid) of Pens fans everywhere.

Fast forward to the playoffs. The trade has payed off for both teams. Both the Ducks and the Pens overcame long odds and qualified for the postseason, and both knocked off their first round opponents to reach the next level. Kunitz was huge down the stretch for the Pens , and while he didn't score against the Flyers, his hit on Kimmo Timonen has become legendary.

Whitney has also regained the form that he showed in previous seasons with the Pens. In the six game series, he tallied four assists, to go along with a +2 rating in just over 21 minutes of ice time a game. On a team that already features stud blueliners in Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer, Whitney offers the Ducks another dangerous option from the point. He's even added a little physicality to his game, something everyone in Pittsburgh thought he'd never do.

I know it pains most Pens fans to admit Ryan Whitney could be successful after seeing him plod his way through a disappointing final abbreviated season with the Pens. But you gotta give the guy his due. Maybe he needed a change of scenery to jumpstart his game. It's not like the Pens got screwed in the deal, they added a gritty playoff-tested winger in Kunitz who's instantly become a fan favorite and who's locked up long term. And we haven't even talked about Eric Tangradi, the prospect thrown in on the deal, who's starting to look like a big time prospect. So best of luck to you Mr. Whitney, I know I'll be rooting for you during your next series. Say hello to Marian Hossa for me.