Earlier this week, Connor McDavid reached a big milestone in his profession, scoring his 1,000th point as an Edmonton Oiler. Whereas McDavid is now a part of an unique group of Oiler greats with over 1,000 factors, one title ought to arguably be on that listing as effectively — Ray Whitney.
Ray Whitney’s Time with Edmonton Is Finest Forgotten
Whitney’s time in Edmonton was short-lived, but it’s a chapter many followers are likely to neglect. The Oilers acquired him as a free agent within the 1997-98 season. They hoped the younger winger might add depth to their offense. Nonetheless, after 9 video games, during which he scored one aim and 4 factors, the Oilers determined to waive him. The Florida Panthers shortly claimed him, and the remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
Whitney had an extremely profitable profession. He scored 1,001 factors over 1,330 video games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, and Phoenix Coyotes. His complete is satirically vital as a result of it mirrors the variety of factors McDavid reached in his 1,000th-point recreation. That makes it all of the extra poignant to think about what might need been if the Oilers had held onto Whitney.
The Oilers Made a Mistake Letting Whitney Go
In hindsight, the Oilers’ choice to waive Whitney was an enormous mistake. The transfer denied them a participant who would ultimately be a constant level producer within the NHL. Had they been extra affected person, Whitney might have offered helpful offensive depth to a group searching for methods to interrupt by within the tough years following their dynastic run.
As McDavid’s milestone is widely known, it’s value remembering the gamers who, like Whitney, might need slipped by the cracks of Oilers’ historical past. Whitney’s 1,000-point achievement after his temporary stint in Edmonton reminds us simply how helpful endurance and good decision-making might be. The Oilers ought to bear in mind it as they proceed to construct round their famous person.
McDavid’s Milestone Reminds Oilers’ Followers What May Have Been
Whitney blossomed right into a prolific scorer. He achieved the form of success many Oilers followers would solely surprise about had he remained in Edmonton. Whereas the Oilers have had many nice gamers over time, letting go of Whitney stays a wrong-minded choice of their historical past.
Whitney’s eventual success proves that endurance can go a great distance. For Edmonton, this explicit choice ended up being an enormous missed alternative.
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