Earlier this week, Connor McDavid reached a big milestone in his profession, scoring his 1,000th level as an Edmonton Oiler. Whereas McDavid is now a part of an unique group of Oiler greats with over 1,000 factors, one identify ought to arguably be on that record as properly — Ray Whitney.
Ray Whitney’s Time with Edmonton Is Greatest Forgotten
Whitney’s time in Edmonton was short-lived, but it’s a chapter many followers are inclined to overlook. The Oilers acquired him as a free agent within the 1997-98 season. They hoped the younger winger may add depth to their offense. Nonetheless, after 9 video games, through which he scored one aim and 4 factors, the Oilers determined to waive him. The Florida Panthers shortly claimed him, and the remainder, 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 whole is sarcastically 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 may need been if the Oilers had held onto Whitney.
The Oilers Made a Mistake Letting Whitney Go
In hindsight, the Oilers’ determination 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 may have supplied worthwhile offensive depth to a crew searching for methods to interrupt by way of within the tough years following their dynastic run.
As McDavid’s milestone is widely known, it’s value remembering the gamers who, like Whitney, may need slipped by way of the cracks of Oilers’ historical past. Whitney’s 1,000-point achievement after his temporary stint in Edmonton reminds us simply how worthwhile endurance and good decision-making will 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 type of success many Oilers followers would solely surprise about had he remained in Edmonton. Whereas the Oilers have had many nice gamers through the years, letting go of Whitney stays a wrong-minded determination of their historical past.
Whitney’s eventual success proves that endurance can go a great distance. For Edmonton, this explicit determination ended up being an enormous missed alternative.
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