Historical Hurricanes: Ray Whitney was a Wizard in Raleigh – The Hockey Writers – Carolina Hurricanes

While the Carolina Hurricanes have only been around since 1997, there have been some amazing players to wear the red, black, and silver/white, from the likes of Rod Brind’Amour, Glen Wesley, and Eric Staal to current players such as Jaccob Slavin, Sebastian Aho, and countless others. In this new series, “Historical Hurricanes”, we will dive into looking back at players who made an impact during their time in Raleigh.

For part one of this series, let’s talk about a wizard.

You’re a Wizard, Ray

When asking Hurricanes fans about certain players who were magical on and off the ice, one name that will be mentioned is “The Wizard”, Ray Whitney. Whitney was drafted 23rd overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft by the San Jose Sharks. After finishing the last two seasons with the Spokane Chiefs with 113 points in 1989-90 and 185 in 1990-91, it made sense that the Sharks selected the Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, native.

Before joining the Hurricanes in 2005-06, Whitney spent time with the Sharks, the Columbus Blue Jackets, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, and the Detroit Red Wings. Whitney joined the Hurricanes as a 33-year-old forward on a team that was predicted to finish last in the NHL. Of course, no one knew how the new rules would work under the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) after the lockout of the 2004-05 season.

After the dust settled on the 2005-06 season, Whitney and the Hurricanes won the first Stanley Cup in franchise history, in seven games, against the Oilers. That season, Whitney finished with 17 goals and 55 points in 63 games. During the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he tallied nine goals and 15 points in 24 games.

Whitney stayed with the Hurricanes for five seasons from 2005-06 to 2009-10, and finished his career with the Phoenix Coyotes and the Dallas Stars. During his five seasons in Raleigh, he accumulated 119 goals, 215 assists, and 334 points in 372 games. As of now, Whitney is ranked 18th all-time in points for the Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers, ahead of legends like Justin Williams and Sylvain Turgeon.

Regarding games played, Whitney is ranked 44th all-time in franchise history, which makes his top-20 ranking in all-time points quite impressive. Whitney was in Raleigh from the ages of 33 to 37, and still played until he was 41 in 2013-14.

That is a lasting impact from Whitney, who only played in Raleigh for five seasons, but is one of the most regarded Hurricanes of all-time. When talking about a top 20 or 25 list of the greatest Hurricanes, it’s a no-brainer to have Whitney somewhere on it. He finished his career with 385 goals, 679 assists, and 1,064 points in 1,330 games.

What makes Whitney such a beloved figure in Raleigh, among the organization and the fans, is that he is always listed for alumni games every year. Every season, the Hurricanes bring back former Hurricanes to take on local college teams like the UNC Tar Heels or the NC State IcePack. Whitney’s name is always on that list alongside Brind’Amour, Tim Gleason, Chad LeRose, Cam Ward, and others.

If anyone who watched the Hurricanes in the mid-2000s is asked about Whitney, they will tell you stories of his brilliant passing ability and stickhandling. The way he could control the puck, and find guys on crazy passes, and score highlight-reel goals is why he was nicknamed “The Wizard.” All in all, when talking about former Hurricanes greats and their lasting impact on the franchise, one of the names discussed must be The Wizard himself.