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Ryan Whitney | Defenseman

Team: Edmonton Oilers
Age / DOB:  (30) / 2/19/1983
Ht / Wt:  6'4' / 219
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Ryan Whitney will become an unrestricted free agent in July.
Whitney will get a fresh start somewhere else as his final two seasons in Edmonton were not good ones. He had only four goals and 13 points this season after a 20 point season in 2011-12. At age 30, he still could turn things around in a new environment as he was a good scoring defenseman before his last two seasons. Apr 29 - 9:08 AM

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Player News

Date:

Ryan Whitney will not suit up Wednesday because of a leg injury.

It isn't clear if he'll be available to play in either of Edmonton's final two regular-season contests following Wednesday night's contest. Mark Fistric will draw back into the lineup in his place.
Apr 24 - 3:25 PM

Ryan Whitney is relieved that he wasn't traded.

Earlier in this season, Whitney might have welcomed the change of scenery as the Oilers were barely playing him. What a difference a couple months can make. "It was great, it was just a good feeling," said Whitney said. "If I’d gone to another team, it probably would have been to team in the playoffs or competing for a spot. But to be able to do it here is a lot more special, because I’ve been here all year." It still wouldn't be surprising to see him sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Apr 5 - 10:08 AM

Ryan Whitney is relieved that he wasn't traded.

Earlier in this season, Whitney might have welcomed the change of scenery as the Oilers were barely playing him. What a difference a couple months can make. "It was great, it was just a good feeling," said Whitney said. "If I’d gone to another team, it probably would have been to team in the playoffs or competing for a spot. But to be able to do it here is a lot more special, because I’ve been here all year." It still wouldn't be surprising to see him sign elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Apr 5 - 10:07 AM

Ryan Whitney scored a goal and registered an assist on Wednesday.

Whitney shined just hours after the Oilers' decision not to trade him became official. He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, but for now he'll aide in the Oilers' battle for a playoff spot.
Apr 4 - 9:57 AM

The Edmonton Oilers might still trade Ryan Whitney.

There are still plenty of teams in the market for a defenseman and not many appealing ones that are still available. The Edmonton Oilers will likely be tempted to keep Whitney because they're still in the playoff race, but Oilers GM Steve Tambellini might end up with an offer he feels is too good to refuse.
Apr 3 - 10:16 AM

The Boston Bruins might end up acquiring Ryan Whitney.

There have reportedly been discussions, but nothing has been finalized. While such a trade would have made a ton of sense for Edmonton earlier this season, it's a touch more of a gray area now. The Oilers still have an outside shot of making the playoffs and Whitney has turned his season around. Still, Whitney will become an unrestricted free agent this summer and isn't likely to sign with the Oilers. Edmonton's top priority should still be building for tomorrow and the Bruins are likely eager to make a move after missing out on Jarome Iginla. With that in mind, Whitney heading to Boston wouldn't be surprising.
Mar 28 - 9:27 AM

The Edmonton Oilers were booed loudly by their hometown fans during their 3-0 loss to the St. Louis Blues Saturday and defenseman Ryan Whitney doesn't blame them.

"No one wants to hear that, but we didn’t play well," said Whitney. "They pay a lot of money to be here and expect more than what we gave them. You have to play better so you don’t (hear the boos)."
Mar 24 - 10:59 AM

Ryan Whitney has turned his season around.

Whitney struggled for the first 18 or so games of the season as he was tentative with the puck and was prone to giveaways. He was also not much of a contributor offensively. As a result, Whitney and was often a healthy scratch. However, in the past few games Whitney seems like the Whitney of old and he is being rewarded. He is playing with Justin Schultz on the Oilers' first defensive pairing and is getting first power-play ice time. "His reaction with the information from us, from being out of the lineup, was well-used. He’s been a solid player, of late", said Oilers' head coach Ralph Krueger of Whitney. Hopefully, you didn't give up on the multi-talented rearguard. If so, try and get Whitney back.
Mar 15 - 10:05 AM

Ryan Whitney is receiving positive reviews after his return to the Oilers lineup on Friday.

Edmonton was on the wrong end of a 4-2 score against the Blues, but Whitney scored his first goal of the season and registered a plus-1 rating in just over 18 minutes of ice time. Coach Ralph Kreuger offered praise for Whitney, saying "You’re happy when a guy comes back into the lineup and scores a goal. Good reaction to having been out of the lineup." It's possible the Oilers are still looking to move the offensive blueliner, but his fantasy owners should be happy to see he can be an asset in the mean time.
Mar 3 - 10:09 AM

Ryan Whitney is trying to stay positive despite spending six of Edmonton's last 10 games in the press box.

"It’s obviously really frustrating, but I've been doing my best to stay positive around the guys so I’m not a distraction or anything," said Whitney. "As frustrated as I am, I think I've done a good job of not bringing anyone down around me. Things could be a lot worse in my life. I don’t necessary agree with not playing. I want to play. But I don’t want to make it a sideshow. I've got really good friends on this team who I’m rooting for every night. As pissed off as I am, it’s not about me." The ideal at this point would be Edmonton trading Whitney, but earlier reports suggest there isn't much of a market for him at this time.
Feb 28 - 10:10 AM

Ryan Whitney apparently hasn't attracted much attention on the trade market.

Sportsnet analyst, as well as former NHL GM and coach, Doug MacLean said that offers for Whitney "are not coming." Whitney has spent six of Edmonton's last 10 games in the press box and his contract expires this summer. He was once among the NHL's top offensive defensemen, but it looks like he won't have any fantasy value in Edmonton.
Feb 27 - 10:40 AM

Ryan Whitney was a healthy scratch on Monday.

It was the sixth time in his last 10 games that Whitney was a healthy scratch as it seems his tenure in Edmonton may be over. There could be some teams out there still looking for an offensive forward and the Oilers could likely get a second or third round pick for his services. Theo Peckham also sat out the game on Monday and joined Whitney as a healthy scratch.
Feb 26 - 8:27 AM

Ryan Whitney will spend Saturday's game in the press box.

This will make it four out of the last six contests that Whitney's been listed as a healthy scratch. Unless he gets traded, it doesn't look like he'll have any fantasy value this season.
Feb 23 - 1:35 PM

Ryan Whitney will be a healthy scratch for the Oilers Thursday.

He will watch his fourth game from the press box in the team's past eight now and Theo Peckham will take his spot in the lineup against the Minnesota Wild. Whitney will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, so it's likely that Edmonton will look to trade him before the season is over.
Feb 21 - 4:34 PM

Depth Charts

All Positions
PosRoleName
C1Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2Sam Gagner
3Shawn Horcoff
4Eric Belanger
5Lennart Petrell
6Anton Lander
LW1Taylor Hall
2Ryan Smyth
3Mike Brown
4Magnus Paajarvi
5Jerred Smithson
RW1Jordan Eberle
2Ales Hemsky
3Nail Yakupov
4Ryan Jones
D1Ryan Whitney
2Justin Schultz
3Jeff Petry
4Ladislav Smid
5Nick Schultz
6Corey Potter
7Mark Fistric
8Theo Peckham
G1Devan Dubnyk
2Nikolai Khabibulin