Yesterday the Penguins traded Ryan Whitney to Anaheim for forward Chris Kunitz and prospect forward Eric Tangradi. While this will finally quiet the Whitney bashers out there, I am here to present a different viewpoint. To do so requires that we take a ride in the way back machine...to 2005.
In the 2005 off-season, Sergei Gonchar was signed by the Pens to a 5 yr, $25 Million contract. He started off 2005 horrifically. The Pens fans rode him harder than they rode Whitney as of late.
Referring to his time off this season rehabbing his injury Gonchar says, "They [Pens fans] hated me in the beginning, but it seems like they've turned around....A lot of people cheered me up by talking to me during my injury. I had a lot of really good support."
"Pen's Gonchar Happy To Be Home", Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 2-20-09
Why was Gonchar's first year with the Pens so horrific? We found out later he was trying to play through a severly injured groin. You can see it in his stats - 100 PIM and a +/- of -13. When you can't skate with the competition you tend to take many penatlies, which Gonch certainly did that year. Also, anyone that PLAYS the game of hockey (and I do) knows that you can still play with an injured groin - just not very effectively.
Fast forward to today...I don't think anyone in their right mind would disagree that Gonchar is one of the top three offensive defensemen in the NHL (Lidstrom and Zubov are the two others) and not one person wouldn't like to see the Pens re-sign him. Now the Pens nation, who clearly LOVE to bash players in the face of adversity, must know that Ryan Whitney's value is the sum of ALL of his seasons. You can't just look at his performance this year. When Ryan bounches back -as Gonch clearly did after his first season- this trade will have to be re-evaulatued. At that time it might not pass the "stink" test.
At least one person agrees with me...
