Whitney leaves Canes for Coyotes

For the second day in a row, the Carolina Hurricanes lost their most experienced player.

Free-agent forward Ray Whitney signed a two-year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, a day after center Rod Brind'Amour retired.

Between the two players, the Hurricanes lost 40 seasons of NHL playing experience.

Whitney, 38, will earn $3 million a year with the Coyotes.

"I'm excited to be going to a team that had a tremendous year last year and a team that's on the rise," he said. "But I'm not sure it's fully hit me yet that I'm leaving."

Leaving was a financial decision, Whitney said. The Canes didn't come close to matching the Coyotes' deal.

"It's sad to leave Raleigh," he said. "It has been a great five years, and I enjoyed all of it. I wish something could have been done to keep me here, but this was a deal that other teams couldn't do."

Including the Hurricanes.

Whitney didn't say what the Canes offered, but it was believed to be a one-year deal at considerably less than the $3.55 million he made last year.

In recent weeks, general manager Jim Rutherford had said the sides were far apart but that the "door was open" to a Whitney return.

After the news, Rutherford said he was disappointed but understood Whitney's decision. He thanked Whitney for the role he played as a points scorer and as a mentor to young players and for his contributions to winning the Stanley Cup in 2006, when he had nine goals and six assists in the playoffs.

"Thankfully, we have lots of players that have led the young ones," Rutherford said, noting the roles that center Eric Staal, defenseman Tim Gleason, and in the near future, young center Brandon Sutter, will have to play.

Whitney said he had no bitter feelings that the Hurricanes couldn't keep him.

"I'm not mad," he said. "I'm disappointed. I think us not making the playoffs last season changed things, so we all have ourselves to blame in a way.

"I'm not mad at all. I have the utmost respect for Jim and understand the situation he's in. I was hoping he could get it done but he couldn't. With the money situation they have, I did not fit into their plans."

Said coach Paul Maurice, "Ray had the personality that fit the Carolina Hurricanes. He's very competitive. He's had the kind of career where to have the success he's had, he had to give everything he's got, and he did that.

"There are players in the league like Ray and about Ray's age who can still play in the league. That's not the question. The question is at what level and at what price? I think Ray can still play, but the question was where does he fit best?"