The first draft pick of the Penguins rebuilding phase, Ryan Whitney in 2002, has announced his official retirement from hockey at the age of 32 after a myriad of foot/ankle injuries.
It's a shame to see what looked like an inevitability become a reality, however it made me think about Whitney's career and his place in Penguins lore.
Ryan Whitney was a very important player in the puzzle of the Pittsburgh Penguins rebuild following the sell-off of stars from the late '90s and early 2000's teams. He was the first of five years of high draft picks when the Pens selected him 5th overall in 2002.