COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 13 -- Left wing Ray Whitney, who posted three straight 25-goal seasons for the Florida Panthers after they claimed him off waivers, was traded Tuesday to the Columbus Blue Jackets for center Kevyn Adams.
Whitney, 28, totaled 87 goals in his first three seasons with Florida but has played only four games since January 17 and is sidelined indefinitely with a back strain.
The 5-10, 175-pound winger has 10 goals and 21 assists in 43 games. He ranks fourth in Panthers' history with 97 goals, 130 assists, 227 points and 29 power-play goals.
Adams, 26, is a tenacious checker who ranks seventh in the NHL with a 57.4 faceoff percentage. Claimed from Toronto in last year's expansion draft, the 6-2, 195-pound pivot has eight goals and 12 assists in 66 games.
The deal was the third for both teams on a busy deadline day.
The Blue Jackets obtained draft picks from Pittsburgh and Buffalo for defenseman Frantisek Kucera and right wing Steve Heinze, respectively. They also claimed right wing Blake Sloan off waivers from the Dallas Stars.
The Panthers traded center Mike Sillinger to Ottawa for past considerations and defenseman Todd Simpson to Phoenix for a 2001 second-round pick.
