BLUE LINE
Dropping The Gloves: Ryan Whitney

Penguins defenseman Ryan Whitney, coming off his first full season in the league, finished fifth in scoring among NHL defensemen with 59 points in 81 games. Following a contract extension and off-season wrist surgery, Whitney looks to establish himself as one of the game's top defensemen this season. Joe Sager caught up with the young blue-liner last month.

PSR: How has your summer gone?

Whitney: It's been good. Obviously, it's a little bitter as the season ends and you keep watching other teams play. Then, the heart of the summer comes with July 4th and that's exciting and relaxing. I have just been trying to get healthy with my wrist. It's been good, but I am kind of excited to get back and so is everyone else.

PSR: You had wrist surgery after the season, how is that progressing?

RW: It's great. I have been shooting pucks pretty much 100 percent and there is no pain anymore. It's kind of a relief to be passing the puck or shooting the puck and not having pain every time. Overall, I want to be really ready and feeling great right before camp starts.

PSR: Is there anything you worked on over the summer?

RW: I think I did a good job watching some game tapes of games this year where I thought I played well and then games where I thought I didn't play well. By watching both, I think it's pretty easy to improve as a player just actually seeing mistakes instead of trying to visualize it. That, along with trying to get healthy and doing the same workout routine as past years, I think I am definitely a little stronger in my lower body. We'll see how that translates onto the ice

PSR: Any vacations this summer?

RW: I was supposed to go out to California to visit Noah Welch, but with my wrist surgery, I had to just rest and rehab and couldn't get out there for a whole week. It's all right. I like being in Boston. It was nice to be there all summer and I bought a new place there, so I have been kind of getting moved in there all summer.

PSR: Is your new place big?

RW: No, it's just a normal apartment right in the city. You can actually see the TD Banknorth Garden from my place. It's funny; it'd be a good place to live if you played for the Bruins. It's good for me in the summer. I am only there for a couple months, but it's nice to get moved in and have your own first place.

RW: Well, we don't have to worry about you playing for the Bruins anytime soon. Talk about the contract extension you signed this summer

RW: It was real exciting. I was just so happy and relieved. I want to be here as long as I can and it's obvious to everyone that we're building something pretty special here and the guys who are here have grown up together the past couple years in Wilkes-Barre and these past two years in Pittsburgh. I couldn't be happier. It's an awesome city; it's one of the best sports cities I have ever been in. With us, along with the Steelers, I think people are getting real excited right now about the future of both organizations.

POWER PLAY

Q: See any good movies this summer?

A: No, I haven't been to see any movies. I want to see "The Simpsons Movie" and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry" so I am saving it for hotel rooms on the road.

Q: Go to any concerts?

A: I went to the Kenny Chesney concert in Boston this summer. A bunch of my buddies went to that with me

Q: Favorite thing on your iPod?

A: I listen to kind of everything - alternative music; I like U2 a lot. I listen to the new stuff that's on the radio. I am kind of all over the map