ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ryan Whitney has nearly discovered a new life, although he has fond memories of being drafted and developed by the Penguins.

The defenseman is healthy and happy playing for Anaheim. He is logging a lot of minutes and enjoying the California lifestyle after being an East Coast guy all his life with strong ties to the Boston and Pittsburgh areas.

"It's much more laid back," Whitney said of the Anaheim/Los Angeles area. "It's a fun town to live in. You're right on the beach and it's a nice area. But it is different [from] the East Coast. I like it. It's good for me."

Whitney had mixed emotions watching his former teammates win the Stanley Cup after the Penguins shipped him to the Ducks for winger Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi in late February.

After Whitney and the Ducks beat the San Jose Sharks but lost to the Detroit Red Wings in the playoffs -- a time, he said, that helped him develop a good relationship with his new teammates -- he watched the Penguins go on to beat Detroit in the final.

"It was weird," he said. "I was rooting for them. When they won, I texted all the guys. I talked to a lot of them. It was a little tough. That's just natural, I think. I always kind of imagined winning the Cup there.

"But it's a business. I was excited for all of them."

Leading up to the trade, Whitney figured he was gone because of the development of young defensemen Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski.

"I wasn't playing very well," Whitney said." I was making more money than both those guys. They're both very good players. It was a pretty easy trade to figure out even before it happened, that they needed a winger and I wasn't really actually needed that much there. I was pretty sure it would happen. I didn't know who it would be or anything like that.

"But I really couldn't ask for a better situation here. I could have gone to a lot worse teams, and this is a great place to live."

Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said he has had to work hard to break Whitney of a habit he developed with the highly skilled Penguins of looking to pass first.

"We've had probably more discussions on him shooting the puck vs. passing the puck than any member of our defense," Carlyle said. "He's got a great shot. He's got one of the hardest shots in the league. We would like him to continue to pound the puck from the point, especially on the power play, establish that shot up top. He's one of those players who can get it through."

Former Penguins winger Erik Christensen cleared waivers yesterday and was scratched by the Ducks. Carlyle said the team will decide whether to keep him on the roster, demote him or find another solution. ... The Penguins are scheduled to visit the Beverly Hills home of co-owner Ron Burkle tonight.

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