Blake Wheeler Surprised to Lose ‘C’ but Grateful for Opportunity

On Friday, the Winnipeg Jets made the announcement that the team would be changing its approach to leadership ahead of the 2022-23 NHL season.

“It is the determination of the coaching staff that we will enter the 2022-23 season without a specific captain, but rather a group of assistants still to be determined,” said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. “It is our goal to expand the leadership base within our hockey team. We have high expectations for our core players and we want to provide them with the opportunity to step into those greater leadership roles as a group.”

Long-time captain Blake Wheeler – the longest-serving Jet, who made the trip to Winnipeg from Atlanta back in 2011 – has been stripped of his ‘C’, while a new leadership team will be announced in the coming weeks.

“You know, there was some surprise, I think,” Wheeler told reporters in Winnipeg. “But I’ve had time to let it sink in, so he gave me a little headway. I’ve had time to process it.”

The decision was made by incoming bench boss Bowness and his team of associates, to which the incoming staff learned of the ongoing saga surrounding Jets leadership over the past number of seasons.

“When you have a down season you’re going to have to have those conversations,” Wheeler said. “I’ve been here 11 years and you’d be crazy not to A; look in the mirror at yourself, and then also look at an 11-year relationship and say, ‘is this still in our best interest going forward?’ Ultimately we made the determination that it is, so here I am.”

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Wheeler, now 36, has been in charge of Winnipeg’s dressing room since 2016. Although beginning his time with the captain’s responsibilities rather well, the last few years have been highlighted by quarrels amongst teammates, disputes, an apparent lack of leadership and the need for a number of new voices in charge.

“I don’t need a letter on my jersey. There was a time in my career when that validation was important to me. I don’t need that anymore,” Wheeler added. “I’m really looking forward to watching a lot of the guys I’ve had a privilege watching kind of grow up step into sort of an expanded role. If you think that because of this, I’m just going to fade into the back and not be a leader on this team, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Losing former head coach Paul Maurice midway through the season was difficult on the Jets last year. The second-longest tenured bench boss made it clear the team needed a new voice, his included, which ultimately led Winnipeg to its search for a new coach this offseason. Missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year also proved to be a major disappointment to the players, management and fans of the Jets.

Wheeler, who will now remain on Winnipeg’s roster as its highest paid player – with two seasons and an $8.25 million cap hit remaining, to go along with a no-movement clause – was appreciative of his time serving as captain.

“There’s nothing in my life that I’ve taken more pride in than that, outside of being a husband and being a father,” Wheeler said. “Every day since I was named captain, that’s what has gotten me out of bed. How can I be a better teammate, how can I be a better leader, how can I be a better player on the ice for this city and for this team and for this organization. So yeah, at a certain point, that can wear thin on you.”

Skating in 2022-23 without a letter on his sweater, Wheeler will step aside as a new crop of leaders begin taking over the bench and dressing room. His six seasons as captain will be highlighted by the team’s trip to the Western Conference Final in 2018, but clouded by his dealings with younger players, including that of Patrik Laine, who left thanks to rifts with leadership.

Despite answering questions about his handling of the Laine situation candidly back in 2020, Wheeler did comment on what he called a privilege during his time in charge.

“I just couldn’t be more grateful that I had that opportunity,” Wheeler said. “Never in my wildest dreams as a young player growing up, I never thought I would be in that fraternity of being a captain of an NHL team, so like I said, it’s what has given me so much joy and gotten me out of bed and given me a lot of drive for this organization and this city. I just look back and I’m just grateful that I’ve had that opportunity. That’s how I feel.”

According to coach Bowness, the change was necessary, but removing Wheeler’s ‘C’ doesn’t take away from the kind of person and player he is.

“Sometimes, changes are good,” he said. “Let’s take the letters right out of it and there’s more people that want to take this, you can just tell. ‘I want to be more involved, I want to be a bigger part of the team.’ And those guys are going to come up whether they wear an A or they don’t get an A.”

Whether those players are young star forwards Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor,  or maybe veterans Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry, Nate Schmidt or Brenden Dillon, the competing cast will likely be announced in the weeks to come.

“I said it earlier, but some of the best leaders never wore an A, never wore a C,” Bowness added. “So those guys you’re talking about, they will still want to get it and I’m going to help them grow. And that’s our job as coaches. We’re going to help them grow. And whether they end up with an A or they don’t end up with an A, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to still try to work with them to help them grow.”

Winnipeg begins its preseason schedule on September 25 in Edmonton against the Oilers.