Blake Wheeler stripped of captaincy by Winnipeg Jets
Former Boston Bruins forward Blake Wheeler has been the captain of the Winnipeg Jets for the past six seasons.
Unfortunately, the NHL veteran that time has been tainted by multiple claims of a poor locker room environment. After departing Winnipeg, Evander Kane and Patrik Laine shared their disdain for the Jets' locker room.
Now with Paul Maurice no longer the head coach, it appears that the Jets are looking to change the culture with Rick Bowness behind the bench.
The club shared the following announcement:
The Winnipeg Jets announced today a restructuring of the team's leadership group ahead of the 2022-23 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.''
Jets head coach Rick Bowness and forward Blake Wheeler will be available to the media at 12:00 p.m. at Bell MTS Iceplex.
Wheeler is in the fourth year of a five-year contract paying him $8,250,000 per season. In 12 seasons with the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise, the Minnesota native has appeared in 825 games, recording 246 goals and 511 assists, along with 33 points in 39 postseason games.
The 36-year-old was originally selected fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft but started his career with the Boston Bruins. In 221 games with the Bs, Wheeler collected 50 goals and 60 assists before he was shipped to the Atlanta Thrashers o February 18th, 2011with Mark Stuart in exchange for Boris Valábik and Rich Peverley.
