Jets' Wheeler: Role on team won't change if named captain
Blake Wheeler isn't easily swayed by rewards.
With Andrew Ladd now locked into a seven-year contract with the New York Islanders, the Winnipeg Jets are in need of a new captain. But while Wheeler would be honored to step into the role, he feels it would do little to change how he conducts himself with his teammates.
"Regardless of what letter I have on my jersey, my role on the team and who I am with the team is not going to change," Wheeler told Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "I think last year was a big growing year for me, with [my] foot on the gas the whole time."
In the meantime, Wheeler admits that he is just starting to get over what was a difficult year for the Jets. After earning a playoff spot last season for the first time since the team relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, the club failed to return to the postseason seeing a 23-point drop in the standings.
"As much as anyone, especially the older guys on our team, we felt the (disappointment), and I know that because we talked about it every single day," Wheeler said. "Sitting on the couch after the season was over and watching the playoffs, it was a bad feeling, a really bad feeling probably this year more than any other year.
"And as it went on, the bad taste of last year started to go away, and you started to re-hash things and think about the season and about some of the guys we have, some of the young guys we have and now some more of the young guys we have, it’s kind of like, 'OK, I get it now.'"
However, as the 29-year-old approaches the upcoming season, he has had time to digest the club's moves - including drafting Patrik Laine with the second overall pick - and he is thrilled to get going.
"I think now certainly I do have a clear view of where we’re headed and what’s ahead of us," said Wheeler. "I’m probably more excited today than I have been at any point about what we have going forward, just from purely a talent standpoint.
"We tried to win every game, and that’s the way I believe it should be done and sure enough, the lottery balls reward you for that stuff. I believe if you do things the right way, you’re going to get rewarded. Now we’ve got a nice little new toy to play with."
His teammates also have reason to be excited, as along with fresh talent, Wheeler himself is coming off a career-season that saw him hit 78 points in 82 games.