Wheeler soars with elite
Winnipeg’s top gun matching the pace of league’s best scorers
SAN JOSE, CALIF. — To say Blake Wheeler is flying under the radar this season is inaccurate.
But while the Winnipeg Jets have been mostly spinning their collective wheels, Wheeler has taken his game to another level. Now in his fifth season with the Jets, he finds himself in some elite company.
Going into Saturday’s tilt with the San Jose Sharks, Wheeler had 10 goals and 37 points in 37 games and was tied for ninth place in NHL scoring with Daniel Sedin of the Canucks.
Since the Jets returned to the NHL, they’ve been carried mostly by the trio of Bryan Little, Andrew Ladd and Wheeler, but usually their offensive production hasn’t brought them among the likes of Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin and Patrick Kane. That’s no longer the case. By producing at a point-per-game pace, Wheeler is on the verge of showing he deserves to be in those discussions regarding the top power forwards in the game.
In a recent discussion, Wheeler had no interest going down this road. He’s not in it for the publicity or the notoriety.
“I don’t even look at that stuff, to be honest with you,” he said. “My focus since Day 1 is how am I going to get 60 minutes of the best hockey I’ve got every night. The blueprint hasn’t changed and it’s not going to change. You’ve got to get yourself involved. If you’re waiting for the puck to bounce the right way, it’s going to be a long night. Sometimes, you’ve got to make it bounce your way and get into those areas where it’s a little bit grimy and it’s not the most fun to get into.
“I have that single mindset that you’re going to out-compete whoever you’re out there against every night. It really makes this game a lot easier when you’re not thinking about the end result.”
His personal success has been even tougher to enjoy, especially considering how the Jets find themselves at the bottom of the Central Division, scratching and clawing to stay in the playoff picture as the season’s midway point approaches.
Wheeler might not want to talk about himself, but there were plenty of others who were happy to talk about how he’s elevated his game, including Calgary Flames head coach Bob Hartley.
“This guy is a power forward,” Hartley said. “He’s a great skater, can move the puck well. He’s a big, physical guy, he’s very dangerous offensively. His game, on both sides of the puck, has really improved.”
You can be sure that this is the type of player the Phoenix (now Arizona) Coyotes envisioned when they selected Wheeler with the fifth pick of the 2004 NHL Draft.
But after an up-and-down tenure in Boston, a trade to the Atlanta Thrashers in February 2011 helped Wheeler take another step in his development. His role expanded and he’s grown into a valued member of the Jets’ core group, leading by example on and off the ice.
“When you see guys put in the work, you like to see them rewarded,” said Jets defenceman Mark Stuart, who was sent to the Thrashers in the same deal as Wheeler. “He’s continued to grow. He’s learned the professional game and it’s been cool for me to see him mature into the leader that he is today.”
What’s working for Wheeler is that he’s worked hard to round out his game. After being viewed as mostly a scorer with blazing speed, he’s found a place on the penalty kill to go along with his power-play duties and not only is he a player who is leaned on for his offence, he’s often going head-to-head with the opposition’s top line in a shutdown role.
Wheeler remains his harshest critic, but is worked hard to become a more consistent player, learning he can contribute plenty even when he’s not racking up goals or points.