Wheeler books ticket to all-star game
Jets captain joining teammate Scheifele for upcoming festivities in San Jose
Like Alex Ovechkin, he’s over 30 and could probably use all the rest he can get before the playoffs.
But Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler says unlike the Washington Capitals star, he never considered sitting out the NHL all-star festivities in San Jose later this month.
This will be just Wheeler’s second all-star game, and his son wouldn’t let him miss it.
“Ovie’s played in, like, 20 of these things,” Wheeler said Thursday. “They won it all last year. He’s got every right to do that. He’s earned that. I’ve got a couple small kids who had a real good time with it last year. My eldest, Louie, still talks about it. He asked me about it at the beginning of the season. I said it doesn’t happen every year, so we’ll see what happens.
“Ultimately when I look back on my career, these are the memories they’re going to have.”
Wheeler was named to the Central Division squad on Wednesday, along with linemate Mark Scheifele.
Both rank among the NHL’s top-15 point-getters, with 50 and 49 points, respectively, and have the Jets battling for top spot in the Western Conference.
“Scheif and I are getting the recognition, being on a really good team,” Wheeler said.
It’s Scheifele’s first all-star nod. The first of many, Wheeler predicts. “We’ve obviously put a lot of hours in together, building that relationship,” he said. “So it’s cool to see that hard work get paid off. The fact it’s his first is almost a shock in itself.”
Fan balloting will add one player to each divisional team. Patrik Laine is on the ballot for Winnipeg. He went as a rookie. “It was a lot of fun, meet all the players and have a couple of fun days,” Laine said. “So we’ll see.”
FLYING FINNS
Laine was basking in the glow of Finland’s quarterfinal win over Canada Wednesday at the world junior. Even if he wasn’t chirping his Canadian teammates.
“I’m not going to do any,” Laine said. “They know they lost.”
No sooner had Laine said that then the taunts started coming from American teammates Andrew Copp and Jack Roslovic.
“We’re still going to beat the U.S., don’t worry about it,” Laine fired back.
The Finns could face the U.S. in the tournament final if both teams win their semifinals Friday. Finland plays Switzerland while the Americans take on Russia.
“Back home they’re focusing more on individuals instead of just the team,” Laine said of Finland’s improvement. “Let players be who they are. They’re going to be good when you let them be who they are.”
The colourful Laine was a bit of trailblazer in that area.
“That wasn’t cool when I was playing in juniors,” he said. “I wasn’t allowed to be different. I wasn’t allowed to be a goal scorer.”
Laine refused to be pigeonholed, and it earned him a reputation as an arrogant, difficult-to-coach teenager.
At one point he was sent home from the under-18, Ivan Hlinka Tournament because he criticized his coach.
“I’ve had a lot of trouble with a lot of coaches because of that,” Laine acknowledged. “But it worked out pretty well.”
“I’m OK here,” he added, grinning. “Here, you’ve got to listen to coaches a bit.”
WEATHERING THE DROUGHT
Roslovic was noticeably relieved his fourth line finally produced a pair of goals last time out.
“Oh frig, it’s been a while,” Roslovic said. “Every time you do that it definitely keeps your confidence high. Because your confidence gets weathered, especially when you’re coming from the American League and playing well there, and then coming here and maybe not having as much success as you’d think you’d have.
“It keeps the weather clear for a little bit.”
It was Roslovic’s first point in nine games, his eighth on the season.
“I want to do that every night,” he said. “I just haven’t done it in this league, yet. We’ve got to figure out how to earn more opportunity in what some people might call limited ice time.”
Roslovic could tell linemate Brendan Lemieux had some extra jump after being a healthy scratch for two games.
“You get somebody out of the lineup and they’re all jacked to play, which is awesome and can definitely add a spark,” he said.
Maurice says Roslovic and Lemieux are still young and learning, but he liked what he saw in the line’s debut, with Andrew Copp at centre.
“It’s on them to bring the intensity level that would allow them to play,” the coach said. “But it’s all incremental. Just a little more faith in what they can do.”