IF JETS GO DEEP, SCHEIFELE WILL BE A BIG REASON
Centre has improved since his last playoff run three years ago, writes Ken Wiebe.
WINNIPEG Mark Scheifele barely recognizes the guy who got his first taste of the Stanley Cup playoffs back in 2015.
Sure, the Winnipeg Jets centre has the same enthusiasm, willingness to learn and drive to become a better player.
But the experiences he’s gone through in the three seasons since are as important — if not more — than what transpired in that four-game sweep at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks.
“Yeah, it was three years ago so we’ve all grown a lot since then,” said Scheifele. “I learned a lot from those four games and leading up to that and seeing what it takes to play against Anaheim (which) was a great team and still are. But you learn a lot, you gain that experience, you gain experience over the last three years going through different adversities just through the season.
“You see what it takes. You watch the (Ryan) Getzlaf ’s, you watch the (Corey) Perry’s, those guys that have been through the grind, they’ve succeeded in pretty much all aspects of their game, whether it’s Stanley Cup playoffs or Olympics, world championships, whatever it is. You see what those guys do on every single night and you try to take that.
“You watch the Crosby’s of the world win two straight Cups, you watch their game, you see what they do. You play against them and you see what he does differently and then you continue to grow yourself as a player, grow yourself as a person, and that’s always what I’ve tried to do.”
The Jets open the 2018 Stanley Cup playoffs on Wednesday at home against the Minnesota Wild.
Scheifele was in his second full NHL season in 2014-15, growing into the role as a No. 1 centre, and was limited to only one assist in those four playoff games.
Since that time, Scheifele has three NHL seasons under his belt. He eclipsed 30 goals for the first time last season with 32; put together consecutive seasons where he’s been a point-pergame player; suited up for Team Canada in the IIHF World Men’s Hockey Championships on two occasions (winning a gold medal in 2016) and played for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
“Anything you do in hockey, you gain experience, whether it’s good or bad, you hopefully take something from it and learn from it. That’s what I’ve tried to do every game of the year, every time I lace up skates. You want to learn something, you want to get better at something. Just want to continue that.”
Scheifele is no longer a complementary piece, he’s one of the most important players on the roster.
If the Jets are to go on a deep run, you can expect Scheifele to play a starring role.
“He’s a dynamic player and he can change a game on one shift,” said Jets centre Adam Lowry. “He’s such a strong skater and he’s so strong on the puck, he’s able to maintain possession for such long stretches of time. He’s able to impact the play in his own end. With his experience, every part of his game has improved, both away from the puck and with the puck.”
Although he missed 22 games with a pair of upper-body injuries this season, Scheifele still managed to record 23 goals and 60 points in 60 games, finishing in a tie for third in team scoring (with Nikolaj Ehlers) behind linemate Blake Wheeler (23 goals, 91 points) and Patrik Laine (44 goals, 70 points).
“It’s gone way up,” said Jets defenceman Dustin Byfuglien, when asked about the growth in Scheifele’s game. “It’s fun to be playing with him and being behind him and watching him do some of the things he does out there. The off-ice (role), he has taken to another level.”
Three years ago, Jets head coach Paul Maurice said going up against Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler would serve Scheifele well down the road. That time has arrived.
“He’s been drawing either the best checker or the best offensive centreman for the last two-anda-half years,” said Maurice. “It’s all a body of work for him now. He knows how to play against both styles and he’s certainly been able to excel against both styles. Nothing changes for him.”
The top line with Wheeler and rookie Kyle Connor should provide some matchup challenges for the Wild, who are without top defenceman Ryan Suter.
“(Scheifele’s) ability to produce and create at the right times, that would be the area that has made him elite,” said Maurice. “He’s a pretty conscientious guy, he’s going to play hard defensively. All young players get better at that part of the game, but only the most skilled guys can develop an offensive game to where Mark has got his.”
Anything you do in hockey, you gain experience, whether it’s good or bad, you hopefully take something from it and learn from it.