The Winnipeg Jets have stripped Blake Wheeler of the team’s captaincy and will enter the 2022-23 season with a collection of alternate captains instead, the team announced Friday. Those players are still being determined.
“It is our goal to expand the leadership base within our hockey team,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said in a statement. “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.”
Wheeler, 36, had been the Jets’ captain since 2016. He joined the organization while Winnipeg was still based in Atlanta and remains its longest-tenured player.
The veteran admitted Friday he was “surprised” to learn about the Jets’ new direction but maintained a positive outlook.
“I don’t need a letter on my jersey,” Wheeler told reporters. “There was a time in my career when that validation was important to me. I don’t need that anymore. I’m really looking forward to watching a lot of the guys I’ve had the privilege of watching grow up and step into an expanded role. If you think that because of this I’m just going to fade into the background and not be a leader on this team, you’re sorely mistaken.”
The decision to go without a single leader is Bowness’ first major move since becoming the Jets coach in July. He replaced interim bench boss Dave Lowry, who took over in December when Paul Maurice resigned after nine seasons, and said the Jets needed “a new voice” to reach their full potential. That sentiment now extends to the team’s dressing room, where frustration had been mounting.
When Winnipeg failed to make the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016-17, alternate captain Mark Scheifele publicly questioned where the franchise was heading. Scheifele has two years remaining on his contract before becoming an unrestricted free agent. The Jets also hope to lock up Pierre Luc-Dubois long term, but the pending restricted free agent has so far committed to a one-year deal only.
Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff chose Bowness and his 33 years of coaching experience to steer the Jets back in a competitive direction. Bowness changing up the leadership group sends a message already about the importance of moving away from the status quo.