Blake Wheeler makes feelings known about Jets stripping him of captaincy and buying out final year of his contract

Former NHLer Blake Wheeler has shared his thoughts on the Winnipeg Jets’ decision to strip him of captaincy and buy out the final year of his contract.

Wheeler spent 12 seasons with the Jets and served as their captain from 2016 to 2022. The following year, Winnipeg bought out the final year of his $8.25 million contract, freeing up $5.5 million in cap space for the 2023-24 season and leaving a $2.75 million cap hit for two seasons.

In an interview with the Free Press, Wheeler, who hung up his skates last month after 16 NHL seasons, reflected on his time with the Jets, acknowledging that it wasn’t always smooth. Despite the captaincy loss and contract buyout, he holds no grudges.

“I feel great about everything,” he said. “What I love is that I have great relationships with my teammates there, I have a great relationship with (Jets governor and co-owner) Mark Chipman. Those are the things that matter to me.

“I feel like I maximized my time in Winnipeg. I gave everything I had to that team, for sure. When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. To me, that’s the thing I’m grateful for. That they’re on a great trajectory and I left on great terms — and I can still cheer for them. I just want the best for that team and that organization, always.”

Blake Wheeler's Rangers stint was cut short due to injury

After the Winnipeg Jets bought out Blake Wheeler’s contract, he signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. A serious leg injury cut his Rangers tenure short, limiting him to 54 regular-season games.

Wheeler returned in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers in May, logging 9:18 of ice time. However, it was his only playoff appearance, as he was scratched for later games and hinted at retirement after the Rangers’ elimination.

Blake Wheeler was drafted No. 5 by the now-defunct Phoenix Coyotes in 2004. Apart from the Jets and Rangers, Wheeler spent three seasons with the Boston Bruins and one with the Atlanta Thrashers.

He accumulated 943 career points through 321 goals and 622 assists in 1,172 games.