Blake Wheeler

At 37 years old, Blake Wheeler has this physical status:

Playing career

Wheeler attended Breck School from his freshman year to his junior year. Wheeler had his breakout season in 2003–2004, scoring a state-high 45 goals and 55 assists. He coached his team to a Class A State Hockey Championship this season and scored a hat trick in the final game.

Wheeler opted to play his senior year with the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Wheeler attended the University of Minnesota after playing for one season with the Gamblers. In 2005-06, he was in his rookie year with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring 23 points in 39 games while playing with future Boston Bruins teammate Phil Kessel.

Wheeler won by 4–2 in the semifinal game against the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 2007 WCHA Final Five tournament. Wheeler scored the game-winning goal in a 3–2 victory over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux in the championship game. The play was shown on ESPN's SportsCenter and quickly gained notoriety for its similarity to the game-winning goal in the 1979 NCAA Championship Game, scored by Minnesota's Neal Broten as well as against North Dakota. Wheeler was named Tournament MVP.

Wheeler was named an alternate captain for the Golden Gophers in 2007-08 season, scoring 35 points in 44 games following injuries to Ryan Stoa and Mike Howe. Wheeler had yet to sign a labor deal with the Coyotes at the end of the season, four years since he was drafted. Despite a maximum entry-level contract from the club, Wheeler chose to become an unrestricted free agent.

Wheeler was unable to fully comprehend until the Phoenix Coyotes were unable to understand him on July 1, 2008, when Wheeler signed an entry-level Boston Bruins deal. As a result of his move elsewhere, the Coyotes received a compensatory second-round pick. The Bruins made their final cuts for the 2008-09 season on October 7, and Wheeler stayed with the NHL team. Wheeler's first NHL goal against Colorado Avalanche goaltender Peter Budaj scored his first NHL goal on October 9, two days later. Wheeler then scored his first NHL hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs on November 6.

He was awarded Game MVP for his rookie debut in the 2009 NHL YoungStars Game to represent the rookies after a four-goal victory over the sophomores 9–5. Wheeler modified his helmet after being struck by a puck in practice during the 2009 pre-season.

Wheeler and Mark Stuart were traded by Boston to the Atlanta Thrashers for Boris Valábik and Rich Peverley on February 18, 2011. Since the Thrashers were relocated and renamed the Winnipeg Jets, Wheeler signed a two-year, $5.1 million contract on July 18, 2011. With a career-high 64 points in 80 games, he led the team in scoring in the inaugural 2011–12 season for the Jets. Wheeler signed in Europe with EHC München of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL) in Germany on October 28, 2012, with the 2012–13 season postponed due to the NHL lockout and in order to maintain game form.

Wheeler avoided arbitration by signing a six-year deal, $33.6 million, which resulted in a yearly cap hit of $5.6 million per year. He was the third highest paid Jets player behind defensemen Tobias Enström and Dustin Byfuglien, and he was drafted into the 2018-19 season. Wheeler was named the Jets' new team captain on August 31, 2016. Wheeler was introduced to his first NHL All-Star Game on January 10, 2018, he led the league in assists with 68, tied with Claude Giroux. Wheeler was named a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award on April 24, 2018.

Wheeler signed a five-year, $41.25 million contract extension with the Jets on September 4, 2018.

Wheeler played his 1000th NHL game on December 5, 2021.

The Jets stripped Wheeler of captaincy on September 16, 2022, opting not to have a captain for the 2022–23 season.

Career statistics

Bold indicates led league

Source