Jets Announce Leadership Group Restructuring - Wheeler removed as Captain. No Captain for 22-23

[voyageur]

This is where TNSE comes across as an odd organization.
How awkward is this going to be moving forward?
The room obviously doesn’t like his leadership.
Hey maybe they’ll let Blake reapply to be captain.
Wow

Up until last year, you still got a lift on this team from Blake Wheeler. He could make players better around him, and that's something that's taken for granted. Everybody talks as though his teammates hate him, and I really doubt that's the case.

But something happened last year, Scheifele and Wheeler together didn't just hit mediocre, they were bad together. Scheifele will get a fresh start, he could be here longer than Blake. We know that Josh and Adam Lowry will be. So if you are the new coach, who are you trying to get to lead the team? I don't think this move is just a roster shakeup either, Bowness talked specifically about answering the media, and I think that's where True North wants to maybe change their image, from old and grumpy, to more relatable to its fans and media. If Scheifele becomes the face, there should be some cliche drinking games.

Bowness demoted Benn last year, for the sake of winning, and that's something I think you'll see from him again here. Accountability. In an organization that is trying to play with more tempo and pressure, I wonder how Blake Wheeler will fit in. He's not the fastest anymore, but the way he sees the ice is still valuable, and his teammates can profit from that. I think he's mentored every good player on this team, in one way or another, except Dubois and Perfetti. Will his PP time diminish without the prestige of leadership? Will he no longer be a fixture in the top 6? Those are the things that will be interesting to see.

Everyone wanted change, and it has arrived.

My Wheeler jersey with the A on it doesn't look so bad anymore.

 

[Andy6]

I am as well but Blake is human and this has got to sting.
Sounds like he didn’t have a lot of time to process.

Strange that they would have sprung this on him with little notice - a little tacky but maybe it couldn't be helped (if true). Ideally he would have seen the writing on the wall and given it up himself, but that's just not him, I don't think. He's a notch or two too intense, unfortunately. He is an all-time great Winnipeg Jet but maybe, in retrospect, a little too much of a perfectionist to be an effective leader.

 

[enuffidiotsalready]

That’s the high school drama storyline people on this forum created. The truth was he was playing injured and was getting medical treatment after every game.

also, that the media wasn't requesting him. they knew what he would say and wanted to talk to the younger players for their takes

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

Later, Bowness revealed more details about his plan.

 

[enuffidiotsalready]

Later, Bowness revealed more details about his plan.

View attachment 585219

so, he's collecting underpants?

 

[WolfHouse]

'We are in the process of laying brick over my office door. The first three through that wall will wear the C and A's. I certainly believe that Florida's 2nd round pick - sorry I mean Blake - could be one of those guys.;'

 

[nobody imp0rtant]

so, he's collecting underpants?

Nope, that's the gnome's job (3rd from left)

 

[sunsethill]

C Morrissey/A Connor/A Lowry?

I would like this. I'd even like to see Connor as the C.

 

[bennylundholm]

Thank goodness 26 will not wear the C.
Leadership by committee the better way to go.

 

[bennylundholm]

You've been saying Wheeler isn't going to be productive next year because of his age for a few years now, so until it happens, I'll still say he's productive.

There's an argument that the $8m might be a price to pay to remove him from the room entirely and not have this hang over the team, but it's not production based.

FYI…
There is much more to bring a valuable team player than putting points on the board.
Wheeler is a detriment defensively, in the dressing g room, etc.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Wonder if Blake played a part in this decision

by requesting a trade

 

[Jets 31]

Hopefully they'll do better than last season's first month when they were ... oh yeah ... 9-3-3.

And that was with Wheeler and Scheifele both out with covid .

 

[Jets 31]

Wonder if this changes Dubois's mind about staying, we definitely need Dubois to stay over Wheeler. Wheeler was a very good player for us but we need a young guy like Dubois to stay especially because he's a center and we need that more than a winger.

 

[Gil Fisher]

Logan Stanley would surely be the tallest captain in team history.

 

[UFO]

I really like that move.

 

[Eyeseeing]

Ultimately this falls on the organization from keeping Maurice far too long and by extension allowing the dynamic to crumble.
I don’t blame Wheeler
I don’t blame Maurice either.
Blake is a pro and I believe the effort will be there.
Bowness is showing the team who’s boss and that isn’t a bad thing.

 

[LowLefty]

Ultimately this falls on the organization from keeping Maurice far too long and by extension allowing the dynamic to crumble.
I don’t blame Wheeler
I don’t blame Maurice either.
Blake is a pro and I believe the effort will be there.
Bowness is showing the team who’s boss and that isn’t a bad thing.

I hear what you are saying and it's likely the take most are on board have here -

But if we were auditioning with theories, I'd say Maurice did was he was told to do - keep them all happy and don't let any of them get away (leave Wpg).
If that was the mandate, you can see how that would get out of control in a hurry.

IMO, he's a survivor and did what he had to do to stay employed (meaning do as your told) - I also think he has enough pride to know when enough is enough - so he left.

There's an executive level on every team for a reason - they make the decisions and they make the rules.
I don't really buy into the line that he was left in place because everyone was too dumb to know there was a problem.

 

[bustamente]

Canada Life is the Jets first ad patch

 

[tbcwpg]

FYI…
There is much more to bring a valuable team player than putting points on the board.
Wheeler is a detriment defensively, in the dressing g room, etc.

That's what the second part of my post is saying.

 

[GNP]

I really like the idea of Wheeler being Dee C'D, as it's the next best thing to trading him off, which the Jets weren't able to do. Firstly it will make a strong statement to the players, that "change" is finally here for real, and it won't be business as usual, and they will also have more say in what happens. Secondly it will send a message to the players that this is the "Boss", which they didn't believe when Maurice was Coach, as basically Wheeler and Scheifele heavily influenced team decisions. I think the players will play with a lot more freedom.

As for Wheeler, I'm sure he'll do a lot of soul searching, and come to the conclusion, it's best for him to play hard, and leave Winnipeg, with good memories for himself and for the fans. It won't make much sense for him to cause trouble, and pout and play bad -- there is just no upside for him to do that. He also knows the Jets will try to trade him, so he may as well give it his best, to make that easier. He's also a very good 2nd line player, so the Jets can use his contribution.

As for new Coach Rick Bowness, I'm very impressed on how he's handled this so far, and he's clearly making a statement, as too who's in charge. Also I was very impressed with the results he got out of Dallas, as I didn't think they had near the talent the Jets had. Also he took Dallas to a game 7 with Calgary, and lost in overtime. He also has brought a team to the Stanley Cup final, so I'll be very interested to see how the team responds to him as Coach. I think it will be positive, as he seems to have a way with people. Be way better than Maurice.

2 key players Bowness will have to win over for success, will be Scheifele, and Dubois, so we'll see how he does. It should be a very interesting season upcoming.

 

[Bigfish]

Wonder if this changes Dubois's mind about staying, we definitely need Dubois to stay over Wheeler. Wheeler was a very good player for us but we need a young guy like Dubois to stay especially because he's a center and we need that more than a winger.

What we needed was Laine and Roslovic to stay over Wheeler.

 

[DRW204]

Wonder if this changes Dubois's mind about staying, we definitely need Dubois to stay over Wheeler. Wheeler was a very good player for us but we need a young guy like Dubois to stay especially because he's a center and we need that more than a winger.

to me it seemed like bowness was trying his hardest not to admit that young players felt blocked. i think he even corrected himself when straight up asked that. idk how much bearing this has on PLD (i think PLD wanting to be in MTL stems from his time in CBJ as well), but i dont think this hurts

 

[Guardian17]

 

[Imcanadianeh]

Lol typed into google “Blake wheeler interview” first video that popped up from Feb. 25, 2022 wheeler is wearing a Jets jacket.

I think people are just confused because he usually wears his “Wheel” hat that’s for charity.

 

[Jetsfan79]

We'll never know the answer to this, but I wonder if Trotz would of stripped the C away from Wheeler if he was hired.