Toggle sidebar

Confirmed with Link: Rangers sign Blake Wheeler [1Y/800K]

Jets fan.
This will turn out to be the best signing from July 1st.
He will be missed but it was time.
This guy will give it all he’s got and now that the pressure of being captain in a small market is off I expect he’ll be able to provide a great example of work ethic and he is a real good play maker on the power play.
He’s lost a step but not his passion.
I believe his intensity was part of the issue with a select few of current and past team mates who probably didn’t care for that style of leadership.
Blake and his wife are extremely committed to their community off the ice and you will get full value for your team on the ice.
I believe Blake could have gotten a lot more money but I’m guessing he sees this as a real opportunity to win.
Blake wasn’t my favourite player, Buff was but I still feel like it’s the end of an era for us.
I hope he finds success with your team.
He’s definitely going to have his jersey retired by us one day.
 
  • Like
  • Love
Reactions: hn777, Gluten Free Breadman, 80s Kid and 25 others
Best signing of the day, by any team. From a fit and value perspective, it’s really hard to do better for 1 year. Team had a huge hole at rw in top 9 and filled it at pretty much the minimum. Tarasenko would’ve been great to bring back, but way too expensive. Wheeler is a very different player than Tarasenko, but from an impact perspective, they should be very similar next year
 
GENESISPuck94 said:
He will be 37 by the time the season starts. He's slow. We really need a 37 year old blocking our #1 overall pick from getting the top six opportunities he needs to grow into the player we need?
Click to expand...
If our #1 overall pick had done something worthwhile we wouldn't be in this situation. The blame is on Laf for not producing, not Drury for making the team better which is his job...
 
  • Like
Reactions: Salsa Shark, lilphildub, Ned Braden and 11 others
Tallest regular forward we have had in a while. Goat was 6-4. Blake played TE in football.
 
Eyeseeing said:
Jets fan.
This will turn out to be the best signing from July 1st.
He will be missed but it was time.
This guy will give it all he’s got and now that the pressure of being captain in a small market is off I expect he’ll be able to provide a great example of work ethic and he is a real good play maker on the power play.
He’s lost a step but not his passion.
I believe his intensity was part of the issue with a select few of current and past team mates who probably didn’t care for that style of leadership.
Blake and his wife are extremely committed to their community off the ice and you will get full value for your team on the ice.
I believe Blake could have gotten a lot more money but I’m guessing he sees this as a real opportunity to win.
Blake wasn’t my favourite player, Buff was but I still feel like it’s the end of an era for us.
I hope he finds success with your team.
He’s definitely going to have his jersey retired by us one day.
Click to expand...
How is the relationship between Wheeler and Trouba from your perspective of having watched them every day?
 
Gardner McKay said:
If our #1 overall pick had done something worthwhile we wouldn't be in this situation. The blame is on Laf for not producing, not Drury for making the team better which is his job...
Click to expand...
Yes of course, scoring 19 EV goals as a 20 year old with no PP time and 3rd line is nothing worthwhile. Scoring 40 points with shut ice time again is nothing worthwhile. Yes it's his fault for not putting himself in the top six and top PP unit all season. He's in complete control. What a crock. Ask yourself, what did Blais and Hunt do to earn top six minutes when they were force-fed into those spots?
 
  • Like
Reactions: bhamill and UnSandvich
The Crypto Guy said:
He still scored 61 points in 77 games last year. That isn’t good?
Click to expand...
I'm not worried about point totals, I'm worried about building a team of the right mix of players that compliment an effective lineup that can win deep into the playoffs. I'm not and never said Wheeler is a bad player. I said he isn't the same as he was and he does nothing to address the deficiencies of the forward group and team which is lack of speed, lack of crease crashing, lack of forecheck, lack of hockey IQ. Wheeler is a good player even at this stage but he isn't addressing team deficiencies other than being a rw
 
  • Like
Reactions: Synergy27
bleedblue94 said:
I'm not worried about point totals, I'm worried about building a team of the right mix of players that compliment an effective lineup that can win deep into the playoffs. I'm not and never said Wheeler is a bad player. I said he isn't the same as he was and he does nothing to address the deficiencies of the forward group and team which is lack of speed, lack of crease crashing, lack of forecheck, lack of hockey IQ. Wheeler is a good player even at this stage but he isn't addressing team deficiencies other than being a rw
Click to expand...
He is addressing the team deficiency of having Goodrow or Vesey in your top 6.
 
rangersfansince08 said:
He is addressing the team deficiency of having Goodrow or Vesey in your top 6.
Click to expand...
So again, he is a rw but doesn't address anything I mentioned.

Find the right players. This is a bigger issue that was glaring at the deadline chasing guys like tank and Kane when the team needed a guy like barbs more than anything. This isn't just about wheeler, it's like you can see the sather influence coming back again worrying more about the name than about the fit.

Other people have tried to say Wheeler will be on the 3rd line. We all know that's not the case. Team is going to bury laffy on the third line again and then act shocked their 1oa pick still isn't growing. Rangers gonna rangers...
 
bleedblue94 said:
I'm not worried about point totals, I'm worried about building a team of the right mix of players that compliment an effective lineup that can win deep into the playoffs. I'm not and never said Wheeler is a bad player. I said he isn't the same as he was and he does nothing to address the deficiencies of the forward group and team which is lack of speed, lack of crease crashing, lack of forecheck, lack of hockey IQ. Wheeler is a good player even at this stage but he isn't addressing team deficiencies other than being a rw
Click to expand...

I’m sorry but Wheeler has very good hockey IQ and adds a 6’5 220lb power forward to the lineup with proven success for years. He’s an extremely underrated passer and he’s good with his stick blocking and intercepting passes. He’s good along the boards as well.

Where are people getting that he’s a scrub? I know Winnipeg isn’t an easy watch for many but Wheeler is a good player.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR, TheDirtyH, Do you want ants and 2 others
7rawtt.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Salsa Shark, lilphildub, NYR Viper and 7 others
NYR Viper said:
I’m sorry but Wheeler has very good hockey IQ and adds a 6’5 220lb power forward to the lineup with proven success for years. He’s an extremely underrated passer and he’s good with his stick blocking and intercepting passes. He’s good along the boards as well.

Where are people getting that he’s a scrub? I know Winnipeg isn’t an easy watch for many but Wheeler is a good player.
Click to expand...
Who said he is a scrub? See this is the exact issue with this board. Someone says something and then people pull this kind of nonsense.

Show me one place I said he's a scrub.
 
Rather a large bodied healthy Wheeler than a smallish banged up Patrick Kane. They're relatively the same age and Kane IMO was underwhelming in his time here. We can say Wheeler isn't the same player he was a few years ago but neither is Kane and there are plenty here wouldn't mind he came back. Would Patrick play for $800K? We don't know but probably not.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TheDirtyH
will1066 said:
How is the relationship between Wheeler and Trouba from your perspective of having watched them every day?
Click to expand...
I think it was solid.
My gut tells me a few of the lesser players and possibly a couple of European wingers had different opinions about leadership.
Again no real knowledge just my opinion.
 
Eyeseeing said:
I think it was solid.
My gut tells me a few of the lesser players and possibly a couple of European wingers had different opinions about leadership.
Again no real knowledge just my opinion.
Click to expand...

So much talk of Wheeler being a locker room cancer and not liked in Winnipeg amongst some teammates.

Most of it stemming from the rumors that he "bullied" Patrik Laine.

I don't know anything that went on there, but as a captain if I see a supremely talented youngster who needs to learn how to be a pro, how to take this career seriously (and not play Fortnite until the sun comes up), etc etc I'm going to speak up too.

If there were any legitimate concerns about Wheeler's character, Trouba would never have signed off on this.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hn777, kovazub94, egelband and 2 others
Draft Guru said:
So much talk of Wheeler being a locker room cancer and not liked in Winnipeg amongst some teammates.

Most of it stemming from the rumors that he "bullied" Patrik Laine.

I don't know anything that went on there, but as a captain if I see a supremely talented youngster who needs to learn how to be a pro, how to take this career seriously (and not play Fortnite until the sun comes up), etc etc I'm going to speak up too.

If there were any legitimate concerns about Wheeler's character, Trouba would never have signed off on this.
Click to expand...
I hate the term locker room cancer.
I just think his leadership style rubbed some people wrong and that’s why the C was taken away.
Players are not going to speak publicly nor should they.
Wheeler is great value and will be a net positive for you guys.
I’ll leave your board now I and wish your team well.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hn777, egelband, NickyFotiu and 3 others
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom