Who’s flying this plane? Jets need a captain By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 4:25 PM CDT Friday, Aug. 18, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/08/2023 (1123 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It should be one of the first orders of business when the Winnipeg Jets reconvene next month to kick off training camp and the start of a shiny new season.

The question isn’t so much whether the club will name just its third captain in 2.0 history — but, rather, who deserves the honour?

This isn’t something the organization takes lightly. Nor should they. It’s an important job, especially in a small, hockey-crazed market. Finding the right man to handle the duties, both on and off the ice, is essential.

There are significant skates to be filled.

Andrew Ladd had the coveted letter on his sweater for the first four full seasons after the NHL returned to Winnipeg, a part of a fifth before he was shipped to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline.

The Jets made his good buddy and frequent linemate, Blake Wheeler, the heir prior to the 2015-16 season, and the Minnesota product became the face of the franchise for seven years until new coach Rick Bowness stunned everyone by stripping him last September.

At the time, Bowness said he wanted to expand the leadership group on the team, which was coming off a rocky season that included the abrupt resignation of longtime bench boss Paul Maurice, plenty of dysfunction, finger-pointing and in-fighting and no playoff appearance.

It was also clear being captain had become a burden to Wheeler, and no one was benefiting by keeping him in that spot.

Bowness wasn’t going to rush and chose a successor, and so the Jets went the year with three alternates — the existing ones in Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey, and a new addition in Adam Lowry.

Winnipeg got off to a strong start, only to revert to some bad habits and falter down the stretch. They managed to cling to the final Western Conference wildcard spot, were dominant in a Game 1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights, then lost four straight — including the last one in ugly fashion, which led to Bowness calling out his players publicly.

It was an ugly end to a promising season.

Fast forward to the present. Wheeler is gone, the result of the Jets buying out the final year of his contract and making him a free agent. He’s now on Broadway after signing a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. There’s no question he cast a large shadow last year, as evident by how many players referred to him as their unofficial leader at year-end exit meetings.

Obviously, the organization recognized the need to turn the page. And, as much as it might have stung internally, they did the right thing.

Now, naming the next captain should be a top priority. It truly is time to usher in a new era.

There are three obvious players who will be considered — Scheifele, Morrissey and Lowry, given the role they served last year. A selection outside that group would be a major surprise, although it’s possible a new alternate is going to be needed in the near future.

Here’s the case for, and against, each man.

1. Scheifele

Case for: Quite frankly, it’s hard to come up with one outside of the fact that he’s the longest-serving alternate. Oh, and he led the team in scoring last season for what it’s worth (arguably nothing).

Case against: How about the fact there’s a good chance he’s not going to be here much longer?

Scheifele, 30, is a pending unrestricted free agent next summer, and no extension with the Jets has been signed. We’re not sure the team, the player, or both parties even want to go down that route. There’s been plenty of trade talk surrounding Scheifele, and a move either before the season begins, or perhaps by the trade deadline, is a strong possibility.

There’s also the not-insignificant issue that Scheifele doesn’t always lead by example. His defensive flaws are well-documented and led to him being benched for half a period in a game last year — which Scheifele followed up by refusing to speak with the media. It was not a good look.

Could the Jets and the first-ever 2.0 draft pick shock everyone by coming to terms on a long-term extension, perhaps with the added bonus of promotion to captaincy? Don’t hold your breath.

Odds: 0 per cent.

 

2. Morrissey

Case for: Just roll video of that home game against St. Louis last January, with his team down in the dumps and in a scoring slump, where Morrissey finally got them on the board and then had an animated celebration for the ages, smashing the glass and yelling “Let’s (bad word) Go!” The Jets rallied for victory, and Morrissey sure looked like a true leader.

There were many similar examples, with a career-best campaign that had him in the Norris Trophy conversation.

The 28-year-old from Calgary also did as many, if not more, interviews with the media as any player. Oh, and he’s signed for five more seasons, having made a long-term commitment to the organization where he does all kinds of charity work.

Case against: There isn’t any. He would be a perfect fit, and the clear-cut choice but for one reason (see below)…

Odds: 60 per cent.

 

3. Lowry

Case for: An absolute warrior who will do anything to help the team.

From playing with more wingers than any skater on the Jets in recent years, dropping the gloves to defend teammates and taking on league heavyweights like Ryan Reaves, leading the way when it comes to how to play without the puck and being a sportswriter’s dream for his ability to discuss any topic thrown his way thoughtfully and respectfully.

Lowry, like Scheifele, is a 2011 original, having been drafted in the third round. The 30-year-old also had to endure what couldn’t have been easy — having his dad on the coaching staff for a couple of years, including interim head coach after Maurice resigned. Lowry also makes significant off-ice contributions to worthy causes in Manitoba.

Case against: Other than the fact he’s a couple of years older than Morrissey and signed for two fewer years, what’s not to like? No, he doesn’t produce as much offence as Morrissey, but he still plays a key role on the club and should for the foreseeable future.

Odds: 40 per cent.

 

Other leadership candidates

There will be a vacancy if Schiefele moves on, as expected. Given how last year played out, would Bowness go so far as to remove the “A” from him prior to camp, even if he starts the year in the fold? That seems unlikely. However, a few players come to mind as potential additions to the group should one be needed.

Defenceman Brenden Dillon would be a natural, except he is a pending UFA next summer. If the high-character 32-year-old were to be extended, that’s a no-brainer.

Veteran forward Nino Niederreiter certainly impressed both in his play and his words when he joined the Jets at the trade deadline last year. But, like Dillon (and Scheifele), he’s only signed for one more year, and he’s also the new-ish kid on the block.

Don’t sleep on flashy forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who is as blunt and honest as any player on the team. He always tells it like it is and is the first to take blame when things go wrong, rather than throw a teammate under the bus. The 27-year-old Dane has two more years left on his current contract and would be a fine addition.

Given how things have gone for the Jets since making it to the Western Conference Final in the spring of 2018 — just one playoff series victory since, with plenty of collapses and implosions along the way — questions about character and leadership will continue to persist.

But with the right people in place to help steer the good ship Winnipeg — starting with a high-quality captain — perhaps some smoother waters could be on the horizon.

 

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @mikemcintyrewpg