Ex-teammates still in awe of ‘warrior’ Wheeler By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 4:09 PM CDT Tuesday, Mar. 19, 2024

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This article was published 19/03/2024 (865 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NEW YORK — They knew Blake Wheeler was tougher than a two-dollar steak after watching the long-time captain of the Winnipeg Jets gut his way through countless painful injuries over the years.

Playing an entire period with a ruptured testicle last season, only to go into surgery just hours later, certainly comes to mind.

But nothing could have prepared his former teammates for the story Wheeler reluctantly shared with them over dinner here Monday night.

“Pretty insane,” is how defenceman Josh Morrissey put it to the Free Press on Tuesday morning.

The topic was Wheeler’s most recent injury, a gruesome one he suffered on Feb. 15 in the first period of New York’s battle with the Montreal Canadiens. The 37-year-old winger, who was bought out by the Jets last summer and signed a one-year deal with the Rangers days later, was checked to the ice and fell awkwardly, his right leg buckling underneath.

Current teammates such as Chris Kreider reported hearing Wheeler scream out in agony as he tried to get off the ice on his own, at one point standing up and putting weight on the injured limb before collapsing. He was eventually helped off by players and training staff, then immediately put on a stretcher and taken to hospital.

“What (Wheeler) said to me (Monday) night was, ‘My kids were at the game. I didn’t want to lay on the ice,’” Morrissey recalled. “This guy is a true warrior and family man.

“He’s the toughest guy I’ve ever played with by a long margin. It’s been documented a little bit, but the stuff this guy has played through over the years is insane. To get up with the injury that he did, or try to… it fits the bill for his character and his toughness.”

Specific details haven’t been made public, although it sounds like multiple fractures were involved. Morrissey and others in Winnipeg’s current leadership group, including fellow alternate Mark Scheifele and Wheeler’s successor as captain, Adam Lowry, got more details from the man himself as they broke bread.

“It was devastating to hear,” said Lowry. “The fact he got up, I think, speaks volumes to the toughness that he has. He said he didn’t want to be laying on the ice in front of his children. I think that just shows the warrior he is. He’s thinking about others first, even in one of the darkest moments where his leg is just hanging on, he’s thinking about his kids.”

Scheifele, who remains one of Wheeler’s closest friends, knew the situation was dire as soon as he saw it.

“The fact he got up, I think, speaks volumes to the toughness that he has. He said he didn’t want to be laying on the ice in front of his children. I think that just shows the warrior he is.”– Jets Captain Adam Lowry

“When you see a guy like Blake wincing in pain like that and struggling to get up, that shows how serious it was,” he said.

“He is a warrior and a guy that is still one of my best friends and a guy I still rely on for advice and everything. He meant a lot to my career. He was the mainstay of why this team is the way it is. His work ethic, his determination, his ability to push guys for more and also push himself for more.”

Wheeler’s role in New York was much different. But after a difficult start to the season, he seemed to find a comfortable supporting role and was up to 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists) in 54 games, mostly in the Rangers bottom-six forward group.

Wheeler will be without a contract after the 2024-25 season. Even if he can eventually return to the ice, he’d be 38 in August and coming off a major injury.

There’s no guarantee another NHL contract would be coming his way.

“He’s obviously going through something that no one wants to go through, so there’s more to it than just the impact on the team,” Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, who also played with Wheeler in Winnipeg. told reporters after his teammate went down.

“I think we all care a lot about the hockey and our jobs, but we’re also humans and friends and have families outside of the rink. And I’m not saying this is true, but maybe he played his last hockey game.”

Trouba is also currently sidelined with an injury, although he’s recently resumed skating and should be back soon. He also joined the reunion dinner on Monday.

“If there’s anyone we know that can overcome an obstacle like that, just through sheer will and determination and how dedicated he is, it’s Blake,” said Lowry.

“Even at his age he’s in incredible shape, he takes care of himself incredibly well. I wouldn’t bet against him being able to come back. I know they mentioned that he’s basically done for the season, but if there’s someone that’s going to be asking to skate early, someone that’s going to be pushing the limits, it’s definitely Blake Wheeler.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X: @mikemcintyrewpg