Coach quick to defend captain

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This article was published 03/02/2021 (1676 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Head coach Paul Maurice went all papa bear Wednesday afternoon, staunchly defending Blake Wheeler amidst the prevailing sentiment his captain’s game is off kilter.

At first blush, the big right-winger is off to a solid start for the Winnipeg Jets, scoring three goals and 11 points in 10 games to begin the abbreviated NHL season.

Some simple math projects his production at 61 points over the course of the 56-game 2021 campaign in the all-Canadian division, or, a 90-point pace for a traditional 82-game schedule.

Other numbers, however, aren’t nearly as stellar, and glaring deficiencies on the other side of the puck have marred the look and feel of his overall performance.

The Plymouth, Minn., product is a team-worst minus-nine through 10 games.

But Maurice had his claws out while speaking with reporters on a Zoom conference following the Jets’ optional skate at Bell MTS Place, demonstrating he won’t tolerate disparaging remarks about the 13-year veteran.

�� Paul Maurice on Blake Wheeler, the team’s defensive game and much more. pic.twitter.com/U618BvbaY0

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 3, 2021

"I’m not so much protective of Blake Wheeler, I’m more protective of the Winnipeg Jets. You get a guy in your town that plays that hard and is such a fine, fine leader and a fine man, let’s be real careful if his plus-minus level isn’t what you want," said Maurice.

"He’s prorated out at about 88 points, man. We’re 10 games in, we’re 6-3-1 and you’re beaking my captain. I’m offended by it.”

Wheeler, 34, has faced criticism for the number of opposition goals he’s been on the ice for at five on five, including a first period tally by Calgary forward Matthew Tkachuk to pull the Flames closer at 2-1 on Tuesday night.

The perception was Wheeler didn’t check the talented, edgy winger to the far post, although Kyle Connor didn’t exactly punch hyperspeed to return to his own end.

Maurice denounced those who laid the blame solely at Wheeler’s feet.

“I would just like you to be right about it. You’ll do your deep dives and your analytics and boy, they do a horse-s— job of telling you what five guys do. The goal that you’re beaking him on (Tuesday) night, he got put in a real tough spot by a horse-s— backcheck by somebody else, right?" he said.

Winnipeg kept a grip on their lead, registering a 3-2 victory over the Flames (4-4-1). The two sides collide again tonight at 7 p.m., their third consecutive meeting in downtown Winnipeg.

Wheeler played just 13:14 of ice time, his lowest total since a game in Edmonton nearly six years ago, yet he didn’t seem overly concerned Wednesday.

"I know you guys give me a lot of credit. I don’t call the names, who’s up on the bench, when it’s my turn to go out there. Paul deploys us. I go out there and play," said Wheeler. "We’ve got a lot of guys playing really well right now. We’re trying to win hockey games. That’s as much as you need to say about it. The way the game was going and the way our team was playing and the way some guys were going, the minutes are a reflection of that.

"Put it this way: I’m never going to come up here and complain about ice time. I’ve been treated very well in my time here. I’ve got a good feeling that the minutes, that was probably more of the exception than the rule. And I think that would be the case going forward. So, we’ll see what happens."

�� Blake Wheeler on his play so far this season, seeing guys like Trevor Lewis and Derek Forbort score goals and more. pic.twitter.com/Euzh4JYVHa

— Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) February 3, 2021

And as for the notion his play is starting to regress?

"I’m enjoying the vibe we have in our room after a big win (Tuesday) night, and I’d like to focus on that if possible. If people feel that my game’s not where it needs to be, there’s not a bigger critic than I am of myself. So, that’s where I stand with it," Wheeler said.

Maurice seemed baffled by the criticism levelled his captain’s way.

"I’m sensitive to it because I’ve been in awe of this guy since I got here. His work level, he’s unimpeachable in his character and how he runs that room and how he plays, he’s got 11 points in 10 games," he said. "Yeah, his shift length is shorter because I’m asking the whole team to run their shifts shorter and that’s what he does as a captain. He’ll bolt off the ice as fast as he can to lead."

Wheeler was separated from his usual centre, Mark Scheifele, for the last two games against the Flames, skating with Paul Stastny and Connor.

Expect some flip-flopping next week by Maurice when Pierre-Luc Dubois makes his long-awaited debut for Winnipeg.

“I don’t follow the media very much," added Maurice. "I’d heard (Wheeler) had taken some heat for his play, so I was going to wait for a couple of weeks until we get all of our players in the lineup and tell you what I think of him.”

jason.bell@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @WFPJasonBell