Call Lowry Mr. Everything Versatile Jets captain checks all the boxes By: Mike McIntyre Posted: 5:03 PM CST Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024

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This article was published 17/01/2024 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

He’s not the fastest skater, slickest passer, most prolific goal scorer or biggest point producer on his own talented team. Adam Lowry, a big fan of self-deprecation, would be the first to admit that.

When compiling a list of Winnipeg Jets MVP candidates so far this season, the first-year captain is making a compelling case to be near the top with the likes of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, centre Mark Scheifele and defenceman Josh Morrissey, among others.

Yes, he’s been that good.

“That’s what he does. That’s why he’s captain,” Jets coach Rick Bowness said Tuesday night following another stellar performance from Lowry in a 4-2 victory over the visiting New York Islanders.

The 30-year-old veteran, who will play his 665th career game Saturday when the Jets open a three-game road trip in Ottawa against the Senators, has recently added a very unexpected title to his impressive resume, something likely no hockey pundit or fan would have predicted: No. 1 centre, and on the NHL’s No. 1 team, to boot.

It’s temporary, of course. Lowry is simply filling in on the top line in the absence of Scheifele, who suffered a lower-body injury in the first shift of the second period last Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Pressed into a surprising role, Lowry has truly elevated his game. On that night, he showed off a sweet set of hands by setting up Gabe Vilardi for the game-tying goal with just under four minutes left in the third period, then sprung Nikolaj Ehlers for the game-winner with 65 seconds remaining in regulation.

Lowry was at it again Tuesday, setting up Vilardi for the opening goal early in the first period against the Islanders, setting the tone as the Jets improved to 29-10-4.

“What he does well is he plays his game every night, no matter who he is playing with, no matter who he is playing against. He just plays Adam Lowry hockey.”–Jets head coach Rick Bowness

“What he does well is he plays his game every night, no matter who he is playing with, no matter who he is playing against. He just plays Adam Lowry hockey,” Bowness said Tuesday night.

“He’s hard to play against because he’s big, he’s strong and he’s physical. But the best thing about him is he doesn’t change his game. So, we move him up with those guys, he still plays the same way. Whether he’s playing on the second line, third line, first line, that’s what we love about him. You’re going to get the same effort. You’re going to get the same compete, the same style of play, regardless of who he is up against, regardless of who is playing with — and that’s why we love him so much.”

Lowry is now up to 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) in 43 games, which has him on pace to shatter the career-high 36 points he put up in 82 games last year. He’s also a plus-14 on the season, which is more impressive when you consider he’s regularly matched up against other teams’ top lines during five-on-five play.

“Lows is a 200-foot player. Whether he’s playing up or down the lineup, his role is a very hard game,” said teammate and frequent linemate Mason Appleton.

“He’s good with the puck, he’s good on the forecheck, he’s good defensively. So, he can be trusted in all three zones, all three areas of the ice. So, guys just make simple reads off of him because he plays such a predictable, honest game that he makes it easy to play with him. Whether it’s the skill guys playing with him, or more normally me and Nino (Niederreiter), it really doesn’t matter too much because you know what you’re going to get out of Adam. It’s going to be a hard-working direct game, and it makes it really easy to read off of and create.”

Lowry made an impact in other ways on Tuesday, too, including a massive hit on Isles forward Brock Nelson. He also played a season-high 20 minutes and 16 seconds — his average this year is typically about 16 minutes — thanks to pulling double duty on the power play and penalty kill, which are both trending in the right direction lately after lengthy rough patches.

He also took a whopping 28 faceoffs, going 50 per cent which is actually above average on one of the league’s worst teams at the dot.

All in a night’s work, right?

“It’s helpful for our team having a guy like that,” said forward Cole Perfetti.

“You know with Lows making the jump so far, playing big minutes, (he’s) still that defensive guy but also can get on the score sheet and contribute lots more. So, it speaks a lot to the kind of player that he is and its huge. Obviously, losing Mark sucks. You can’t replicate a guy like that, but Lows has gone up to that top line and done a great job. So, yeah, it’s huge for our team success right now when Mark’s away.”

Lowry has also become a prominent community member and leader, involved in numerous causes such as Toba Centre for Children and Youth, and he’s become a valued mentor to young players in the room, such as Perfetti.

“I think Adam has always been like that. In this league, you’re either insanely elite at one or two things, or you try to check as many boxes as you can.”–Mason Appleton

He is everything you’d want in a captain — and then some.

“I think Adam has always been like that. In this league, you’re either insanely elite at one or two things, or you try to check as many boxes as you can,” said Appleton.

“In my eyes, Adam is a guy that checks every single box. That’s why he is one of — if not the — most complete player we have, you could say. He is our captain, he can do a little bit of everything for us.”

Roster crunch looming: With Scheifele a candidate to be activated from injured reserve at the end of the week — Bowness is hopeful he could play Saturday — and fellow injured forward David Gustafsson likely not very far behind him, the Jets are about to have a problem.

They’re currently at the 23-man roster limit and there’s no risk-free solution in sight.

The three healthy scratches on Tuesday — forward Axel Jonsson-Fjallby and defencemen Logan Stanley and Declan Chisholm — would all require waivers to be shipped to the Manitoba Moose in an attempt to clear space. Same with call-up forward Dominic Toninato, who centred the third line against the Islanders and has played extremely well. Gustafsson would, too.

You’d think an injury-riddled squad such as the Blackhawks, who are playing mostly an AHL-level lineup these days, might happily make a claim or two if the opportunity arose.

It will be interesting to see how general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff attempts to stickhandle around this. Winnipeg’s depth has been a major storyline this season, and the Jets — who already lost forward Jansen Harkins to waivers via a Pittsburgh Penguins claim near the end of training camp — would obviously like to keep everyone in the organization.

Whether that’s possible remains to be seen.

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

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