Hard work paves the way to 600

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This article was published 16/01/2025 (263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This was a trip down memory lane that Dylan DeMelo was more than happy to take.

As the Winnipeg Jets defenceman was asked about suiting up in his 600th NHL game, there was an abundance of gratitude shown for the journey that took him to Thursday’s tilt with the Seattle Kraken.

“Some days it feels like a long time ago. I guess when you look back at it, it goes by in the blink of an eye,” said DeMelo, who has now played 341 games in a Jets’ uniform. “It goes by pretty fast. Six hundred is pretty cool, pretty happy about that. Hopefully I can play maybe 600 more, we’ll see, knock on wood. Obviously to do it here with this group of guys, to play the bulk of my games here in Winnipeg makes it even more special.”

As for that debut against the New York Islanders?

“Nervous,” said DeMelo, when asked for his recollection of his first NHL game with the San Jose Sharks. “I played on my left side and it was the first time I’d played on my left side in God knows how long. You always have more lefties than righties growing up and even in junior. I remember being really nervous and playing in Brooklyn in that arena that everyone said wasn’t really the best hockey arena.

“I remember us losing unfortunately, but I remember it was good to get that first one out of the way and get those nerves out of the way. Playing in San Jose at that time, to share the ice with Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Joe Pavelski, guys like that, it was a really cool experience.”

The cool experiences have been plentiful since that first outing.

All of Thornton, Marleau and Pavelski have retired and DeMelo is playing for his third organization.

“It goes by pretty fast. Six hundred is pretty cool, pretty happy about that. Hopefully I can play maybe 600 more.”–Dylan DeMelo

A lot of ground has been covered in the years since the memorable moment.

“Yeah, if you told that guy in maybe year two or three in San Jose that he’d be here today, he would probably have laughed at you,” said DeMelo. “I definitely had to do it the hard way in San Jose, but I think that made me better for it.

“And learning to appreciate what it took to get where I am today. I saw all the hard work that goes into being a pro and I had some really good mentors to watch in San Jose. Even the nights I wasn’t playing, whether I was a healthy scratch or injured, just to be around those guys on a daily basis, I think that’s stuff I now use in my career and stuff I’m going to use to try to give to the young guys now about how to be a pro, because those were top-notch professionals off the ice, guys that will be Hall of Famers and had amazing careers.”

DeMelo has gone from skating on his off-side with Matt Tennyson to patrolling the Jets blue line on the top pairing with Norris Trophy candidate Josh Morrissey.

“It’s been a great relationship. I like to think I’ve played a little bit of a part in Josh’s success, as he has for me,” said DeMelo. “He’s made me a better player, and a better player off the ice, too. How to take care of myself. He’s a guy that I look up to in all aspects of the game and in life. It’s been a lot of fun, I hope we can play many, many years together and continue to grow in our partnership. It’s been an absolute pleasure playing with him.”

Cheveldayoff’s acquisition of DeMelo from the Ottawa Senators in February of 2020 for a third-round draft pick is going to go down as one of his shrewdest moves in his 14 seasons in the GM chair.

DeMelo had been looking to sign an extension with the Senators, but when a deal couldn’t be reached, he found himself on the trading block.

The Jets needed help on defence and at the time, DeMelo wasn’t sure what was going to transpire upon his arrival.

He’s signed a pair of four-year contract extensions with the Jets since and Winnipeg has truly become his hockey home.

“Yeah, it’s been fantastic for me. I feel like I’ve really grown as a player here. Off the ice, too, it’s been a great fit, the community has been awesome,” said DeMelo, whose four-year deal that carries an AAV of US$4.9 million. “Great neighbours, great people that we are friends with off the ice as well. And the group of guys here are just amazing guys. It’s been an amazing fit for me and couldn’t be happier to be here. Obviously, I was happy to re-sign here last summer.”

DeMelo gave a succinct answer when asked what advice DeMelo of today might offer to that wet-behind-the-ears rookie prior to his first NHL game.

“Control what you can control. Have fun. And enjoy every moment,” said DeMelo, who supplied some additional context earlier in the question-and-answer period. “Every situation in life, you can take it one way or another, depends on how you want to look at it. At the time there were some ‘poor me’s and why is this happening to me?’ But everything happens for a reason.”

After dealing with some of those challenges, DeMelo has grown into an important part of the fabric on one of the best teams in the NHL.

“He’s been a good leader for us,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “He’s always out there matched up against the top-six forwards and that’s a big challenge every night. It’s one that he likes to sort of attack and he knows it’s part of what he has to do each game. He’s done a great job for us.

“He started in San Jose, kind of played with a veteran group there and learned some things along the way. And I think he recognizes, the biggest thing about any player is once they realize what their strengths are and what they’re good at and to do it every night on a consistent basis. Probably the biggest thing with (DeMelo) is that usually you know what you’re getting, 82 games of the year from him.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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