‘When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go’ Retired Wheeler reflects on career, fun years with the Jets By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 5:25 PM CDT Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025

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This article was published 07/08/2025 (395 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Blake Wheeler is at peace with his decision, even if he couldn’t pinpoint the precise time he was ready to make it.

The former Winnipeg Jets captain is on the other end of the telephone line from Connecticut, the place his family has chosen to call home after Wheeler’s longtime NHL career had come to an end.

Earlier this month, Wheeler made it official by putting pen to paper, retiring after 16 seasons in the NHL — with 12 of those spent as a core piece of the Jets.

“I was missing a lot of things as the kids were getting older, things that I just didn’t want to miss anymore. When I got hurt that, to me, felt like a sign that maybe your gut was right. Maybe it really is time.”–Blake Wheeler

During his lone season with the Rangers, Wheeler admits he could feel the end was near — even though he was enjoying a Stanley Cup chase with an Original Six franchise.

“I was sitting in hotel rooms and my kids were home with (his wife) Sam and it just wasn’t the same. My ‘why’ had changed,” Wheeler said. “It got to the point where if all you’re doing is chasing a Stanley Cup, you’re probably setting yourself up for failure, more or less. I would say that’s when it started clicking in for me.

“I was missing a lot of things as the kids were getting older, things that I just didn’t want to miss anymore. When I got hurt that, to me, felt like a sign that maybe your gut was right. Maybe it really is time. That was kind of how it played out.”

The injury Wheeler referenced was a gruelling knee injury, suffered on a freak play in the corner in the offensive zone as his right knee gave out after he was hit by Montreal Canadiens defenceman Jayden Struble on Feb. 15 of 2024.

On the following day, the Rangers announced Wheeler would miss the remainder of the regular season and once the projected target date for his potential return was set, the Minnesota product found himself with a new challenge to tackle — to beat the initial target.

“I had never been hurt like that,” said Wheeler, who showcased an incredibly high pain tolerance during his tenure with the Jets. “So, the emotions were mixed. I knew what I was missing out on — but at the same point, I didn’t think that was certainly it.

“I had a feeling that I was going to find my way back. I had a feeling that the team was going to go on a deep run.”

Both of those things came true, with the Rangers advancing to the Eastern Conference final against the Florida Panthers — where Wheeler suited up in Game 4 to complete his recovery.

It ended up being the last time he would suit up in an NHL game.

There was no elaborate farewell tour, no waves to the crowd — though he did get the chance to suit up in one game with the Rangers in Winnipeg against the Jets.

During the course of this conversation, much of the time is focused on the reflection process, with Wheeler detailing his incredible journey that took him from a fifth overall pick of the Arizona Coyotes in 2004 out of Breck high school in Minnesota to a highly-productive right-winger that ended up playing in 1,172 regular season games and 66 more during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

“I didn’t set out to play 1,000. I started my career a little later than most people. I was 22 years old when I was a rookie. At that point, you’re feeling like the odds are stacked against you for (milestones) like that,” said Wheeler. “I don’t have any coulda, woulda, shouda’s. There’s little ones but, overall, with how fortunate I was and with the opportunities that I got, how I approached it — to push yourself every day to be the best version of yourself every single day. I feel extremely lucky that I played as long as I did and with the teammates I did and with the organizations that I did.

“I haven’t had a day, really, if I’m being honest, where I say, ‘man, I wish I was still playing.’ I just haven’t had any of those days. That’s how you know you’re ready.”

In discussing his dozen seasons with the Jets, Wheeler expresses gratitude, as it was the place where he blossomed into a dynamic player, a first-line talent who was considered one of the best passers in the NHL for a stretch.

He became an all-star, a U.S. Olympian and his name is littered throughout the Jets 2.0 record book.

After longtime linemate Andrew Ladd departed in a deadline deal with the Chicago Blackhawks, the stage was set for Wheeler to become team captain, a title he held for six seasons.

“What sticks out to me, honestly, when you’re on this side of it, is that to get to those places, a vast majority of players need to have people that believe in you,” said Wheeler. “It was very similar in Winnipeg. Those guys were in my corner and they believed in me. They were giving me that opportunity and that’s what I needed. I was ready for it and I just wanted to maximize their belief every single day.

“That’s what pushed me, proving those guys right. When you’re able to do that over a long period of time, you’re able to have a career that maybe is even outside of your wildest dreams.”

Part of that was being front and centre as the Jets returned to the NHL in the fall of 2011 after the Atlanta Thrashers franchise relocated.

“I feel like I maximized my time in Winnipeg. I gave everything I had to that team, for sure.”–Wheeler

“There were a ton of question marks. We didn’t know what to expect,” said Wheeler. “Pretty quickly it turned into a bunch of excitement. We got wrapped up in the energy of the city. Our team wasn’t what it’s turned into, but we had a lot to play for that year.

“It mattered to all of the people in that town — and that was a pretty cool feeling to have, going into every single game — knowing it was a really important night at the rink. That was a helpful thing for me at that stage of my career. To feel like what you’re doing matters.”

Wheeler’s effort was his hallmark and there’s little doubt that his No. 26 will be raised to the rafters one day.

“We’re incredibly proud of everything Jets-related. We feel very fortunate that we spent as much time in one place as we did,” said Wheeler. “We know that’s not the norm and is very much the exception. To have made an impact on a place is very rewarding. We feel like we’re always going to be Jets — knowing I still have a lot of teammates that I spent a lot of time with still there and still making a big impact there is a lot of fun.

“A lot of our best friends in the world are Winnipeggers and we’re heading back there in a week or so to hang out with those guys. We love that we were able to leave our mark on that place and to see what it’s turned into and to be a part of that, that’s very rewarding for us.”

It wasn’t always smooth sailing for Wheeler — whether it was having the captaincy stripped before his final season with the Jets, or having the final year of his contract bought out.

That’s also part of his legacy, though Wheeler harbours no ill will on either of those fronts.

“I feel great about everything,” he said. “What I love is that I have great relationships with my teammates there, I have a great relationship with (Jets governor and co-owner) Mark Chipman. Those are the things that matter to me.

“I feel like I maximized my time in Winnipeg. I gave everything I had to that team, for sure. When it’s your time to go, it’s your time to go. To me, that’s the thing I’m grateful for. That they’re on a great trajectory and I left on great terms — and I can still cheer for them. I just want the best for that team and that organization, always.”

As for life after hockey, Wheeler is still involved in the game, coaching each of his three children, while also working with Novus Global Sport — where he’s once again reunited with Ladd.

Wheeler also got a taste of broadcasting last spring, spending several days on the Hockey Night in Canada panel.

“I loved it. There’s nothing really better than watching hockey and talking about hockey,” said Wheeler. “The Hockey Night in Canada crew is top shelf. They do such a great job. I had so much fun getting the chance to be part of their team for a week.

“We’ll see. I’m open to doing more if that opportunity presents itself. But my big takeaway was that it was a blast to be part of that and to get to experience that.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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