Scheifele stays focused Jets star centre committed to raising his game, chasing down playoff spot By: Ken Wiebe Posted: 6:19 PM CST Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/02/2026 (182 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mark Scheifele isn’t firing up the bus for the latest instalment of the revenge tour.

That’s not to say the Winnipeg Jets centre wasn’t disappointed he didn’t get the call to represent his country at the Olympics in Italy.

He most certainly was and he expressed that disappointment on several occasions, but Scheifele also knows he can’t change what’s in the past and he’s not spending his time dwelling on what might have been.

His sole focus right now is to do whatever he can to keep his team in the playoff race for as long as he can, no matter how slim those hopes may be mathematically.

“There’s plenty of examples throughout the history of hockey of that happening,” Scheifele said in an interview before departing for the three-game road trip that continues on Friday against the Anaheim Ducks. “All we’ve got to focus on is trying to get in. Not every shift and not every period and not every game is going to go your way. You just have to keep pushing forward and keep looking to the ultimate goal.”

After a 3-2 overtime victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, the Jets started the arduous process of chipping into the deficit, moving within nine points of the Seattle Kraken in the chase for the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

With 25 games left in the regular season for both the Jets and Kraken, the margin for error is razor thin and Winnipeg will essentially need to go on the equivalent of a magic carpet ride to remain relevant in the chase.

Scheifele certainly did his part to contribute to the first victory coming out of the Olympic break.

Reunited with Kyle Connor and Gabe Vilardi, Scheifele made two smart passes to help the Jets overcome a pair of one-goal deficits to get the game to overtime.

The vision to realize Connor would be open on the first goal was elite, since most Canucks defenders and goalie Nikita Tolopilo figured Scheifele was going to keep skating around the net rather than sneak a no-look backhand dish in front of the net against the grain.

Scheifele surveyed the situation along the boards and found the stick of Vilardi through traffic for the equalizer with 1:15 to go in the second period.

“All we’ve got to focus on is trying to get in… just have to keep pushing forward and keep looking to the ultimate goal.”

There were numerous situations over the course of the contest where Scheifele showcased his ability to create space for himself down low and below the goal line.

“Honestly, playing basketball and lacrosse were the biggest things. You kind of understand leverage and you understand how to protect the ball in those scenarios,” said Scheifele, who has recorded 23 multi-point games this season. “At a young age, that just translated over into hockey. It’s obviously something I still work at, but the innate skill came from those two sports.”

By the time Cole Perfetti ended the game at 1:37 of overtime, Scheifele had logged 21 shifts for 23:18 of ice time, finishing with three shots on goal, five shot attempts and a blocked shot while winning 55 per cent of his draws.

It was a dominant performance from the Jets’ top trio, as they combined for nine shots on goal and 17 shot attempts while combining for four points, all of which came at even strength.

To reiterate, for Scheifele, this isn’t about the 2028 World Cup or any future international competition.

What drives Scheifele first and foremost is the continual pursuit of excellence.

It’s a daily pursuit and it continued throughout the Olympic break when he made his way to Florida for some additional work with skills coach Adam Oates.

“He’s one of the best players in the NHL,” said Jets goalie Eric Comrie. “I see him every single day. The meticulous love for the game just drives him. He truly loves this game. He just wants to be the best he can be.

“Most guys go for the break and they don’t bring their gear. He goes and sees his skills coach and works the whole time and he’s in the gym doing his program, doing his workout.”

Scheifele isn’t doing that for extra credit, it’s part of his investment in the quest to fend off Father Time.

“Age is just a number, you know what I mean,” said Scheifele, who turns 33 on March 15. “A lot of players over the years have proven that. It’s about how you take care of yourself now that makes you better for the future. Every day, you’re getting your sleep, naps, recovery stuff, massage, chiro, all of that jazz to go along with that, in terms of working on your game and making sure that you’re sharp at all times.

“As you get older, the statistics show that you start to slow down. But if your hands don’t slow down, no one can stop you.”

There are no signs of Scheifele’s hands slowing down, as he’s up to 70 points in 57 games, with 27 goals and 43 assists.

With a strong finish, Scheifele should eclipse the career-high 87 points he accumulated last season.

While Scheifele is quick to point out that he’d happily trade some of that offence for more wins, he recognizes the responsibility that comes along with being a No. 1 centre.

“You always want to have the best year that you can,” said Scheifele. “I would say that for sure it matters, but it comes second to the team. If our line is going and we’re producing, we give our team a better chance to succeed.

“I see him every single day. The meticulous love for the game just drives him… He just wants to be the best he can be.”

“It’s not the craziest dangles, it’s doing things the simple way and being consistent for your linemates. Obviously I play with some pretty great players. At the end of the day, it’s the continual work. Knowing that the job is never over and there’s always something to work on. Every game there are always little things that you could have done better and could have resulted into something more.”

Scheifele isn’t only investing in his own improvement either. You can regularly find him working on the finer details of the craft.

“It’s the little things you don’t see every single day,” said Comrie. “The amount of stuff he does, the little techniques, picking pucks off the wall, finding guys in the slot — even with that, he’s always so welcome with sharing that information with the younger guys and the new guys that want to learn.

“He’s a true leader and he’s going to continue to get better because of his love for the game and how dedicated he is to it.”

Scheifele’s enthusiasm was apparent from the first interview he gave inside Xcel Energy Centre after he was chosen seventh overall by the Jets in the 2011 NHL Draft and he’s found a way to keep that fire burning brightly even with 936 NHL games on his resumé.

“It’s what I love to do. This is what makes me happy,” said Scheifele. “Playing the game, working on my game. I just try to absorb as much as I can and just keep pushing to get better.”

That willingness to share knowledge and help others get better behind the scenes, whether it’s before workouts get underway or long after the formal portion of the proceedings is complete, is part of Scheifele’s game that doesn’t end up on the stat sheet.

But that doesn’t mean it goes unnoticed.

“Sometimes you get guys talking to guys in the dressing room or on the bench and giving them advice that way. Scheif likes to give advice or help guys on the ice with skill things,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel. “He’s extremely talented. He has skills that those guys envy and they hope that they can mirror, so when he works with guys they’re real appreciative of that.

“As a coach, you love to see that, helping guys do a little bit extra that maybe helps them score a goal or make a play when they’re in certain situations on the ice.”

winnipegfreepress.com/kenwiebe