Scheifele on the verge of Jets history

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This article was published 03/02/2025 (247 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

They first booed the Star Spangled Banner in Ottawa on Saturday afternoon, just prior to the Senators game against the Minnesota Wild. A few hours later, fans in Calgary made their voices heard loud and clear as the Flames hosted the Detroit Red Wings.

On Sunday, it was Toronto’s turn as the American anthem was jeered prior to the Raptors NBA game against the Los Angeles Clippers. Later that evening, the faithful at Rogers Arena in Vancouver got in on the act just before puck drop against Detroit.

Now all eyes (and ears) are on Winnipeg, where the Jets will open a two-game homestand on Tuesday by hosting the Carolina Hurricanes. It remains to be seen whether similar sentiments will follow, although Monday’s announcement that proposed U.S. tariffs on Canada will be paused for at least 30 days might cool the situation off a degree or two.

For those wondering, no Canadian teams (including the Jets) have plans at this point to alter their pre-game presentations. There will be no messaging or announcements made to fans, nor will anthems be removed to avoid what might be seen as an embarrassing situation.

Not surprisingly, players are also being careful to stickhandle around the situation. Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews, who will wear the C for Team USA at the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off said Monday “I’m not going to get into politics” when asked for his thoughts.

That’s probably a wise move, especially since well-compensated hockey players probably wouldn’t have a lot of meaningful insight or analysis to provide about economic sanctions and how they might impact the typical citizen regardless of what their birth certificate says.

Still, no doubt hearing the song of their homeland get drowned out with booing has to be a bit jarring.

We’ll see how long that continues — especially with Canada and the U.S. set to clash on ice next week at the best-on-best NHL tournament being held in Montreal and Boston.

FROM JEERS TO CHEERS? There will definitely not be any booing Tuesday if Mark Scheifele can find the back of the net.

Winnipeg’s veteran centre is currently tied with Ilya Kovalchuk for No. 1 on the all-time career goals list for the Jets 2.0/Atlanta Thrashers franchise with 328.

His next tally will put him on top.

“That would be really cool. It will be really special for him and obviously all the guys that have been here over a long tenure,” Jets winger Gabe Vilardi said Monday.

“I’ve only gotten to know Mark over the last year and a half but it’s been really cool for me to see, I’ve mentioned so many times, how I look up to him and how he approaches every day with his work ethic. It’s a good reminder for me if I’m out there make sure I’m getting him the puck.”

Scheifele had two assists Saturday night in Washington — including a perfect set-up of Josh Morrissey’s overtime winner — and has now surpassed 60 points for a 10th consecutive year which leads all active NHL players.

“I think when you look at the best players obviously they have all their attributes, whether it’s speed, skill, whatever. But I think the most important thing is consistency,” Vilardi said of his linemate.

“He’s done that over 10 years. It just goes to show his preparation coming into the season, during the season, to be able to take care of his body to play the games to get to 60 points. It doesn’t surprise me, knowing him.”

Scheifele has only had one year in which he scored more goals than assists — the 2022-23 campaign when he had a career-high 42, along with 26 helpers. So far this season, he’s at 31 goals and 30 assists and recently joked he needs to pick up the pace when it comes to helpers.

“When I think of Mark I think of him as a playmaker first, so I’m not surprised he’d say that,” said Vilardi.

“I think that’s what we’ve come to see from him over the years. And obviously playing with KC (Kyle Connor) who’s such a shooter, they’re a great tandem and they’ve been playing together for a long time before I came here. I think what makes him so deadly is his ability to read the play and know if there’s a shooting threat around or if he thinks holding on to the puck longer and waiting for a passing lane to open is better. He makes the right reads more often than not out there.”

Scheifele is quickly closing in on Blake Wheeler’s franchise record for points (812), needing just 35 more to pass it. At his current rate, that could happen near the end of this current season. He’s also just 46 games played behind Wheeler for No. 1 on that list, which will have to wait until early next year.

Scheifele is also 100 assists behind Wheeler for top spot in that category.

“He has really turned into an all-around player,” said Jets head coach Scott Arniel.

“We have asked a lot about his buy-in without the puck and I think that has been exceptional. The other side for me is that he always likes to pass the puck and he likes to do that first. But he realizes now he is getting himself into some Grade A positions and he has a great shot. He can score goals and he has proven that.”

mike.mcintyre@freepress.mb.ca

X and Bluesky: @mikemcintyrewpg