1100-Game NHL Veteran and Longtime Winnipeg Jet Hangs Up the Skates

Way back in the 2004 NHL Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes would draft a talented young winger in Blake Wheeler in the first-round, with the Minnesota native making his NHL debut for the Boston Bruins before ending up with the Atlanta Thrashers who then became the Winnipeg Jets once more.

His career in Winnipeg would span from 2011 all the way up until 2023 with a stint as the team captain as well, carrying that team throughout the decade as he became one of the most decorated players in franchise history.

Now, the 38-year old has officially hung up the skates after not playing in the 2024/25 season due to a lack of interest, ending a career that spanned almost two decades at the top level.

Although Wheeler ended his time in the NHL with the New York Rangers, he'll be remembered as synonymous with the Winnipeg Jets franchise, playing in a total of 1,172 games throughout his NHL career.

In that time, Wheeler tallied an impressive 321 goals and 943 points, and while he doesn't stand out amongst an era of elite wingers in the National Hockey League, he has a special place in the history of the Winnipeg Jets.

This past season, we saw Wheeler on TV as an analyst, and given his personality and his knowledge of the game, that could be his path forward, but with so much experience and many connections in the league, don't be shocked to see him potentially pursue coaching or a front office role in the future.