Winnipeg Jets have opted to cut bait with former captain Blake Wheeler.
General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has made the decision to part ways with veteran forward Blake Wheeler, as the team has placed him on Unconditional Waivers for the purpose of contract termination.
The longest serving member of the Jets - and lone Atlanta Thrashers alum still on Winnipeg's roster - will now become an unrestricted free agent, able to sign wherever he so pleases come July 1.
“We would like to thank Blake for his dedication and service to the Jets, the city of Winnipeg and the province of Manitoba," Cheveldayoff said. “We are incredibly grateful for the contributions that he has made during his 12 seasons with the franchise. Most notably, the seven years when he served as the captain of the Jets and helped lead the team to the 2018 Western Conference Final.”
Cheveldayoff had until June 30 to make this buy out official. And he did so after failing to find a trade partner among his 31 peers, league-wide.
Among interested teams is Central Division rival Dallas Stars, according to TSN insider Darren Dreger. Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman suggests Wheeler has interest in trying a new endeavour in the Eastern Conference.
Owed $8.25 million for the final season of his five-year extension signed in 2018, Wheeler's play has slowed down, while his attitude has soured in recent years, leaving Jets' management in a difficult situation.
Despite attempting to find a club willing to take on half of Wheeler's salary in a trade that would see the Jets eat 50 percent of his cap hit, Cheveldayoff had no takers. Wheeler will now be on the books for $2.75 million in each of the Jets' next two seasons.
Due to his age and buyout multiplier, the team's former captain would cost the club $5.5 million over two seasons, rather than the $4.125 million for 2023-24 it would have been if Cheveldayoff could have found a trade partner.
Through 13 seasons with the franchise, Wheeler scored 262 times, while adding another 550 assists for 812 points in 897 regular season games. He put up another nine goals and 39 points in six different playoff runs for the Jets.
“I want to thank everyone in Winnipeg for all the love and support over these past 12 years,” Wheeler said. “It has been my absolute honour and privilege to be a Winnipeg Jet and to represent this city and organization. My family and I can’t thank everyone in the city and province enough for everything you’ve done for us. Winnipeg is always going to be a home to myself, my wife Sam, and our children: Louie, Leni, and Mase. Thank you so much for the support, love and friendship that you’ve shown us these past 12 years and we look forward to rooting on the Jets in the future.”
The 6-foot-5, 225-pound winger had 16 goals and 55 points in 72 games last season. He leaves Winnipeg as the franchise's all-time leader in games played, assists, points and shots on net.
This move is the second of many dominoes expected to fall for Winnipeg during the offseason, with forward Mark Scheifele and goaltender Connor Hellebuyck both possible trade candidates, following the deal that sent Pierre-Luc Dubois to Los Angeles on Tuesday.