Breaking News - Winnipeg Jets strip Blake Wheeler of his captaincy

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Josh tupper
September 16, 2022 (11:29)

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Blake Wheeler has been the Captain of the Winnipeg Jets for the past six seasons. Unfortunately though that time has been tainted by multiple claims of a poor locker room environment. After departing Winnipeg both Evander Kane and Patrik Laine both shared their disdain for the Jets locker room.

Now with former Head Coach, Paul Maurice no longer in Winnipeg it appears that the Jets are looking to change their culture in their locker room. Rick Bowness and the team made the following announcement:

JETS ANNOUNCE LEADERSHIP GROUP RESTRUCTURING

The Winnipeg Jets announced today a restructuring of the team's leadership group ahead of the 2022-23 season.

"It is the determination of the coaching staff that we will enter the 2022-23 season without a specific captain, but rather a group of assistants still to be determined," said Jets head coach Rick Bowness. "It is our goal to expand the leadership base within our hockey team. We have high expectations for our core players and we want to provide them with the opportunity to step into those greater leadership roles as a group."

Jets head coach Rick Bowness and forward Blake Wheeler will be available to the media at 12:00 p.m. at Bell MTS Iceplex.

This comes after rumors that the Jets attempted to trade Wheeler all summer without success. Wheeler is in the 4th year of a 5 year contract paying him $8,250,000 per season.