I’m sure almost everyone in the hockey world heard about the fact the long-time Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler was officially stripped of his captaincy on September 16. It was a long time coming but it was the right move by new Jets head coach Rick Bowness and the rest of the Jets new coaching staff. It would hurt anyone to lose something so meaningful like a captaincy and to be replaced by no one immediately as a captain. That’s a fresh kick to the pills right there. The way that Wheeler handled his media availability was solid you could see he was hurt but he got in front of the media and took it like an absolute champ. “I don’t need to play with a letter on my jersey there was a time in my career where that kind of validation was important to me. I don’t need that anymore. I’m really looking forward to watching the guys who I’ve had the privilege of watching step into an expanded role. I you think I’m going to fade into the back and not be a leader on this team you are sorely mistaken” There it is, W
This article first appeared on Jetsnation and was syndicated with permission.