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After playing 16 NHL seasons, former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler has publicly announced his retirement.
Wheeler spent the last two hockey seasons playing right wing for the New York Rangers. He tore ankle ligaments and broke his fibula in February 2024, pausing his hockey playing for the rest of the season, except for playing one playoff game that year.
The 38-year-old made his retirement announcement official on July 19.
"More or less, right after last year knew I was all done," said Wheeler in an interview with 'Jets at Noon'. "I just haven't felt like a rush to like make a formal announcement or anything. But yeah, after my injury and kinda the way things ended last year, I just didn't have anything left in the tank for it."
Wheeler started off his NHL career playing two seasons for the Boston Bruins. After that, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in 2011. He stayed with the franchise as they relocated and became the Winnipeg Jets.
In 2016, Wheeler became the captain of the Jets and remained in that position until the team bought out his contract in 2023. During his time in Winnipeg, Wheeler became the Jets’ all-time leader in assists (550) and points (897), and ranks second in goals behind Ilya Kovalchuk.
Wheeler and his wife Sam have three children, Louie, Leni, and Mase. As he hangs up his skates and looks to the future, his family is at the forefront.
"I was at peace with it almost immediately after last year and yeah, l'm just enjoying being a dad and kinda slowing things down a little bit, and being around my family."