Wheeler signs with Rangers

Wheeler signs with Rangers

Blake Wheeler is taking his act to Broadway.

The former Winnipeg Jets captain signed a free agent deal with the New York Rangers on Saturday, one day after being bought out of the remaining year of his contract.

Wheeler, 36, will be paid US $800,00 as a base, with the potential to earn an additional US $300,000 in bonuses.

“I’m happy he found a good situation for himself today,” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Wheeler spent the last 12 seasons in Winnipeg after coming over with the Atlanta Thrashers. He holds numerous franchise records including regular season games played (897), points (812) assists (550), and shots (2,462), while his 262 goals are the third-most in franchise history.

The Minnesota product was set to make a team-high US $8.25 million next season as he completed the five-year, US $41.25 million extension he signed in 2018.

Buying him out results in a US $2.75 million cap hit for Winnipeg next year, which means a savings of US $5.5 million. However, an additional cap hit of US $2.75 million will be added for the 2024-25 campaign.

“We had conversations with Blake. I can’t speak for him nor do I want to try to, but I think that he feels and we feel that it’s a good opportunity for him to maybe take a run at something different,” Cheveldayoff said of why the decision was made to move on.

“Obviously he represented this organization and this team with great class and dignity. He was captain for six years. We made some choices last year to do some different changes on the leadership side of it. And Blake was awesome. He had a tremendous year. I just think it’s the right thing for both sides to come to that conclusion. I think it couldn’t have worked out better for each side.”

Jets fans won’t have to wait too long to see Wheeler return to the city. The Rangers visit the Jets on Monday Oct. 30.

“He bet on us several times and, unfortunately, we got close but just not close enough,” Cheveldayoff continued. “He was a tremendous part of that. In some ways, it was good for both of us, just to be able to part ways where both sides are on an amicably-speaking, good type of relationship. And I am real thankful for all of the things he’s done for our organization.”

A couple other recent former Jets found new hockey homes on day one of free agency. Forward Kevin Stenlund signed a one-year, US $1 million contract with the Florida Panthers. And former backup goaltender David Rittich inked a one-year, US $775,000 contract with the Los Angeles Kings.

Four other UFAs from last year’s team — forwards Axel Jonsson-Fjallby, Saku Maenalanen, Sam Gagner and Karson Kuhlman — are still on the open market.

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