Blake Wheeler facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blake Wheeler
Wheeler with the Winnipeg Jets in 2014
Born	(1986-08-31) August 31, 1986 (age 38) Plymouth, Minnesota, U.S.
Height	6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Right wing
Shoots	Right
NHL team Former teams	Free agent Boston Bruins Atlanta Thrashers Winnipeg Jets EHC München New York Rangers
National team	United States
NHL Draft	5th overall, 2004 Phoenix Coyotes
Playing career	2008–present

Blake James Wheeler (born August 31, 1986) is an American professional ice hockey player. He used to play in the National Hockey League (NHL) for teams like the Boston Bruins, Atlanta Thrashers/Winnipeg Jets, and New York Rangers. He was chosen by the Phoenix Coyotes as the fifth player picked in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. However, he decided not to sign with them and instead joined the Bruins as a free agent. Currently, he is a free agent, meaning he is not signed to any team.

Growing Up and Early Hockey

Wheeler was born in Plymouth, Minnesota, on August 31, 1986. His parents are Pat and Jim, and he has an older sister named Brooke. As he grew up, Blake played hockey and went to school in Wayzata, Minnesota. He was so skilled that he often played with kids a year or two older than him.

High School Hockey Success

To improve his chances of getting a hockey scholarship, Wheeler moved to Breck School for his junior and senior years. In the 2002–03 season, he helped his Wayzata Bantam team win the AA Silver Stick and Minnesota A Bantam State titles. He scored an amazing 130 points in 60 games that season.

At Breck School, during the 2003–04 season, Wheeler scored 45 goals and 55 assists. He led his team to a Class A State Hockey Championship. In the final game, he even scored a hat-trick (three goals in one game)! Besides hockey, Blake also played football at Breck. He set a record for the most catches by a tight end in the Prep Bowl.

After his great season, Wheeler decided to play for the Minnesota Golden Gophers at the University of Minnesota. He chose Minnesota because it was close to his family. In the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes picked him fifth overall. This was a surprise because experts had ranked him 17th.

Playing in the USHL

After his junior year at Breck, Wheeler joined the Green Bay Gamblers in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He wanted to challenge himself against older players. In his first game on October 9, he scored two goals and an assist. Even Wayne Gretzky, a famous hockey legend and the Coyotes' general manager, called Wheeler to encourage him. Wheeler finished the 2004–05 USHL season leading the Gamblers with 19 goals and 28 assists, totaling 47 points.

College Hockey Career

Wheeler played with the University of Minnesota from 2005 to 2008.

After playing for the Gamblers, Wheeler joined the Minnesota Golden Gophers for his first year of college. He started strong, scoring two goals and one assist in his first four games. By the end of his freshman year, he had 23 points, including nine goals. His team, the Gophers, made it to the 2006 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament, but they lost to the Holy Cross Crusaders.

For his second year, Wheeler worked on becoming more physical on the ice. He studied how other big players used their bodies in games. When a teammate left for the NHL, Wheeler took on more responsibility. He moved from playing on the wing to playing center. He led the team with nine goals and 18 points by November. He finished his sophomore season with a career-high 18 goals and 20 assists, totaling 38 points.

In the 2007 WCHA men's ice hockey tournament, Wheeler scored his first college hat trick. This helped the Gophers win 4–2. In the next game, he scored the game-winning goal in overtime. This win made the Gophers the top team for the 2007 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament. Wheeler was named the tournament's MVP.

Wheeler returned for his third season in 2007–08. He continued to be a consistent player for the Gophers. Even though the team struggled to win games, Wheeler was often their leading scorer. He finished the season with 15 goals and 19 assists. He also earned a spot on the All-WCHA Third Team.

After four years, Wheeler still hadn't signed a contract with the Coyotes. He chose to become an unrestricted free agent, meaning he could sign with any team he wanted.

Professional Hockey Journey

Boston Bruins (2008–2011)

Wheeler practicing with the Boston Bruins in November 2008.

On July 1, 2008, Wheeler signed his first professional contract with the Boston Bruins. The Coyotes received a special draft pick because he signed with another team. Wheeler made the Bruins' opening night roster for the 2008–09 NHL season. He scored his first NHL goal on October 9, 2008. On November 6, he changed his jersey number to 26. In his first game with the new number, he scored his first NHL hat trick against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Because of his great start, Wheeler was chosen for the 2009 NHL YoungStars Game, where rookies play against second-year players. He scored four goals and was named the game's MVP. He finished his first season with 21 goals and 24 assists, totaling 45 points in 81 games. He was also second among all NHL players with a plus 36 rating, which means his team scored 36 more goals than they gave up when he was on the ice. However, he struggled in the 2009 Stanley Cup playoffs, not scoring any points in eight games.

Before the 2009–10 NHL season, Wheeler trained hard and gained muscle. He played in his 100th NHL game on November 1. He continued to score goals and points for the Bruins. He played in all 82 regular season games. In the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs, he scored his first playoff goal. He finished the playoffs with one goal and five assists in 13 games.

After the 2009–10 season, Wheeler and the Bruins went to "contract arbitration" to agree on a new deal. He signed a one-year contract for $2.2 million. On February 18, 2011, Wheeler was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers.

Atlanta Thrashers / Winnipeg Jets (2011–2023)

When Wheeler joined the Thrashers, he quickly made an impact, scoring 17 points in 23 games. On July 18, 2011, the Thrashers team moved and became the Winnipeg Jets. Wheeler signed a new two-year, $5.1 million deal with the Jets. In their first season as the Jets (2011–12), he led the team in scoring with a career-high 64 points.

Wheeler with the Jets in November 2013

During the 2012–13 NHL lockout (when players and owners couldn't agree on a contract), Wheeler played in Germany for EHC München to stay in shape. In July 2013, he signed a big six-year contract with the Jets worth $33.6 million.

On August 31, 2016, Wheeler was named the new captain of the Jets. This is a big honor, as the captain leads the team. He was chosen for his first NHL All-Star game in 2018. That season, he had a career-best 91 points and tied for the league lead in assists with 68. He was also a finalist for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

On September 4, 2018, Wheeler signed another five-year contract extension with the Jets. On December 5, 2021, he played his 1,000th NHL game, a huge milestone!

On September 16, 2022, the Jets decided to remove Wheeler as captain. They chose not to have a captain for the 2022–23 NHL season. On July 1, 2023, the Jets bought out Wheeler's contract, which meant he was released from the team. Wheeler left the Jets as the team's all-time leader in points and assists. He was also the last player remaining from when the team was the Atlanta Thrashers.

New York Rangers (2023–2024)

On July 1, 2023, Wheeler signed a one-year deal with the New York Rangers. He played 54 games for the Rangers in the 2023–24 season, scoring nine goals and 12 assists. However, he injured his leg on February 15, 2024, and was placed on the injured reserve list.

After the 2023–24 season, Wheeler became a free agent again. He did not sign with any team for the 2024–25 NHL season. On December 18, 2024, Wheeler suggested that his hockey career had come to an end. He said he couldn't mentally prepare for another full 82-game season. Throughout his career, Wheeler never won the Stanley Cup (the NHL championship) or any individual awards for his play. He was chosen for the NHL All-Star Game twice.

Personal Life

Blake Wheeler is married to Sam, and they have three children together. Sam is also involved in the community, serving on the True North Youth Foundation Board of Directors.

In September 2017, Wheeler became the first NHL player to speak publicly about a social issue. He spoke out after comments were made about NFL players kneeling during the U.S. national anthem.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Bold indicates led league

International

Wheeler (left) with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and John Carlson in a ceremony for American-bound Olympians to the 2014 Winter Olympics. Both Carlson and Wheeler were members of Team USA in 2014.

Awards and Honors