Winnipeg Jets vs. Vegas Golden Knights: 3 Takeaways From Game 1

2. Wheeler Among NHL’s Most Underrated Forwards

Blake Wheeler of the Winnipeg Jets is one of the best forwards in the league. However, when fans discuss the best wings in the league, he’s rarely in the conversation. Wheeler absolutely deserves to be, and his Game 1 performance is why.

Sure, he doesn’t score much. Wheeler’s kind of like the Joe Thornton of wings. He doesn’t shoot the puck, he just passes it to the back of the net. Wheeler’s career high in goals is 28, and that came back in 2013-14. Whether it’s fair or not (and it’s not), if you don’t score goals, you don’t get attention.

But much like Thornton, Wheeler’s playmaking ablities and passing skills are phenomenal. During the regular season, he picked up a league-best 68 assists. Of those 68 tallies, 34 came on the power-play, 32 came at even-strength, and two came while shorthanded.

So far in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, Scheifele has rightfully been in the spotlight. He has 12 goals in 13 games in the postseason, which is just three goals off of Sidney Crosby‘s 21st century record set in 2009. But Wheeler has been equally impactful with his passing. He has 15 assists and 18 points in 13 games. 10 of those assists have been the primary one.

Sure, Byfuglien, Scheifele, and Laine make it hard for Wheeler to stand out. His game isn’t nearly as flashy as those guys. But Wheeler’s game is equally effective and critical to the success of the Winnipeg Jets.