Blake Wheeler
A powerful, playmaking winger who evolved from a prized draft pick into the heart-and-soul captain and franchise cornerstone for the Winnipeg Jets.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American ice hockey player·Birthday: August 31·Millennials
Biography
Blake Wheeler's journey to NHL leadership was anything but linear. Drafted fifth overall in 2004, a contract dispute with Phoenix led him to free agency, and he launched his career with the Boston Bruins. A trade to the then-struggling Atlanta Thrashers in 2011 became a defining turn. He moved with the franchise to Winnipeg, and in the Canadian prairie city, the big, skilled winger found his home. Wheeler transformed from a complementary scorer into an elite point producer, using his formidable size, vision, and a deceptive passing touch to become one of the league's most consistent setup men. His game matured in lockstep with the Jets' rise from league afterthought to perennial contender. In 2016, he was named captain, embodying the team's hard-nosed, relentless identity with a direct, demanding style. For years, he was the engine of Winnipeg's top line and power play, posting point-per-season seasons deep into his thirties. His tenure concluded with a late-career move to the New York Rangers, but his legacy is etched as the central figure of the Jets' modern era.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blake was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blake Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Blake's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the second captain in Winnipeg Jets 2.0 history, wearing the 'C' from 2016 to 2023.
- Recorded over 900 points in his NHL career, with the majority coming during his tenure with the Jets/Thrashers.
- Led the NHL in assists during the 2017-18 season with 68.
- Represented the United States in multiple international competitions, including the 2014 Olympics.
Did You Know?
He played college hockey for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning an NCAA national championship in 2005.
Wheeler is one of a small group of players to have been drafted in the first round twice (Phoenix in 2004, again by Phoenix in 2008 after re-entering the draft).
He and his wife have three sons, all of whom have names starting with 'L' (Louie, Leo, and Lennox).
He scored his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot, in his debut game for the Boston Bruins in 2008.
“I just try to be the same guy every day and lead by example.”
