The Winnipeg Jets will have two representatives at the 2017 NHL All-Star game. Captain Blake Wheeler (14-52-68 pts) and goaltender, Connor Hellebuyck (23-4-6 2.36 GAA) Wheeler, although deserves a spot on the All-Star roster in his own right, is the replacement for Mark Scheifele, who is lost until early March at best, with a shoulder injury. If The Chef were able to play, again, Wheeler should be there anyway.
Hellebuyck is a no-brainer for the Jets. If he was the only selection, it would be the right one. Wheeler, Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers and Patrik Laine all deserve a spot, but without Connor Hellebuyck's play during this 2017-2018 campaign, the Jets are most likely not in a divisional race, and most certainly not in first place. He has single-handedly stolen points for the Jets this season, even when, nay, especially when his teammates have been less than spectacular in front of him. His average goal allowance is still just over two goals a game.
Blake Wheeler is also a no-brainer. His goal total may be under his average output at this stage in the season, but he is in the top two in the assists category with 38, trailing only the Philadelphia Flyers Jacub Voracek with 43. However, he is tied in this department with the Flyers Claude Giroux and the New York Islanders, Josh Bailey.
But more than his obvious skills on the ice, Wheeler's off-ice leadership is where it's at. In one word, it is priceless. He leads as leaders should. He stands up to take responsibility when things go south and spreads the credit around when things are on a high. One moment in particular encapsulates this. Last season, Patrik Laine's rookie year, Laine scored into his own net in a game versus the Edmonton Oilers. Wheeler immediately comforted a totally dejected Laine, and Laine himself the next day was quoted as saying, "Shit happens."
He moved on from a mistake that cost the Jets the game, and went on being the next Alexander Ovechkin. Wheeler's leadership and confidence in his rookie teammate was the reason.
The last time a NHL team sent more than one Winnipeg Jet to the All-Star game was back in 1993 when the Jets sent Teemu Selanne and Randy Carlyle.
It would have been nice to see Scheifele show his wares in front of the rest of the league, though.
Blake Wheeler
Connor Hellebuyck
