Jets sign Wheeler to five-year, $41.25M extension

The Winnipeg Jets have signed captain Blake Wheeler to a five-year, $41.25 million contract extension.

The deal carries an average annual value of $8.25 million for Wheeler, who was slated to hit unrestricted free agency next summer. The contract runs through the 2023-24 season, when Wheeler will be 37.

"With where I'm at in my career, with my age, I feel like my best years are ahead of me," Wheeler told reporters in Winnipeg. "I wanted to give those years to his organization and hopefully push this team to the championship levels."

Wheeler finished eighth in Hart Trophy voting last season after posting a career-high 68 assists and 91 points. He played both on the wing and at centre when Mark Scheifele missed time due to injury.

He recorded three goals and 21 points in 17 games during the Jets playoff run to the Western Conference Final. 

"There were some lean years," Wheeler said. "Piecing this thing together has been a process. Everyone's been a part of it — from ownership to management, right down to the players. When you're pushing through it and maybe not getting the rewards for your efforts, as a team, it can take its toll.

"To finally kind of get over the hump a bit and have some success and play some really meaningful, fun hockey last spring, it just makes you hungry for more."

With his new cap hit, Wheeler is set be the Jets highest-paid player in 2019-20, sitting above Dustin Byfuglien's $7.6 million. Scheifele will be the Jets highest-paid forward this season with a $6.125 million cap hit. Wheeler could see his salary topped, however, when the Jets re-sign Patrik Laine, who will be a restricted free agent next July.

"There's been guys here that have invested a lot of time and a lot of blood, sweat and tears to try and build this into something we can be proud of," Wheeler said. "Hopefully, we are getting to the point now where we can be a contending team year-in and year-out.

"That's kind of what we've been pushing for. To be able to be locked into those years is really exciting."

Wheeler has recorded 222 goals and 383 assists in 778 career games. 

The 32-year old was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes in the first round (No. 5 overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. In February 2011, Wheeler was traded from the Boston Bruins with Mark Stuart to the Atlanta Thrashers for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik. He played one season for the Thrashers before moving with the team to Winnipeg.

He is entering the final season of a six-year contract worth $33.6 million - a $5.6 million AAV.