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Former Winnipeg Jets Captain Announces His Retirement From the NHL

Originally posted on Hockey Latest | By Daniel Lucente | Last updated Jul 17, 2025 1:39 PM ET

Former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler, who hasn't been around the game of hockey in a while, finally announced he is retiring from the NHL for good.

Former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler is enjoying life after hockey, now more than a full year since he last played a game in the NHL.

While there was no official retirement announcement last summer when he didn't sign a new contract, many did speculate he was done.

While not officially in writing, Blake Wheeler did announce his retirement on air

However, that speculation has now been put to rest, as Blake Wheeler confirmed on Wednesday's edition of Jets at Noon that he is indeed done and retired from pro hockey.

'More or less, right after last year knew I was all done,' said Wheeler. 'I just haven't felt like a rush to like make a formal announcement or anything. But yeah, after my injury and kinda the way things ended last year, I just didn't have anything left in the tank for it. So yeah, I was at peace with it almost immediately after last year and yeah, I'm just enjoying being a dad and kinda slowing things down a little bit, and being around my family.'

Wheeler closed out his career with the New York Rangers during the 2023-2024 season. He suffered a horrific leg injury in February of that season and returned to play just one game in the playoffs.

That game would turn out to be the final one of his historic playing career in the NHL.

'I tore the ligaments on both sides of my ankle and then I broke my fibula,' Wheeler said. 'Once I got hurt, I was already kinda feeling like that was gonna be sort of my last year when I was playing, even healthy in New York. And then when the injury happened, it just felt like that was some sort of sign. I hadn't really been hurt my entire career more or less.'

Wheeler played 12 seasons in Winnipeg. We wish the former captain the very best in the next chapter of his life.

This article first appeared on Hockey Latest and was syndicated with permission.

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