Blake Wheeler didn't like his coach Rick Bowness's comments

Once again, the Winnipeg Jets disappointed their fans this season with a brief, uninspiring playoff run.

The Jets were eliminated in five games by the Vegas Golden Knights, winning only the first game of the series before losing four in a row.

In Game 5, the final game of the series, the Jets players seemed to have no motivation whatsoever.

They didn’t show much, and already seemed to have accepted their fate.

Several players, including Pierre-Luc Dubois, were criticized by the media for their lack of effort.

It was as if some players already had their heads elsewhere and outside Winnipeg.

#DuboisÀMontréal

It’s a scenario that’s unfortunately repeating itself for the Jets, who have several good players on hand who don’t seem to want to stay in Winnipeg for the long term.

In fact, this lack of effort and intensity was keenly noted by head coach Rick Bowness after Game 5.

This must not make Pierre-Luc Dubois want to stay in Winnipeg → https://t.co/33nonXqcyb

– DansLesCoulisses (@DLCoulisses) April 28, 2023

Bowness wasn’t shy about planting his players, and that obviously didn’t sit well with former team captain Blake Wheeler.

Indeed, as the Jets held their season wrap-up today, Wheeler said he didn’t appreciate his coach’s comments.

#NHLJets Wheeler’s reaction to Bowness’ blunt Game 5 postgame comments: “I thought Bones had an opportunity to address us as a team. He could’ve been honest with us, handled it behind closed doors… I didn’t like how he handled himself after the game.”

– John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) April 29, 2023

Here’s the full excerpt from Wheeler and Connor Hellebuyck’s end-of-season remarks.

“There’s a lot of heart and soul in there that gave it their all.”

Connor Hellebuyck on the 2022-23 season, Blake Wheeler on disappointment in the end result, and more.

🎙️ Full availabilities will be uploaded to https://t.co/rSDnSZKGZO throughout the day pic.twitter.com/Ltm8V84HJh

– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 29, 2023

The Jets’ number 26 said he didn’t like the way Bowness handled himself in front of the media. Wheeler would have thought his coach would have saved himself a little embarrassment in front of the media, so he would have given that closed-door speech in the locker room.

So there’s clearly some misunderstanding between the two men, who are two strong heads in the dressing room.

In short, it remains to be seen whether the two men will still be in Winnipeg next season, which is highly unlikely considering that rumors suggest the Jets will be cleaning house.

Wheeler has one year left on his contract, worth $8.25 million annually.

The 36-year-old winger could very well be traded by the Jets, should they decide to clean house and rebuild.

As for Connor Hellebuyck, the Jets’ star goaltender said he wanted nothing to do with a rebuild.

#NHLJets Hellebuyck on his future, 1 year from YFA status: “I’m not interested in a rebuild. I just want to compete… I enjoyed myself more in 5 (playoff) games than I did all year. It’s like a high you gotta’ chase. You can’t replicate that anywhere else except in the playoffs.”

– John Lu (@JohnLuTSNWpg) April 29, 2023

The 29-year-old goalie says he lives for the playoffs, so he doesn’t want to have to spend several years in the cellar.

Hellebuyck will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of next season, so if the Jets decide to rebuild, he could very well be traded.

If Hellebuyck is ever available on the market, many teams will be interested in his services.

In short, things aren’t going great for the Jets, and their off-season will be one to watch very closely.

In a gust

– Here are comments from Kyle Connor and Nino Niederreiter.

“There’s ups and downs in a season, that wasn’t our best time of year. I think going into the playoffs we were playing some of our best field hockey though.”

Kyle Connor on turbulence in February, Nino Niederreiter on his appreciation for the city, and more. pic.twitter.com/I7J3ctGzgC

– Winnipeg Jets (@NHLJets) April 29, 2023

– Likely Rangers trios for tonight’s game.

Here are the forward lines you should be looking for from the Rangers tonight based on what they showed in practice yesterday (note Lafreniere and Panarin, Tarasenko and Kane):

Kreider-Zibanejad-Tarasenko
Lafreniere-Trocheck-Kane
Panarin-Chytil-Kakko
Vesey-Goodrow-Motte

– Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) April 29, 2023

– Stay tuned tonight for Game 6 between the Leafs and Lightning.

The Lightning have been to three straight Stanley Cup Finals, but were considered the underdogs against the Leafs. Plus, will Toronto benefit from the “road-team advantage” in Game 6? Do Holl and Giordano play?@lukefoxjukebox hast the story. https://t.co/hvhoKT8GJQ

– Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 29, 2023

– A ranking of the 2023 hopefuls.

This list doesn’t even get to 32. My time is limited and I try to concentrate as much as I can on guys that are around where the Habs draft.

I’m not pretending I’m a scout. I cover the NHL Habs as my primary.

These are the guys I am comfortable to say I’ve seen enough to rank.

– Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) April 29, 2023

– What can you expect from the Penguins this summer?