The Winnipeg Jets entered the 2017-2018 season with high hopes and a second-year captain. That captain took a very talented team to new highs, both for the team and personally, as he had the best season of his career.

The Winnipeg Jets made Blake Wheeler their captain after the trade of Andrew Ladd, who previously held the office. The decision wasn’t much of a surprise, and I don’t believe anyone was upset about it.

Wheeler, 31, had been with Winnipeg since the year before their relocation, joining the team in the middle of the 2010-2011 season. Now, the only reason the young, talented Wheeler was traded was to clear salary cap space for a Tomas Keberle trade (yes, really).

But that’s all in the Jets favor, although a trade going the Bruins’ way is not a very common theme in the NHL. That being said, Wheeler was just 24 and coming off a few 40 point seasons, a very useful player.

In his first four full seasons in Winnipeg, he was a very good player, on a usually mediocre team. But he’s aging like a nice cognac, however. For his first eight seasons, he had not broken 70 points. There’s nothing wrong with hovering in the 60s, but still.

The last three years? 78, 74 and 91 points, the latter of which is obviously a career-high. Playing with more talent than he’s likely seen in his NHL career, his game has also elevated.

One thing that’s evident if you look at the stat sheet or just watch a Jets game is Wheeler’s passing ability. Leading the NHL in assists doesn’t happen by accident. His vision on the ice and hand-eye coordination allows him to make passes most players can’t.

There’s not a lot to dislike about Wheeler’s game. He can score, he can really pass, the defense is solid. Only six games missed in his Jets career, as well. A worthy captain if there ever was one.

I would think, at 31 and with a bunch of youngsters on the roster (especially at the wing), the Jets would look to scale back Wheeler’s minutes. Maybe they don’t. But 20 minutes a night can wear on you a bit as a forward.

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I personally would like to see him around 18 a night, but when you’re getting that production from him, you gotta run him out there. It’s not like he’s 35. Wheeler’s still in his prime, as his scoring would indicate.

I should note this was Wheeler’s lowest goal total (23) since the 48 game lockout season. Interestingly enough, Wheeler had 19 goals in that season. Wild. He had 28 the following season and then 26 three years in a row. Also wild.

I won’t cry about a three goal difference, especially when you’re pairing it with a point total in the 90s. Let the other guys score the goals, they seem like they’re doing a hell of a job.

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One thing I do feel obligated to mention is Wheeler’s Corsi%. It was hovering around 55% the past few years, which is remarkable, but fell to a still-good 50.1%. I’m not sure why this happened, as it’s hard to say, but it’s not great.

His relative Corsi%, which is a rating based on the subtraction of the team’s Corsi% when you’re off the ice from when you are, fell all the way from 8.4, which is fantastic, to -1.7, which is not great.

I’m willing to chalk some of this up to his inconsistent, and young, linemates, but it’s a thing to look for in the coming year. One of the very few concerns.

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Looking forward, I fully expect Wheeler to be great. Will he lead the league in assists and come close to 100 points? Probably not, but he has the ability. I’d expect him around 70, which is still great. This team does not lack for scoring, that’s for certain.