The Boston Bruins have already done the majority of their heavy lifting this offseason, as they enjoyed what appears to be a fruitful draft at first glance before reinforcing their roster in free agency. There are still moves to make, but for now, the offseason frenzy has quieted down significantly.
While the offseason is still young, some folks are already turning their attention to the 2025-26 season. That includes former Bruins forward Blake Wheeler, who made a big decision on what the future holds for himself on Sunday.
Wheeler initially broke into the NHL with the Bruins back in 2008, spending two-and-a-half seasons with them before getting traded to the Atlanta Thrashers. After a 16-year career, Wheeler officially announced his retirement on Saturday afternoon.
“Blake Wheeler announced his retirement from the NHL on Saturday after 16 NHL seasons,” NHL.com reported. “The 38-year-old forward last played in the NHL with the New York Rangers in the 2023-24 season.”
In the 2004 NHL Draft, Wheeler was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes with the No. 5 overall pick, but the two sides were unable to agree on a deal. That led to Boston scooping Wheeler up on an entry-level deal, and he ended up scoring 50 goals and dishing out 60 assists during his brief stay with the team.
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The Thrashers became the Winnipeg Jets starting in the 2011-12 season, and that ended up being where Wheeler would spend the majority of his career. In 897 games with the franchise, Wheeler tallied 262 goals and 550 assists, earning an All-Star selection in 2018.
Wheeler spent the 2023-24 campaign with the New York Rangers before going unsigned last season. While he opted not to retire, he ultimately decided to call it a career this offseason after receiving minimal interest once again.
There’s no doubt that Wheeler will be known more for his time with the Jets, but he got his first break in the NHL with the Bruins. Now, he’s riding off into the sunset after putting together a wildly successful career.
