The Winnipeg Jets have placed forward Blake Wheeler on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the final year of the former captain’s contract, the team announced Friday.
The winger will become an unrestricted free agent and will test the market on July 1.
Wheeler, 36, is coming off a season with the Jets in which he had 16 goals and 39 assists for 55 points in 72 games. Since being drafted fifth overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2004, the Plymouth, Minn., native has 312 goals and 610 assists for 922 points in 1,118 games.
Wheeler is entering the final season of a five-year, $41.3-million contract signed with the Jets in 2018. His AAV for 2023-24 was going to be $8.25 million, but the Jets will now be on the hook for $2.75 million over two years.
Named captain of the Jets in September 2016, Wheeler had the “C” removed by new coach Rick Bowness in September 2022.
