Blake Wheeler asked to be All-Star replacement; declines due to family plans

Photo Credit: Colin Jensen

Blake Wheeler has been the most dynamic player on the Jets throughout the season compiling 13 goals and 35 assists for 48 points in 49 games for Winnipeg.  This has him in 7th overall in league scoring.  Many fans were outraged that he wasn’t originally selected to the All-Star game in Nashville.

Chicago centre and local Jonathan Toews had to pull out after he left the 3rd period of the Hawks game last night and some fans expressed outrage today when James Neal of the Nashville Predators was named as his replacement.  My assumption upon hearing the news was that Wheeler likely had already made plans.  This was confirmed by Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun who tweeted:

So put down the pitchforks and relax as this wasn’t a snub of the Jets forward. Or perhaps I should say it wasn’t a second snub.