Breakout Or Bust: Will Wheeler Prove His Worth For B’s?

Blake Wheeler was awarded 2.2 million dollars in his arbitration hearing, but will the Bruins keep him?

In the summer of 2008 when forward Blake Wheeler couldn’t/wouldn’t agree to terms with the Phoenix Coyotes, the 6’5″ forward hit the open market as an unrestricted free-agent and instantaneously became a marquee name among second-tier pool of free agents. Drawing interest from the Canadiens and Rangers along with the B’s, the Hub had every reason to be thrilled with Wheeler’s eventual decision to join the Black and Gold.

Arriving to Boston with the ever-so-hyped top-five name-tag, the fifth overall selection of the 2004 NHL Draft was finishing up a stellar career with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers in hopes of instantly joining the NHL. Posting 96 points in 127 games of collegiate play, Wheeler arrived to Bruins development camp in 2008 and instantly impressed.

Playing with the poise of a pro and skill-set that projected the humble kid from Minnesota as “NHL-ready”, Wheeler’s demolition of his peers at camp and through the preseason brought him a spot on the Bruins’ opening-night roster for the 2008-09 season.

Beginning his NHL career on a positive note with his first goal in the league on his first shot on goal, Wheeler quickly took flight as a pivotal forward in Boston’s league-wide dominance in 2008-09. On the left wing on the infamous David Krejci line that also featured sharpshooter Michael Ryder, Wheeler netted a surprising 11 goals in his first 33 games including a hat trick against the Maple Leafs and this dandy of a shorthanded tally against the St. Louis Blues.

However, while the rookie would go on to win the Youngstars Game MVP along with finishing with the league’s best plus/minus rating, something was off once the calendar changed to 2009; The unseasoned Wheeler was running on empty. Still not prepared for the rigors of an 82-game schedule, Wheeler faded fast in the postseason for the Bruins before an eventual permanent benching happened as the Bruins fell in their second round series three games to one.

Revved up and raring to go after some much-needed off-season conditioning training, ‘Wheels’ returned to the Bruins with bigger expectations but failed to deliver in the same way 2008-09 did. Amassing 18 goals and finishing fifth on the club in points with a mild 38, Wheeler experienced the same struggles that hindered his play in the tail-end of 2008-09 with his struggles to properly utilize his size with just 70 hits and 24 giveaways on the year.

Despite Wheeler’s hair-pulling refusal to stay on-sides, the 6’5″ winger was once again a solid contributor to the Bruins’ near-league best penalty kill.

But after two seasons with the disappointing postseason results of one goal and five assists in 21 playoff games, what do the Bruins expect in what very well could be Blake’s last chance to prove his worth as a Bruin?

While the Bruins’ front-office is clearly a big fan of what Wheeler can potentially bring to the club, the gamble here on Boston’s part could certainly be stemming from the fact that Boston has experienced relatively strong success when it comes to their players approaching their third season with the club and in the league.

For Wheeler’s most frequent linemate, David Krejci, the third season in the NHL saw the playmaker thrive in the process of making himself Boston’s secret weapon. Participating in all 82 games (with an injured hip to boot), a 26 game increase from the season prior, Krejci put up 73 points at a .89 point per game pace compared to his .48 pace of 2007-08. And in perhaps the most comparable case to Wheeler, former Golden Gopher-teammate Phil Kessel finally found his game in his third and final season with the club in 2008-09.

Much like Wheeler, Kessel’s inconsistent play on various lines and subjection to becoming a healthy-scratch in the playoffs (a la Wheeler in his rookie season) made him seem like a never-will-be for Boston with his 19 goals and 37 points in 82 games in his sophomore season. Producing at a .45 point per game rate, Kessel would go on to tally 36 goals and 24 assists in 70 games the next season at an .85 rate.

Officially re-signed in Boston with the Bruins’ acceptance of the one-year deal worth 2.2 million dollar offer awarded by the arbitrator, B’s fans have to ask themselves if an 18-goal increase from his current production or a .40 point-per-game increase too far of a leap for Wheeler?

We’ll just have to wait and see.

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