Wheeler Watch

With a disappointing 2007-2008 Gopher hockey season coming to an end this past weekend in Massachusetts (USCHO's delicately worded headline here), all eyes are now on junior forward Blake Wheeler (insane 2007 Final Five championship goal here). Expectations were high for the 1st round draft pick (Phoenix Coyotes, 5th overall) in an up and down season that saw his production (15 g, 20 a - 35pts) drop from last year (18 g, 20 a - 38pts). But Phoenix is likely not concerned. The 2007-2008 Gopher team was virtually unrecognizable when compared to the high-flying offensive juggernauts [ha.. jugs -ed] of the recent past - meaning Blake was a one-man show for long stretches this year.

According to Hockeysfuture.com, Blake Wheeler sits third on the Coyotes prospect chart behind current Wisconsin freshman Kyle Turris, F (11 g, 24 a - 35 pts) and former Michigan goal-tender Al Montoya. The Phoenix Coyotes are currently tied with Columbus (I didn't know they had a team either) for the 3rd worst record in the Western Conference. What's worse for fans of Blake Wheeler is that only four teams in the NHL scored less goals than the Coyotes this year. As much as I'd love to see #17 in maroon and gold come September, it doesn't look good. Reasons he might stay? Well there's this...

NOTE: If I was Blake Wheeler, I'd wait until the night of the upcoming Frozen Four final in Denver. Then I'd hold a huge press conference outside the stadium just before the opening face-off to announce that I still haven't made up my mind. Then I'd laugh and say "I got you good fuckers!" Then I'd ask everyone if they'd seen Super Troopers and if they knew what joke I was referring. If not, I'd slowly and painfully explain it to them while laughing manically. I'm positive they'd shower me with love and money.

(Photos from NHL/AP, Poon Ten)