What the Canucks Can Learn from Blake Wheeler About Leadership and Locker Room Chemistry

In a wide-ranging discussion with Halford & Brough, former NHL captain Blake Wheeler shared some honest reflections on what it’s like leading a divided locker room, dealing with the heat of playing in a Canadian market, and trying to keep perspective in the high-pressure world of pro hockey. While he was talking about more than the Vancouver Canucks, a lot of what he said hits home when you think about last season’s ongoing controversy surrounding J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson.

Wheeler, who wore the “C” in Winnipeg for years, knows how tricky leadership can be—especially when your teammates don’t all approach the game the same way. He clarified that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to getting the most out of a group. His tenure as the Jets’ captain ended with some controversy as he was stripped ahead of 2022-23.

“I was a little more intense, a little more trying to get the most out of myself every single day,” he admitted. While effective for him, that approach sometimes led to frustration when teammates didn’t mirror that same mindset. With the benefit of hindsight and experience, Wheeler believes communication is the key to navigating those differences.

On Miller and Pettersson: Different Doesn’t Mean Divided

“The quicker you have that conversation, the better,” he said. “When you’re just assuming things, holding a grudge, or getting frustrated because someone isn’t how you think they should be—that’s where a lot of tension builds.” For the Canucks, that tension built until something drastic had to be done. Miller went to the New York Rangers, while Pettersson remained and struggled to produce up to his usual standards.

That insight strikes directly at the heart of last season’s Canucks’ leadership structure, where Miller and Pettersson—two of the team’s top players—were often described as having contrasting temperaments. Miller is intense, demonstrative, and fiery. Pettersson, by contrast, is more reserved and internal. Wheeler’s takeaway is that it’s not about changing people but understanding and connecting with them. Leadership, in his view, isn’t demanding sameness—it’s learning how to motivate each player as they are.

The Double-Edged Sword of Playing in Canada

Wheeler also touched on what makes Canadian markets both thrilling and exhausting. “There’s more pressure, yeah,” he said. “But what a gift it is to play in markets where people care that much.” For all the scrutiny players face in Canada—from fans, media, and even from within their organizations—Wheeler believes it’s a trade-off most would gladly make for the chance to win in front of a passionate, hockey-obsessed fan base.

He was candid about the toll it took on him personally. “I wore my heart on my sleeve,” Wheeler said. “This was my life. Every single moment of every day, I thought about how I could be better, how the Winnipeg Jets could be better.” So when the narrative turned critical, he admitted, it was hard to shake off. “I didn’t laugh. I took it personally. It felt threatening.”

No Laughing Matter: Pressure and Identity in Pro Hockey

When asked whether he could laugh off the criticism or media firestorms that come with Canadian hockey markets, Wheeler didn’t sugarcoat it. “If you’re asking me personally, I wouldn’t say that was my approach,” he said. “There weren’t a whole lot of light moments.”