Just to add onto some of the Wheeler talk that’s been going on, just wanted to share this Interview that Blake Wheeler and Andrew Ladd did a few months ago on Leadership and being a Captain.
Wheeler opens up about his time as a captain, where he struggled, the mistakes that he made and what he’s learned. I think Wheels gets a lot of warranted flak for his time as a captain, especially at the end of his tenure, but I think the criticism bleeds into people’s opinions of his character.
My thoughts are that he is a great person (which is why his teammates still spoke so highly of him after he was stripped of the C) but a flawed captain. It worked until he didn’t have leadership to hold him in check (Buff, Little) and a coach that refused to (Pomo).
Just my opinion. Worth a listen though if you have the time, it’s over an hour long.
4 comments
HOLY FUCK does Andrew Ladd look different….
Never fuckn mind, i thought he was the bald guy at first because I assumed the picture was of Wheeler and Ladd
Gonna jump in and say as well it’s worth a listen!
It’s obviously only one side of a story but I do think Wheeler is very open about his time as captain in this podcast
WAIT THAT IS LADD?! God damn if I was in the same arena beside him I would have no clue who the hell he is.
Crazy thing about Wheelers leadership is he actually exhibited alot of traits for good leadership. Lead by example (back checked like a demon all season even when he was 34, blocked shots as a 90pt guy and lost a fucking nut, lead on the forecheck), had high standards for himself that he expected of others, worked hard in the off-season and didn’t really shy away from accountability. But for whatever reason couldn’t verbally get the message across without being harsh or negative (from what it sounds like obviously I wasnt there).