Jets captain Blake Wheeler gets heated with Winnipeg reporter
I don't think anyone would be shocked to find out that friction between players and reporters occurs more frequently than we're aware of. However, when it happens in the public eye, it's always talked about.
Earlier this season, we saw Edmonton Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl get into it with longtime reporter Jim Matheson in Edmonton. The latest occurrence of a spat between a player and a journalist was observed on Sunday in Winnipeg.
Blake Wheeler and the Winnipeg Jets have had a rough go in 2021-22, sitting well outside of the playoff race in the Central Division with just 53 points, good for 6th in the division. When he met with the media on Sunday, let's just say he wasn't in a very good mood. Wheeler appeared to call out the media, and directed his frustration towards one reporter in general, who he believed had written something negative about him in the past. You can see the exchange below.
I think what we have here is an example of when things aren't going well, tensions are high. Obviously, Wheeler has been much more jovial with the media on previous occasions. With that said, the Jets are currently on a 4-game losing skid and are watching their playoff hopes slip right through their fingers. It's no wonder why Wheeler has a chip on his shoulder.
Still, to target a reporter who is just doing his job.. it comes across as petty and unprofessional - two things, by all accounts, that Wheeler is usually not. Hopefully the two parties were able to have a chat after the session just to clear the air a bit.
