Roughly 30 minutes after the Washington Capitals executed a foregone conclusion with the selection of Alex Ovechkin as the #1 overall pick at the 2004 NHL Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes took to the stage. With the 5th overall pick they went with winger Blake Wheeler, a Minnesota native.

Following a year in the USHL, Wheeler spent the next three seasons at the University of Minnesota. The tall, lanky winger led the Golden Gophers in both goals and points during his junior year. After concluding his collegiate career and electing to spurn the Coyotes, the 21-year-old forward became a highly sought after free agent, his destination lying solely in the hands of he and his agent.

Brimming with promise and potential, Wheeler had many a GM pining for his services. The 6'5 winger, heavily influenced by the presence of former teammate Phil Kessel, was won over by Boston, an organization in the midst of a dramatic overhaul that could offer him an opportunity to play significant minutes at the NHL level.

Wheeler didn't disappoint in his first campaign in Black and Gold. Displaying great stick-handling abilities and outstanding chemistry with linemates David Krejci and Michael Ryder, his name was heavily mentioned in the early stages of the 2008-09 regular season as a potential Calder Trophy candidate. But as the Bruins began to slow down in the latter part of the season, so too did his production.

Wheeler wrapped up the campaign with 21 goals and 24 assists in 81 games, but most of that stemmed from the B's electrifying run months prior. Things spiraled even further as an entirely unproductive postseason (zero points in eight games) sent the Robbinsdale native to the press box for three of the Bruins' 11 playoff tilts.

2009-10 proved to be a wildly inconsistent stretch of hockey for #26. The success he, Krejci and Ryder enjoyed together only returned for extremely brief moments throughout the year. Following the Olympic break he appeared to be turning a corner, busting out for four goals during a five game stretch. But it wasn't meant to be, as Wheeler went on to pot just one puck over the final 14 games. That dismal stretch saw the left winger go 12 full games without registering a single point.

Just as it did the year prior, an unspectacular stretch run led to a fizzling out in the playoffs. Wheeler did pick up five assists, but tickled the twine just once (on a deflection, no less) in the B's 13 playoff games. To date, he now has 1-5-6 totals in 21 playoff tilts.

The most noticeable element missing in Wheeler's game is his willingness (or lack thereof) to take the body. At his size, regardless of either his fighting or checking abilities, Wheeler should be far better at winning battles and coming away with the puck. But, more often than not, the former Minnesota standout's meek approach leads to yet another opportunity to show off his diligence in regard to back-checking.

Initially in his rookie campaign, Wheeler looked like a player capable of instantly creating offense. With stellar stick work and impressive acceleration, a number of dazzling goals came off of the then 22-year-old's stick. Whether it was due to a drop in confidence, increased intelligence on the part of opposing squads or a little pep talk after a few turnovers from Claude Julien, that aspect of Wheeler's game seems to have completely vanished.

Things won't be as easy at the negotiating table this time around for both Wheeler and his agent, Matt Keator. Many respected hockey minds, rightfully so, now have doubts about his game. They have seen the inconsistencies and lack of physicality they weren't realistically privy to during his stint in college. They have witnessed his struggles down the stretch and back-to-back flops in the postseason.

With the Bruins crunched for cash as it is, a deal may not be able to be worked out prior to Wheeler's arbitration hearing. The B's have only gotten to that point once during the Chiarelli era and elected to walk away from the $1.25 million dollar salary awarded to defenseman David Tanabe. With Nikolai Kulemin re-signing in Toronto for $2.35 million per year, a two-year pact, after potting 31 goals (eight less than Wheeler) in his first two NHL seasons, Keator could use that as a comparable and lobby that Wheeler is worthy of even more coin.

So, dear readers, how will it all play out for Blake in Boston? If he does dawn the spoked-B this fall, what do you expect his salary to be?

JC

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