Blake Wheeler abruptly lands on trade market!

Earlier on Wednesday, it was reported that the Florida Panthers are in the process of hiring Paul Maurice as their new head coach on a three-year deal, per TSN’s Darren Dreger.

Maurice gets back on the coaching saddle after stepping down from his post a head coach of the Winnipeg Jets last December. He had worked behind their bench for nearly eight years and compiling a 315-223-62 record in 600 games.

He developed a close relationship with Jets captain Blake Wheeler and when the announcement was made that Maurice will take over in Florida, the veteran forward landed on the trade market.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Face-Off places Wheeler on his trade targets board in the number three spot, to which Dreger added: “Winnipeg is definitely willing to be creative in how they develop interest in Wheeler.”

Wheeler two years remaining on his five year deal he signed back in 2018 with the Jets at an AAV of 8.25 million.

Trade chatter in Winnipeg was mostly around forward Mark Scheifele, but has now shifted to Wheeler. Maurice might want the Panthers to bring him on, especially since changes are expected in Florida after they were swept in just four games at the hands of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round of the postseason.

So, is this the time to reunite Wheeler and Maurice?