"You should expect a team that's working hard every night," Wheeler said. "As long as we work and we battle, and give ourselves an opportunity to win every night, that's the pass or fail on our end. We feel we have enough ability in here to win more than we lose if we do those things."
Wheeler, who just turned 30, will be looking to build on a career-high 2015-16 campaign in which he produced 26 goals and 52 assists. But he isn't about to get caught up in the numbers, which he says are a by-product of the work and the effort put in to help the team achieve its goals.
"If I'm able to match what I put into every game last year I'll be satisfied, no matter if those numbers go up or down," he said. "You want to contribute to wins, and I feel that the way I prepare myself to play every night gives myself to help our team win."
The Jets will open the season with the top line of Wheeler, Nikolaj Ehlers and Mark Scheifele leading the way offensively. Matthias and Drew Stafford both missed the past week-and-a-half due to injury, but skated with Bryan Little on the second line today at practice, with Alexander Burmistrov rotating in and out, while Connor, Laine and Mathieu Perreault made up the third line.
Tanev, Adam Lowry, Joel Armia and Chris Thorburn all took a turn on the fourth line.
It's important to note, however, that two of these forwards will have to be scratched and Maurice has not confirmed the full lineup just yet. Still, there are some intriguing trios in play, and the coach is excited to see that they can do.