Jets stats to include both iterations of franchise, Scheifele now chasing Hawerchuk again

Mark Scheifele feels he always has been pursuing Dale Hawerchuk for the Winnipeg Jets all-time scoring record despite playing for a different version of the franchise.

Now, he'll get to do it officially.

"It's funny, I got a couple of records in my name, but at the end of the day there was always one guy I was chasing and that was Dale," Scheifele told NHL.com this week. "He's always been on my mind of chasing him and that makes it even cooler actually that he is a part of the new record books and it's not as just my individual goals of chasing him."

The NHL announced Thursday that the statistical history of the Jets now will include both iterations of the franchise; the original team that played in Winnipeg from 1979-96, and the current version established in 2011, which also includes their time as the Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2011).

The statistical history of the Arizona Coyotes franchise will encompass the years they were active, from 1996-2024, and will not be included in Jets history.

"I think it's really cool," Scheifele said. "Obviously Winnipeg being a different team and then coming back as a different franchise, it's a little different but I think it's really cool that they are consolidating them all together and bringing 1.0 and 2.0 together. I think it’s awesome."

Under consolidation, Hawerchuk will be the Jets all-time leader in goals (379), and points (929), and Thomas Steen will lead the franchise in assists (553).

Scheifele, who has 907 points (372 goals, 535 assists) in 961 games, has an opportunity to take the Jets lead in all three offensive categories this season.

"I think first and foremost, having Dale on that list is incredible," Scheifele said. "He was such a staple and a name that became synonymous with Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Jets. I think it's really cool that they're bringing them all together and cool that Dale is now a part of the same record books as what we're on."

Scheifele has a deep admiration for Hawerchuk, who coached him for three seasons with Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League (2010-13).

"The first time I met him he was trying to convince me to come to Barrie, I was just traded from Saginaw," Scheifele said in an interview with Sportsnet on July 19, 2018. "Dale pretty much singlehandedly talked to me to come to Barrie just because the way he was, the influence he had. I spent three years with him and learned something new from him every single day, so that was pretty special to have him on my side."

Hawerchuk had 929 points (379 goals, 550 assists) in 713 games for the original Jets during nine seasons (1981-90). He played 16 NHL seasons with Winnipeg, the Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia Flyers and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.  

Hawerchuk died of cancer on Aug. 18, 2020, at the age of 57.

"Statistics and records are more than numbers -- they capture the milestones, achievements and memories that define the history of the game and the communities that support it," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in the NHL release. "We respect the Jets' commitment to honoring the franchise's journey and are pleased that the full history of NHL hockey in Winnipeg now can be celebrated as one continuous story."

Winnipeg is going into its 16th season since relocating from Atlanta. The original iteration of the franchise joined the NHL in 1979 and played 16 seasons in Winnipeg before relocating to Pheonix.

"Today's announcement is meaningful for our organization, our alumni and generations of Winnipeg Jets fans," True North Sports and Entertainment and Winnipeg Jets executive chairman Mark Chipman said. "The Jets teams from 1979 to 1996 helped build the identity and tradition that we can proudly carry forward today. For our fans, these players and these moments always have been part of the same Winnipeg Jets story, and we're pleased that our official records will now reflect that."

Scheifele believes Jets fans from both generations will embrace the consolidation of the team records.

"Just the fact that it’s the Winnipeg Jets and bringing it all together, it just makes sense," he said. "I think as players we're excited about it and I think the fans should be excited and will be excited about it because it is a part of their heritage, a part of their upbringing and growing up a Winnipeg Jets fan when they were younger. I think that it's going to be received very well."

Scheifele has played his entire career in Winnipeg since being selected by the Jets with the No. 7 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. He is going into his 16th season.

The Jets have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times since returning to Winnipeg and won the Presidents' Trophy as the best team in the regular season in 2024-25. 

Winnipeg opens the 2026-27 season at home against the Boston Bruins on Oct. 2. 

"I'm just ready to get playing games and get into the season and getting into the grind of it all," Scheifele said. "I'm very fired up to get started."