from Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun,

Wheeler has been with this Thrashers/Jets organization for parts of four seasons. Long enough to know that comfort, complacency — call it what you want — can creep in like a mouse finding its way into your basement in the winter.

You don’t even know it’s there, at first.

Then you start finding the turds.

“It creeps in,” Wheeler said.

But not everywhere.

Some organizations seal up their rooms so tight, they keep it out.

“It wasn’t there in Boston,” the 27-year-old said. “Everyone felt like scratching and clawing every day, especially younger guys like myself and some other guys.”

Why are players like that in Boston and not in Winnipeg?

Start with team leadership.

In Boston and elsewhere, the core players simply don’t put up with any slacking. The peer pressure is enormous.

It’s safe to say the Jets don’t have that.

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