Mark Scheifele was the first selection made by the relocated Winnipeg Jets in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
On Tuesday, he became the franchise’s all-time leader in games played.
Scheifele, now 32, heard his name called by Jets’ general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff seventh overall 14 years ago. Now, 13 years into his full-time NHL career, the Kitchener, Ont., product has surpassed his former captain, Blake Wheeler, as the player to suit up in the most games for the Atlanta Thrashers-Winnipeg Jets franchise.
Unlike Scheifele, Wheeler did play for the Thrashers (23 games in 2011), while Scheifele has spent each of his 898 career outings with the Jets. In 2023, he signed a seven-year, US$59.5 million contract to remain in Winnipeg through the 2030-31 season.
“It kind of flew under the radar,” linemate Kyle Connor said of Scheifele’s accomplishment following Tuesday's 5-2 win over the visiting Columbus Blue Jackets. “I don't know if other guys knew, but I kind of had no idea.”
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Now, just two games away from 900 in his career, Scheifele said he hadn’t even caught wind of his achievement before the video message played on the scoreboard at Canada Life Centre.
“I didn’t know either,” he laughed, post-game. “Obviously, it’s pretty cool. I’ve been here for a long time, so I feel old some days. But it’s a tremendous honour.”
Scheifele, who has been among the league’s point and goal scoring leaders all season, collected three assists in Winnipeg’s win.
He earned his first helper on Josh Morrissey’s fourth goal of the year in the second period, before setting up two third-period tallies. He assisted on Connor’s 11th goal of the season 2:45 into the final stanza and later got the puck to Logan Stanley’s whose 91.1 miles per hour slap shot beat Elvis Merzlikins clean, sealing the deal.
Now up to 11 goals and 27 points in 19 games, the Jets’ scoring leader sits just six points back of Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon’s league-leading 33 points.
“He’s been a pillar for this organization for a long time,” Connor added. “He leads by example. He's also a very vocal, caring guy, pushing each other. He bleeds Winnipeg Jet hockey, and he wears his heart on his sleeve out there every time he steps on the ice.
"A pretty cool accomplishment to have that record.”
In those 898 career games, the 2026 Canadian Olympic Team hopeful has accumulated 347 goals, 484 assists and 831 points. He has another 26 goals and 49 points in 53 post-season outings.
"Obviously he's a couple of games now from 900,” said head coach Scott Arniel. “And I know that first and foremost, that's special. … And (now) he's getting the recognition. I think people are really starting to recognize there's a really good hockey player in Winnipeg."
On the other side of the ice, Columbus defenceman Zach Werenski also collected a milestone for the visitors. With his third-period goal, the 28-year-old became the first defenceman in Blue Jackets history to reach the 400-point plateau. He now trails just Cam Atkinson (402 points) and Rick Nash (547 points) in franchise scoring.
“Obviously it's better when you win,” Werenski said of point No. 400. “But you’ve got to enjoy some of the milestones along the way.
"And I've been fortunate to play with good players here on good teams. And yeah, I love it here, so I'll take the 400, I'll enjoy it. But yeah, it's definitely better when you win the game.”
Werenski’s goal made it a 4-2 game, cutting Winnipeg’s lead, but the Jets snuffed out the Blue Jackets’ comeback bid just over two minutes later on the heavy slap shot from Stanley — his third goal of the season.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 19, 2025.
