Jets forward Blake Wheeler was blunt when he spoke about the ice conditions at Florida's BB&T Center.
Following the Winnipeg's 6-4 loss to the Panthers on Thursday, Wheeler wasn't in the best mood and gave an honest assessment of the oft-criticized playing surface, on which he'd just skated more than 25 minutes.
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"We'd be better off going out to the parking lot and playing roller hockey," Wheeler told reporters.
@NHLJets Blake Wheeler on ice conditions tonight @FlaPanthers "We'd be better off going out to the parking lot and playing roller hockey." #NHL
— Brian Blessing (@BrianBlessing) December 8, 2017
Despite his frustration regarding the ice, the Jets captain's performance didn't appear to be restricted. Wheeler netted his eighth goal of the season while Winnipeg's offense scored at least four goals for the third time in its last four games.
Poor ice conditions have been a common theme for teams located in tropical or dry climates. Wheeler played 23 games with the Atlanta Thrashers before the team relocated to Winnipeg. The Panthers have the luxury of being the only team to play at BB&T Center, unlike many other teams around the league whose ice is affected by constant change due to accommodate basketball and other events at the venue. Still, the ice is a lingering issue.
The BB&T Center has gained an infamous reputation around the NHL for having arguably the worst ice conditions.
In a 2015 poll conducted by Yahoo Sports, where 27 NHL players were asked which team has the worst ice, 44 percent mentioned Florida.
Luckily for Wheeler, the Jets aren't slated to play at the BB&T Center for the rest of the season. Whenever Wheeler next decides to return to Sunrise, Fla., you can bet that he will have his roller blades in tow.