Blake Wheeler notched his 500th point with the Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise on Thursday night, making him the second player in franchise history to accomplish that feat.
The point came on an assist to Patrik Laine's power-play goal. Nearly 19 minutes into the first period, Wheeler got the puck from Dustin Byfuglien along the half-boards. He found Laine at the left faceoff circle who one-timed his pass for the goal.
Laine's goal was the Jets' first of the game in their 4-1 defeat over the Vancouver Canucks.
The only other player to score 500 points in Thrashers/Jets history is Ilya Kovalchuk. In eight years with the team, Kovalchuk had 328 goals and 615 points.
Blake Wheeler became the second player in @NHLJets / Thrashers history to reach the 500-point milestone with the franchise. The only other player: Ilya Kovalchuk (328-287—615 in 594 GP w/ ATL). #NHLStats #VANvsWPG pic.twitter.com/1exS0WwL1w
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) October 19, 2018
The 32-year-old now has 610 points in his 11-year career.
Wheeler is in his ninth season with the franchise. His first year with the team was the last year of the Thrashers, who acquired him in a trade with the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline in 2010-11. Wheeler had seven goals and 17 points in 23 games with the Thrashers that season.
Last season was a career best for Wheeler. The team captain had a league-high 68 assists and finished with a career-high of 91 points en route to the team's first appearance in the conference finals.
Wheeler's assist on Thursday was his fourth of the season, giving him five points to start the year.