Blake Wheeler isn't easily swayed by rewards.

With Andrew Ladd now locked into a seven-year contract with the New York Islanders, the Winnipeg Jets are in need of a new captain. But while Wheeler would be honored to step into the role, he feels it would do little to change how he conducts himself with his teammates.

"Regardless of what letter I have on my jersey, my role on the team and who I am with the team is not going to change," Wheeler told Tim Campbell of the Winnipeg Free Press. "I think last year was a big growing year for me, with [my] foot on the gas the whole time."

In the meantime, Wheeler admits that he is just starting to get over what was a difficult year for the Jets. After earning a playoff spot last season for the first time since the team relocated to Winnipeg in 2011, the club failed to return to the postseason seeing a 23-point drop in the standings.

"As much as anyone, especially the older guys on our team, we felt the (disappointment), and I know that because we talked about it every single day," Wheeler said. "Sitting on the couch after the season was over and watching the playoffs, it was a bad feeling, a really bad feeling probably this year more than any other year.

"And as it went on, the bad taste of last year started to go away, and you started to re-hash things and think about the season and about some of the guys we have, some of the young guys we have and now some more of the young guys we have, it’s kind of like, 'OK, I get it now.'"

However, as the 29-year-old approaches the upcoming season, he has had time to digest the club's moves - including drafting Patrik Laine with the second overall pick - and he is thrilled to get going.

"I think now certainly I do have a clear view of where we’re headed and what’s ahead of us," said Wheeler. "I’m probably more excited today than I have been at any point about what we have going forward, just from purely a talent standpoint.

"We tried to win every game, and that’s the way I believe it should be done and sure enough, the lottery balls reward you for that stuff. I believe if you do things the right way, you’re going to get rewarded. Now we’ve got a nice little new toy to play with."

His teammates also have reason to be excited, as along with fresh talent, Wheeler himself is coming off a career-season that saw him hit 78 points in 82 games.

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The Buffalo Sabres have signed 2016 eighth overall draft pick Alex Nylander to a three-year, entry-level contract.

"We are extremely pleased to sign Alex to his entry-level deal," said general manager Tim Murray. "When we selected Alex, we obviously knew he was a talented, skilled player. We look forward to him coming to training camp and competing for a job."

Nylander led all Mississauga Steelhead (OHL) players in goals (28), assists (47), and points (75) in 2015-16, adding an additional six goals and six assists in six playoff games.

The stellar performance earned Nylander both OHL and CHL Rookie of the Year honors.

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The New Jersey Devils will have to wait until training camp to see if Pavel Zacha is ready to make the jump to the NHL club.

Related - Shero: Devils roster will have room for Zacha

The 19-year-old - who was selected sixth overall by the Devils in 2015 - will not skate during the team's summer development camp as a result of a hip pointer.

"I was in the hospital two days ago, had something to do with my hip pointer, and I feel much better today," Zacha told Chris Ryan of NJ.com on Friday. "I got my first little workout in, so I feel really good, so I hope I'll be able to work out and go on the ice pretty soon.

"I'll go on the ice when I go back home, start working out, practicing there, but I won't be able to go on ice this camp."

Zacha made his pro debut late this past season, recording two assists in one appearance for the Devils and a goal and two assists in three games with the AHL's Albany Devils.

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Signs continue to point to Kevin Shattenkirk's imminent departure from St. Louis.

While announcing the signing of forward Jaden Schwartz to a new five-year contract, Blues general manager Doug Armstrong listed a group of core players around whom he's looking to build a championship.

Shattenkirk's name was curiously omitted from that list of six.

• Goalie - Jake Allen
• Defensemen - Alex Pietrangelo, Colton Parayko
• Forwards - Schwartz, Vladimir Tarasenko, Robby Fabbri

The 27-year-old has one year remaining on his contract with the Blues and carries a cap hit of $4.25 million. He's likely to command a raise on his next deal, exceeding St. Louis' abilities to comply and thereby raising the very real possibility of a trade.

Shattenkirk's agent was surprised his client wasn't traded at the NHL Draft in late June, while the player himself is on record as saying he hopes the Blues trade him sooner rather than later.

Based on Armstrong's latest statement, it appears as though the writing is indeed on the wall.

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Brian Campbell has no regrets about returning to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Speaking Friday at the team's summer convention, Campbell - who was dealt to the Panthers by the Blackhawks in 2011 - said there are people he will miss in Florida, but he only had the one team in mind when considering where to sign as a free agent on July 1.

Campbell, it should be noted, kept his home in Chicago after being traded and has spent his offseasons there ever since.

"(Chicago) was always the No. 1 option," he added, citing organizational and family reasons for preferring the Blackhawks. "I was hoping it would work between us."

In terms of playing partners and even which side of the ice he is deployed, Campbell said all that matters is the uniform he's wearing once again.

The veteran defenseman signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract with the Blackhawks, moving on from a Panthers team for whom he did not miss a single game over the past five seasons.

His previous eight-year deal had been signed with the Blackhawks, but Campbell was ultimately dealt in an attempt to free up salary cap space.

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The St. Louis Blues have avoided arbitration with Jaden Schwartz, signing him to a five-year, $26.75-million contract.

Schwartz was having a productive season until it was cut short due to injury. He recorded eight goals and 22 points in 33 regular season games, and another 14 points in 20 postseason contests.

"He's part of that core we have moving forward," general manager Doug Armstrong said in a release. "Schwartz and (Vladimir) Tarasenko, Robby Fabbri, Colton Parayko, Alex Pietrangelo, Jake Allen - we're trying to build around these guys. Having Schwartz wrapped up in that group, we know we now have a core that we can build around and try to win a championship around."

Armstrong stated heading into the offseason that signing Schwartz was his top priority.

The winger was scheduled to have his hearing Wednesday in Toronto.

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The Great One reigns supreme in yet another category.

What's known to be the most pristine edition of Wayne Gretzky's O-Pee-Chee rookie card from the 1979-80 season is up for bid by Goldin Auctions, and prices have reached upwards of $200,000 - more than double the record for a modern hockey card, according to Allan Muir of Sports Illustrated.

"The card is the flag bearer of the hockey market," said Ken Goldin, president of Goldin Auctions. "It is the most valuable and most sought after hockey card, by far."

The card could fetch $400,000, obliterating the previous record of a modern card set at $94,163 in 2011.

According to card grading company PSA, this particular card is the only one of 3,727 known copies that grades a perfect score of 10.

In Gretzky's rookie season, he recorded 104 points in 72 games, which, remarkably, would be his lowest total until the 1994-95 campaign.

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