After Quinn Hughes was named captain of the Vancouver Canucks, a second Canadian team in as many days made a decision on their captain vacancy.
The Winnipeg Jets have named Adam Lowry their captain, the third player to don the “C” since the team relocated from Atlanta, following the footsteps of Andrew Ladd and Blake Wheeler.
“Just growing up and dreaming of playing in the NHL, I don’t think this is something that you could have even dreamt about,” said Lowry in a press conference held at Canada Life Centre. “I think it is right up there with playing in my first game and scoring my first goal. It’s a pretty special moment for me and my family.
“Obviously, it’s a huge honor and something that I am looking forward to doing and leading this team and leading this city. I am thrilled to be the captain of the Winnipeg Jets.”
Lowry Makes an Ideal Choice for the Captaincy
When head coach Rick Bowness stripped Wheeler of the captaincy before last season started, he was looking to see who the best possible leader on the team was before making a decision on who will be named captain. He and the coaching staff eventually did not name a captain for last season.
While the Jets have big-name players on the roster like Kyle Connor and Josh Morrissey, Lowry has been recognized for his leadership qualities. He previously was a captain before in his career, with the WHL’s Swift Current Broncos during the 2012-13 season. Interestingly, with him being named captain, he becomes a second-generation captain, as his father, Dave, was the captain of the Calgary Flames from 2000 to 2002.
Before last season, his on-ice production may not exactly be expected from someone who would be named captain of the team, especially in a Canadian market. Players who are career bottom-six players don’t have a lot of staying power on their teams, and they typically change teams more frequently than the star players, but Lowry is coming off the best season of his career, with 13 goals and 36 points in the regular season and five point in as many playoff games, locking up his spot in Winnipeg for years to come.
Lowry was an alternate captain last season for the first time in his career, alongside Morrissey and Mark Scheifele, who will both be alternate captains this season. Though with a lot of uncertainty facing Winnipeg because of the expiring contracts of Scheifele and Connor Hellebuyck, this can be noted as a crucial season for the team, and Lowry is the focal point of the leadership group for any competitive push from the team.
