Mark Scheifele ties Jets franchise points record

Mark Scheifele is back at the top of the Winnipeg Jets‘ franchise record books, as with two goals and an assist on in Thursday’s 8-3 blowout over the Dallas Stars, he tied the Jets’ franchise record for points with the team.

Scheifele got both of his goals in the second period. The first came just over seven minutes into the frame, as he capped the tying goal to complete the Jets’ rally from down 2-0. He followed that up with another goal with under two minutes left in the period, with him getting the eventual game-winning goal on the power play to take a 4-3 lead. But point 929 came one minute into the third period, as he dished the puck to Gabriel Vilardi from behind the net, who then set up Kyle Connor in the faceoff circle for a sharp-angle shot to make the game 6-3, and begin to put the game out of hand.

With the effort, Scheifele ties Dale Hawerchuk for the Jets’ franchise record for points with 929. Hawerchuk did it in quicker fashion, as he needed just 712 games to reach the mark, going pointless in his final game as a Jet before he was traded to the Buffalo Sabres in 1990. However, both players have almost identical stat lines to reach the mark, as Scheifele has 378 goals and 551 assists, while Hawerchuk has 379 goals and 550 assists.

Scheifele had actually previously held the franchise record until last summer, as at the time, the Jets’ franchise history consisted only of their time as the Atlanta Thrashers from 1999 to 2011 and the current iteration of the Jets. However, the NHL consolidated the records of the previous iteration of the Jets (which operated in the WHA from 1972 to 1979 and the NHL from 1979 to 1996 before they relocated to Phoenix) in the summer after the Coyotes deactivated as a franchise, with their assets relocated to Utah. Prior to this move, Blake Wheeler’s 812 points had been the franchise record before Scheifele surpassed it last season.

However, beating the franchise record probably felt more special for Scheifele, especially with his connection to Hawerchuk. Before playing in the NHL, Scheifele spent three seasons with the Barrie Colts while Hawerchuk coached the team. Hawerchuk had even convinced Scheifele to play for the Colts instead of going for an ivy league scholarship.

Scheifele will look to stand alone in Jets franchise history once again when they visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday at 3:30 CDT.