Prior to the start of the 2023-24 season, Adam Lowry was named the new captain of the Winnipeg Jets. Responses were a bit mixed. Some fans celebrated his new title while others argued in favour of other players. Let’s take a look at how Lowry’s first year as captain went and what makes him such a strong leader both on and off the ice.
Lowry’s Path to Captaincy
The Jets selected Lowry 67th in the third round of the 2011 NHL Draft and he has played the entirety of his career in Winnipeg. In his rookie season (2014-15), he scored 11 goals and led the team with 255 hits. He’s scored 105 goals, tallied 134 assists, and recorded 1,878 hits in 702 NHL games. He’s lauded as one of the toughest guys on the team and isn’t afraid to stand up for his teammates.
Behind Mark Scheifele, Lowry is the second longest-tenured Jets player on the current roster. He centred one of the best lines on the team last season with Mason Appleton and Nino Niederreiter, filling out the gritty third line that was rarely separated. He’s one of the Jets’ best five-on-five forwards and is essential to the penalty kill.
Lowry Exemplifies On-Ice Leadership
Lowry was a leader in the dressing room prior to his first season as captain. He was previously one of the team’s alternate captains, along with Scheifele and Josh Morrissey, after Blake Wheeler was stripped of his captaincy. He always led by example, and that was no different with his gritty, team-first style of play last season. He’s not afraid to sacrifice himself on the ice, whether in a fight or with a gutsy block, of which he hit a career-high of 65 last season. Not only that, but under his leadership, the team had a fantastic regular season, finishing second in the Central Division.
It’s no secret that Lowry is one of the most respected guys in the league. Prior to becoming captain, one of his most notable traits was the way he always showed up for his teammates and played hard in every situation. That didn’t change last season, even with his new title. When asked about Lowry halfway through last season, Cole Perfetti noted, “He has everyone’s back in this room[…] He would do anything for anyone” (from “‘He’s the same Adam:’ Jets together as they’ve ever been under captain Lowry,” The Winnipeg Sun, Jan. 18, 2024). He always stood up for…
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