Don Sweeney, Peter Chiarelli Could Support Harvard Coach Search
Harvard Crimson men’s hockey head coach Ted Donato has announced his plans to step away from the school after 22 years with the team. The news leaves a vacancy in one of the most reserved seats in college hockey, behind a Crimson squad that has added more NHL talent in recent years. To match their growing roster, the Crimson could look towards their NHL alum to support their coaching search. Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and former Bruins and Edmonton Oilers general manager Peter Chiarelli could both be tapped to aid the search per NHL.com’s Mark Divver. School legend Brad Kwong could also chime in.
All three overlapped on the 1984-85 Crimson roster. That season marked Sweeney’s freshman year, while Chiarelli was a sophomore and Kwong was Harvard’s senior captain. The Crimson wouldn’t reach championship heights that season but they did win an ECAC Conference Championship in the 1986-87 season, led by Chiarelli as captain and Sweeney as a top-pair defender. Chiarelli – who would retire from playing one year later – scored a career-high 15 points in 34 games that season. Sweeney played one more year for the Crimson and secured 1988 all-star honors after scoring 29 points in 30 games.
Sweeney went on to become a core component of the Bruins lineup from 1988 to 2003, before ending his playing career with a one-off season on the Dallas Stars. He still holds the fifth-most games played (1,052) in Bruins history and has since reached new heights with the team as a manager.
Chiarelli preceded Sweeney as Boston’s GM. He was with the team form 2006 to 2015 and oversaw their run to the Stanley Cup in 2010. The Bruins made two other appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals under Chiarelli’s reign in 2011 and 2013. Some of the best and worst moments of Chiarelli’s career came with the Bruins. He added franchise a legend trading for Tuukka Rask. Chiarelli also added core components of the Cup-winning roster, including Marc Savard, Johnny Boychuk, and Mark Recchi. Most notably, he also orchestrated a trade that sent winger Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for draft picks that would turn into Tyler Seguin (2010 first-round), Jared Knight (2010 second-round), and Dougie Hamilton (2011 first-round).
But those draft picks would not shine for Chiarelli. One of the darkest stains on his career occurred a few years later when Seguin was traded to the Dallas Stars alongside Rich Peverley and Ryan Button in exchange for Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith, Matt Fraser, and Joe Morrow. Seguin continues to stand as a difference-maker in Dallas’ lineup – when healthy. He was a star amid some of Dallas’ toughest seasons, leaving the unanswered question of if he could have been the injection of youth that pushed Boston back to championship success.
Success with the Bruins aside, the experience that Sweeney and Chiarelli gained just across town will be invaluable as Harvard looks to keep their hockey club on the right track. Both GMs bring strong thinking and hockey awareness to the Crimson’s search. The same can be said about Kwong, who continues to invest in hockey and owned the USHL’s Dubuque Fighting Saints from 2009 to 2024. The trio will face a tough task attempting to replace Donato, a former Bruins forward and father of current Chicago Blackhawks forward Ryan Donato.
Donato led Harvard to the postseason in each of his first two seasons with the club, before hitting a cold spell from 2007 to 2014. With an injection of NHL prospects like Alexander Kerfoot, Jimmy Vesey, and Colin Blackwell – the Crimson turned those fortunes around in 2015. Back in the playoffs, the yclimbed all the way to the Frozen Four in 2017, with the additions of Ryan Donato, Adam Fox, and John Marino. Harvard has made an additional six postseasons in nine seasons since – and won the ECAC for the first time since 1989’s National Championship in 2022, then supported by NHL talent including Matthew Coronato, Alex Laferriere, and Ian Moore. Keeping postseason experience the norm in Harvard will be top priority in a coaching search.
Photo courtesy of Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images.
Bruins Notes: Pastrnak, Sturm, Hagens
Following a first-round exit at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres, the Boston Bruins’ leadership met with the media on Wednesday for a candid end-of-season press conference. While CEO Charlie Jacobs expressed confidence that the organization is on the “right track,” the overarching theme of the day was the identified need for high-end personnel upgrades. President Cam Neely was blunt regarding the roster’s current construction, stating that the team lacks a true No. 1 center and must prioritize adding both talent and speed this summer to become a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Additional Bruins notes:
- Cam Neely identified the lack of a premier center as a primary concern. He noted that the solution could come from “growing one from within” or looking “outside our group,” but emphasized that the vacancy must be rectified to move the needle in the postseason.
- Addressing David Pastrnak’s comments about turning 30 and wanting to maximize his prime, Don Sweeney acknowledged the need to “accelerate” the team’s improvement. Sweeney noted that “everything is in play,” including the potential use of future assets to bolster the current roster.
- Sweeney praised first-year head coach Marco Sturm for making the team “a hell of a lot more competitive.” While the foundation is set, management plans to “tweak” the defensive system to eliminate the inconsistencies that crept into their game late in the season.
- The Bruins remain without a captain, but Neely confirmed that discussions for next season have already begun. While Sweeney views leadership as a “collective thing,” Marco Sturm will have a significant voice in determining if a single player will wear the “C” next year.
- Sweeney discussed top prospect James Hagens, noting he would have preferred Hagens play for the Providence Bruins in the AHL playoffs rather than Team USA at the World Championships, but “rules are rules.” He cautioned that the path to the NHL remains a difficult “A-Z” journey.
- Several Bruins are confirmed for the upcoming World Championships, including Joonas Korpisalo and Henri Jokiharju (Finland), James Hagens, Sean Kuraly, and Mason Lohrei (USA), and Fraser Minten (Canada).
Atlantic Notes: Shanahan, Geekie, Heponiemi, Merrill
In an article from The Buffalo News, journalist Mike Harrington argues that the Buffalo Sabres should appoint Brendan Shanahan to a senior advisory role, even if only for one year. Recently, it was confirmed that the Toronto Maple Leafs would not renew Shanahan’s contract, and since then, he has only been publicly linked to the New York Islanders.
While the Islanders were allowed to interview Shanahan, there is no indication of any remaining interest, especially after they hired Mathieu Darche as General Manager and executive vice president of hockey operations yesterday. The Sabres would be the only remaining team seeking a high-level executive this summer. Harrington noted that Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported Buffalo’s interest in adding a senior advisor to work alongside Kevyn Adams.
The hire would make a lot of sense. The Sabres appointed Adams as a rookie General Manager ahead of the 2020-21 NHL season, and the needle hasn’t moved for the organization one iota. Toronto didn’t make it to the Eastern Conference Final during Shanahan’s 11 years of stewardship, but that’s more than the Sabres can say, who have missed the postseason for 14 consecutive years.
Other notes from the Atlantic Division:
- In an interview with Steve Conroy of The Boston Herald, recently extended General Manager of the Boston Bruins, Don Sweeney, expressed confidence that the team would re-sign forward Morgan Geekie at some point this summer. Geekie will become a restricted free agent on July 1st, and is eligible for an offer sheet from the 31 other teams in the league. Still, Sweeney hopes a contract can be agreed upon sooner rather than later, saying, “We’ve been in constant communication with Morgan’s camp since the time the season ended.“
- There’s a small chance that a Florida Panthers prospect could return to the organization this summer. According to a team report, the NL’s EHC Biel-Bienne have released forward Aleksi Heponiemi from his contract. Heponiemi scored 13 goals and 35 points in 59 games for EHC Biel from 2023 to 2025. Still, since the Panthers own his contractual rights in the NHL, he won’t be able to join a different team this summer unless the Panthers choose to leave him unqualified.
- A Montreal Canadiens prospect is on the move at the junior level. Forward Ben Merrill shared on his Instagram that he’s committed to Boston University for the 2025-26 NCAA season. The former 2024 sixth-round selection scored 15 goals and 23 points in 50 games for the BCHL’s Penticton Vees this past year.
Bruins, Don Sweeney Agree To Two-Year Extension
The Bruins announced today they’ve signed general manager Don Sweeney to a two-year contract extension, keeping him in Boston’s front office through the 2027-28 season.
Sweeney’s deal was set to expire following the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, something that was reportedly becoming a hurdle in their search for a new head coach. Over the weekend, RG’s James Murphy reported that Sweeney’s lame duck status partially influenced Rick Tocchet‘s decision to spurn the Bruins’ interest in him for their vacancy and accept a role with the Flyers instead.
Bruins president Cam Neely had the following statement on Sweeney’s extension:
Don has navigated a disappointing period for our club with conviction, purpose, and a clear vision toward the future of the Boston Bruins. He made difficult decisions around the trade deadline with the confidence they will pay dividends as we craft a path back to contention. He is continuing to follow that track with a robust and thorough search for our club’s next head coach, while also preparing for the upcoming NHL Draft and free agent signing period. I am confident in the plan he has followed these past few months – and excited for what’s to come for our team. The expectations in Boston have always been clear. It’s about winning championships.
After being promoted midway through Boston’s last retool in the mid-2010s, Sweeney will now get the chance to, as the fanbase and ownership will hope, oversee one from start to finish. His extension comes after the Bruins missed the playoffs in 2025 for the first time since his first season as GM in 2015-16. During the last decade, Boston’s 458-233-91 (.644) regular season record is tied for the best in the NHL.
It’s not as if Sweeney’s tenure hasn’t come without playoff success, either. Boston has won a playoff series in five of its eight postseasons under Sweeney, including a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2019, their third of the decade. Sweeney even earned GM of the Year honors for building that roster.
However, shelling out assets to acquire supplementary pieces to remain in playoff contention always has a price. That downfall came this season – a few years later than some expected after the retirements of franchise centers Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, but it happened nonetheless. The reload process started in earnest at this year’s trade deadline with a trio of moves – shipping out Brad Marchand and Brandon Carlo for returns that included first-round picks, and making a swap with the Avalanche to get younger down the middle by exchanging Charlie Coyle for Casey Mittelstadt.
That doesn’t change the fact that the Bruins are left with a lone first-line offensive talent in star winger David Pastrnak. Getting him more help in the scoring department is Boston’s chief priority this summer, which Sweeney clearly understood during his end-of-season media availability. Remaining in line with ownership’s vision on how to execute a retool and return the Bruins to playoff contention in a matter of a couple of years, not five-plus, likely helped with his job security and needing front office stability to attract their desired coaching targets.
One factor that’s accelerated the Bruins’ regression is the lack of success with the first-round picks they’ve kept over the past few years. The most recent Boston first-round pick to crack 100 games with the team is fourth-liner John Beecher, selected six years ago. Hitting on mid-first-round picks is the key to executing any retool without a full teardown. Retaining the GM that’s failed to do so for the vast majority of his tenure will understandably raise eyebrows as a result.
As such, a two-year extension comes across as a rather short leash. He’ll almost certainly be let go upon expiry if Boston hasn’t made meaningful progress in restocking their cupboard.
Image courtesy of Eric Bolte-Imagn Images.
Atlantic Notes: Red Wings, Bruins, Battle Of Florida
To the dismay of Red Wings fans, the Original Six team set another franchise record this season by missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for a ninth consecutive season. Max Bultman of The Athletic summarized the Detroit Red Wings’ offseason plans, identifying players they are likely to part ways with this summer.
In his list of ‘possible farewells’, Bultman theorizes that Detroit will let Jeff Petry, Craig Smith, Tyler Motte, and Alex Lyon walk in free agency. Totalling a combined cap hit of more than $5MM, all four of the quartet could be easily replaced internally this offseason, allowing the Red Wings to pursue a higher-impact player.
Lastly, Bultman articulated that defenseman William Lagesson was the only surefire departure this summer. Lagesson largely operated as a depth defenseman this season, tallying one assist in seven games while averaging 14:34 of ice time, when not playing for their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Other notes from the Atlantic Division:
- In an insightful article regarding the Boston Bruins’ head coaching search, Shawn Hutcheon of The Fourth Period exposed a meaningful fact: the hiring General Manager may not be around for more than a year. Don Sweeney‘s contract concludes after the 2025-26 season, and although he’s received an endorsement from team President Cam Neely, plenty can change in a calendar year. For any heading coaching candidate considering joining the Bruins, job security will be something to weigh.
- Over the last several years, the ‘Battle of Florida’ between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers has been a must-see matchup since either team has represented the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final since the 2020 postseason. In the past two years, the Panthers have bested the Bolts, beating them in back-to-back opening-round matchups. In a quote from Josh Yohe of The Athletic, Lightning head coach Jon Cooper conceded the battle, saying, “It was our turn. Now it’s theirs.”
Boston Bruins Notes: Geekie, Sweeney, Zacha, Beecher
Despite finishing toward the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings for the first time since the 2006-07 season, the Boston Bruins had a few bright spots on the year. One of them, Morgan Geekie, is entering the 2025-26 season on a $2MM salary and had been an oft-mentioned trade candidate for the Bruins throughout the year.
That’s unlikely to happen. Earlier today, Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub passed along a blunt statement from General Manager Don Sweeney indicating Geekie would be on the roster next year.
To be fair, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Boston recoup a haul for Geekie should they trade him. 30-goal scorers don’t grow on trees in the NHL, and certainly not on $2MM salaries. However, as a counterpoint, the Bruins did finish as one of the worst offensive teams in the 2024-25 campaign, and trading Geekie away does nothing to improve that. He’ll look to equal, if not improve upon, this year’s results as a pending restricted free agent, and the Bruins can decide then if they’d like to re-sign Geekie to a longer-term deal.
Other notes from the Bruins organization:
- Much like Geekie, don’t expect Sweeney to depart the organization anytime soon, either. Speaking with reporters today, team President Cam Neely gave a glowing endorsement of Sweeney, saying, “Don has been a great GM in this league. Has everything gone right? No, it hasn’t. That’s just sports, but there’s been more good than bad. Don and his group, in my opinion, have earned the right to get us back to where we all want to be.” Sweeney has been at the helm of the Bruins’ front office for the last decade.
- Fortunately, Boston will enter the summer months with a clean bill of health. Sweeney shared that forward Pavel Zacha had a minor, unspecified surgery, and John Beecher may also need one (Tweet Link). Other than that, the Bruins don’t expect any major surgeries throughout the offseason.
Atlantic Notes: Bruins, Power, Knies, McCabe, Thompson
To the surprise of many, don’t expect any changes to the Boston Bruins’ front office this summer. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, the Bruins will retain President Cam Neely and General Manager Don Sweeney to invent the next iteration of Boston’s roster.
It’ll be the first time Sweeney has had to engage in a retool during his tenure as General Manager. Sweeney took over as the team’s top decision-maker in 2015-16. He manufactured the roster that took the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 and the team that set the single-season win record in 2022-23.
Unfortunately, aside from their loss to the St. Louis Blues in 2019, Boston hasn’t appeared in the Eastern Conference Final in any other year under Sweeney’s regime. The Bruins have fallen to last place in the Eastern Conference since selling off at the trade deadline in March, while being projected to have a top-five pick since selecting Tyler Seguin second-overall in the 2010 NHL Draft.
Other notes from the Atlantic Division:
- If the 2024-25 season couldn’t get any worse for the Buffalo Sabres, one of their top defenseman could be out longer-term with a leg injury. Lance Lysowski of The Buffalo News reported that defenseman Owen Power has a serious injury and may require surgery this summer. The injury in question took place in the Sabres’ second-to-last game against the Florida Panthers when Florida forward Carter Verhaeghe awkwardly fell on his leg.
- In addition to their upcoming attempt to win the 14th Stanley Cup championship in franchise history, one of the main storylines off the ice for the Toronto Maple Leafs is their contract negotiations with forward Matthew Knies. According to a new report from The Fourth Period, there is no worry from either side that a new deal won’t be agreed upon, but there is a lengthy gap in the expected length of his next contract. The report indicates that the Maple Leafs prefer a six-to-eight-year deal, while Knies’ camp prefers a three-to-five-year agreement. Given that only a one-year gap exists between Toronto’s low end and Knies’s high end, it should make for a reasonable compromise between the sides.
- Unfortunately, there’s some negative news for the Maple Leafs as they prepare for a lengthy post-season. Earlier today, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reported that there’s no guarantee defenseman Jake McCabe will be available for the team in their Round One matchup. McCabe hasn’t played since early April due to an undisclosed injury and would be a major missing piece for Toronto’s blue line in the playoffs. The 12-year veteran is second on the team in blocked shots (135) and seventh in expected +/- (6.6) through 66 games played.
- For the first time in five years, Sabres forward Tage Thompson will play for Team USA in the World Championships (Twitter Link). After being excluded from the United States’ Four Nations Face-Off roster in February, this strikes as a move for Thompson to raise his Olympic profile for next season. He scored one goal and five points in eight games during his last appearance in the offseason tournament in 2021.
Bruins Announce Offseason Plans
Speaking to the media this morning, the General Manager of the Boston Bruins, Don Sweeney, announced his plans and goals for the upcoming offseason. With the press conference later summarized by TheFourthPeriod, Sweeney illustrates that his main goal is to build up the team’s secondary scoring.
To quote Sweeney, the veteran General Manager stated, “There are some things that we need to address from the standpoint of free agency and/or internal growth. I have to be able to find some players that can come in and provide secondary scoring. We’re going to be aggressive to be able to complement what we currently have in some areas… I’ve got to find the players that complement our group and push us forward”.
Heading into the summer, the Bruins will have approximately $22MM to work with, but a decent chunk of that will go to goaltender Jeremy Swayman, who is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1st. After an impressive three-year run in Boston, Swayman will likely be asking for a contract similar to that of Connor Hellebuyck, who signed a seven-year, $59.5MM contract to remain with the Winnipeg Jets organization last summer.
If the Bruins are ready to hand out that kind of money to Swayman, they will certainly have to move on from Linus Ullmark, who will have one-year, $5MM remaining on his contract for the 2024-25 NHL season. As good as the duo has performed for Boston over the last two years, it is hard to conceptualize a competitive team spending close to $14MM on goaltending even if it is only for one year.
Assuming the Bruins can move out the contract of Ullmark without taking any money back in return, and factoring in the hypothetical extension for Swayman, the team should have around $18MM in cap flexibility to peruse the trade block and free agent market. Since Sweeney is putting a premium on secondary scoring this summer, they should be able to realize that goal if that is ultimately the cap space they are working with.
As far as internal options go, the Bruins already have a quick solution in Jake DeBrusk, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in a few short weeks. Depending on the price, Boston should be able to retain DeBrusk on a short- to mid-term contract, as he will be one of the better secondary scoring options on the market regardless. Throughout his seven years in Massachusetts, DeBrusk has been able to regularly produce between 20-30 goals a year, normally finishing top five on the team each year in that particular department.
Luckily for the Bruins, the free agent market will be flooded with secondary scoring options this summer, as they will have the opportunity to sign the likes of Patrick Kane, Tyler Toffoli, Chandler Stephenson, Anthony Mantha, Anthony Duclair, as well as others. There is not one individual player in that group that should take too much of a chunk out of Boston’s available cap space; assuming the team is not going after the likes of Jake Guentzel, Sam Reinhart, or Steven Stamkos.
After the conclusion of the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs, this summer’s trade market should start materializing into more of a clearer picture than where it’s at right now. However, it is already expected that Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes will be moved this summer, as the Hurricanes do not appear willing to meet his contractual demands. If Carolina is intent on moving him, Necas would be a nice piece to add to the Bruins’ top six.
No matter the direction they ultimately take, Boston will have an abundant pool to pick from this summer to add to their secondary scoring. Additionally, the emergence of a few prospects this past season may allow the Bruins to deal from their list of already established players, which would give them even more cap flexibility heading into the offseason.
Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman, Linus Ullmark Hoping To Return
The Boston Bruins are bringing a close to their season with exit interviews on Sunday. And despite rumors and skepticism all season long, both halves of their star goalie tandem have expressed excitement for next season. Jeremy Swayman – the younger of the pair and Boston’s most recent starter – told reporters he hopes to sign a long-term extension with the Bruins, per Ty Anderson of the 985 Sports Hub Underground (Twitter link). Swayman added that he’s confident a deal will get done and that he doesn’t want to play anywhere else.
Meanwhile, de facto backup Linus Ullmark curbed trade rumors, emphasizing that he has one more year on his contract to Amalie Benjamin of NHL.com (Twitter link). Ullmark told Benjamin, “I have one more year. I wouldn’t want anything else than to come back here, get a little bit of a revenge tour. I’m very excited, motivated for what’s to come.”
Ullmark was similarly stand-offish when asked about his 16-team no-trade-clause, shares Anderson, saying that the teams on his list are there for a reason (Twitter link). Ullmark reportedly blocked a Trade Deadline move to the Los Angeles Kings with his no-trade clause, though neither Ullmark nor general manager Don Sweeney have confirmed that. Nonetheless, the former Vezina Trophy winner is standing by his contractual rights, which could make any off-season move that much tougher to pull off.
But that doesn’t mean Boston isn’t still shopping Ullmark around. Moving him remains a top priority for the team prior to the 2024 NHL Draft, shares Fluto
Shinzawa of The Athletic. Shinzawa adds that Ullmark’s concerns with a mid-season move were more related to moving away from his family or relocating his children’s schooling than concerns with the destination. Those worries should be mitigated by the off-season, though they speak to the layers of human consideration that go into trade talks. Luckily, Ullmark should have no shortage of suitors on the open market – boasting a $5MM cap hit for one more season, an incredibly affordable price for a former Vezina winner.
Breaking up the 2023 William Jennings Trophy winners certainly seems like a smart idea for the Bruins. Swayman proved that he can stay consistent this season, posting 25 wins and a .916 save percentage through 44 games. But his ice time remained limited, with Boston still awarding Ullmark 40 games of his own. He vindicated the appearances with 22 wins and a .915 of his own. The two were nearly indistinguishable, with Boston even cycling them out in the postseason. And while two great goaltenders is a great problem to have, it’s also preventing Boston from tapping into their great depth chart. Namely, AHL starter Brandon Bussi has seemingly earned an NHL call-up. He posted 23 wins and a .913 in 41 AHL games this year, and is showing patented Bruins clutch in the playoffs, with a .922 through four games . The performances have brought Bussi up to 48 wins and a .918 save percentage in 78 AHL games since 2021 – ranked eighth in the league in wins and 16th in save percentage in that span. Moving Ullmark would have the tri-tiered benefits of allowing Swayman to take on a bigger role, creating opportunity for younger goalies, and returning to Boston what’s sure to be a substantial trade package.
East Notes: Sweeney, Marchand, Wheeler
Fluto Shinzawa of The Athletic is reporting that Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney had some harsh words today for the National Hockey League after the Bruins’ 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of their second-round series. Sweeney was upset that several Bruins players, as well as head coach Jim Montgomery, had to talk with the media about why the league overturned a goaltender interference challenge while none of the on-ice officials were made available.
Sweeney added to his comments saying that he felt it wasn’t right to have a head coach answer media inquiries about their feelings toward the officiating. Sweeney finished his point by saying if people want transparency, then the NHL should have the officials talk to the media to provide their interpretation of the goaltender interference rule.
While Sweeney isn’t the first person to say that the officials should be held to account by the media, he did say it is something that general managers have discussed. Sweeney is also the latest to voice his displeasure with the NHL’s handling of goaltender interference. The rule has become something that has confused fans and players alike and is surely going to be looked at by the league very soon.
In other Eastern Conference notes:
- Bruins captain Brad Marchand remains day-to-day (according to Conor Ryan of Boston.com) but did skate with the team this morning and will travel to Florida for Game 5. Boston’s offense could certainly use Marchand after the Bruins’ scoring has disappeared since a 5-1 victory in Game 1. Boston has scored just five times in the past three games, playing the last game and a half without their playoff leader in scoring. Marchand has two assists in the series against the Panthers and has posted three goals and seven assists in ten playoff games this year.
- ESPN’s Emily Kaplan is reporting that New York Rangers forward Blake Wheeler is roughly 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule as he recovers from a devastating leg injury he suffered back in February. Wheeler was expected to be able to play around June 1st, but with his recovery time being pushed up, he could become an option if the Rangers advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Wheeler has been pushing hard to return and was no longer wearing a red noncontact jersey when he practiced with the team today.