CHICAGO -- Mark Scheifele said anything less than reaching the Stanley Cup Final this season would be a disappointment for the Winnipeg Jets.
"We know what it took to get to the (Western) Conference Final last year," the 25-year-old center said during the NHL Player Media Tour on Friday. "We know a lot of things have to go right to take it even further. There's a lot more work to get to that next level. But in our minds we have to be pushing for that. We have to be pushing to get further than we did this year."
Winnipeg had a franchise-record 114 points last season, second in the NHL behind the Nashville Predators (117). Winnipeg won Game 1 of the conference final against the Vegas Golden Knights but lost the next four.
Scheifele, who had 20 points (14 goals, six assists) in 17 playoff games, said it's time for the Jets to take the next step, but he knows it won't be easy.
"I think we have to have that thought in our minds, that we are contenders," he said. "But at the same time we're not the new Winnipeg Jets team that just entered the League any more. We're a team to be reckoned with. Teams are going to put their best foot forward against our team.
"In our minds we have to understand that nothing is going to be given to us just because we made the conference final last year. No one cares. We haven't done anything. We have to be prepared to battle each and every night if we want to get to where we want to go."
Scheifele, who agreed to terms on an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $6.25 million on July 8, 2016, said he was happy for Winnipeg forward Blake Wheeler, who signed a five-year contract extension with an average annual value of $8.25 million on Sept. 4, and has no issue being paid less than the Jets captain.
"There's not one second in my mind where I say, 'Oh shoot, I regret signing that deal,'" said Scheifele, who had 60 points (23 goals, 37 assists) in 60 games last season and has 287 points (113 goals, 174 assists) in 366 NHL games. "I'm super happy with the deal I got."
Wheeler's contract was the latest in a busy offseason for the Jets.
Goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who was a restricted free agent, signed a six-year, $37 million contract on July 12; and defenseman Jacob Trouba signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract July 25, three days after he was awarded it in arbitration. Defensemen Joe Morrow (one year, $1 million) and Tucker Poolman (three years, $2.325 million), and forwards Adam Lowry (three years, $8.75 million), Marko Dano (one year, $800,000) and Brandon Tanev (one year, $1.15 million) also signed this offseason.
Forward Patrik Laine, who is entering the final season of his three-year, entry-level contract, can become a restricted free agent after the season, when defenseman Tyler Myers can become an unrestricted free agent. Each has been eligible to sign a contract extension since July 1.
"I'm super happy with the organization I'm part of and the team I'm part of," Scheifele said. "At the end of the day, if my deal helps us be in a better spot contractually then I'm happy.
"Whatever the numbers are, I'm always aware of how lucky I am in what I get to do."
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