The Winnipeg Jets best defenceman is Josh Morrissey. For the past two seasons, Morrissey has played on a pair with Jacob Trouba to great success. That will end this upcoming season as Trouba has been traded, but hopefully Morrissey’s success will continue with whomever he is partnered with in this upcoming season.
| Player | Season | Team | Position | GP | TOI | G | A | P | P1 | P/60 | P1/60 | GS | GS/60 | CF | CA | C+/- | CF% | Rel CF% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOSH.MORRISSEY | 2018-2019 | WPG | D | 59 | 989.53 | 1 | 15 | 16 | 7 | 0.97 | 0.42 | 22.82 | 1.38 | 1003 | 954 | 49 | 51.25 | 2.15 |
Morrissey missed 23 games due to injury this season, but the 59 games he did play in, he was very good. His CorsiRel was greater than Trouba’s showing that he probably helped elevate Trouba. On the other hand, the fact that Morrissey was partnered with a good defenceman instead of having to carry a player who was clearly slotted in a place that was too high for his abilities.
Beyond his partner, Morrissey is just a genuinely good player. He had 16 even-strength points this season and another 11 on the power play including five of his six goals. He was able to help the Jets generate offence and drive play up the ice. He makes more positive plays than negative plays and therefore has benefitted the Jets.
Morrissey has one more season on his bridge deal of $3.15 million/season before he will be paid the big money. This will probably pose as a problem for the Jets as they do not have much cap space now let alone after they sign Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, and company. If they want to keep Morrissey without disassembling the team, they are going to have to get creative and fast. Once they do that, it will really depend on how Morrissey does without having a consistent and good partner. Hopefully it is more of the same.
