Latest news with #JoshMorrissey
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jets' Stanley Cup window, a Byfuglien replacement and Logan Stanley: Mailbag, part 1
Winnipeg's Stanley Cup-winning window is open. It has to be, given the Presidents' Trophy winners' heavy veteran investment. But how long will it last? And what has to go right to keep Winnipeg on the winning track? Our June mailbag focuses on the Jets' urgency — the best way to keep the Cup contention window open, Winnipeg's path to second-line centres and big, mobile defencemen, a thought on aging curves, Logan Stanley, Dustin Byfuglien, Elias Salomonsson and more. Advertisement How do the Jets go from 2024-25 second-round exit to a Stanley Cup? Note: Submitted questions have been edited for clarity and length. Based on your analysis, how would you assess the Jets' current window for Stanley Cup contention? What key factors or best-case scenarios would need to align for them to continue making a serious push? — Ryan F. Winnipeg is heavily invested in star players — Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, Josh Morrissey — on the wrong side of 30 years old. If reading that sentence doesn't create a heightened sense of urgency, read the latest work on aging curves in the NHL. If Scheifele ages like the average NHL forward has aged from 2007-2025, he may have two seasons of No. 1 centre quality left in him before a dramatic decline. But Scheifele's a freak of nature! He'll stay great way longer than the average NHL forward! I mean, that could be true. Scheifele is freakishly dedicated to off-ice rehabilitation and plays a more cerebral game than one that depends on explosiveness. But I've heard those arguments before. They were made about Blake Wheeler, who affected five-on-five play like a middle-six winger from age 34 onward, after a decade as one of the best five-on-five players in the world. Scheifele just turned 32. Winnipeg needs to address its second-line centre issue now. Not at the trade deadline, not next summer, not in the form of Brayden Yager or Kieron Walton or their first-round draft pick. The Jets don't have time to waste, because their ability to contend depends on top-quality centres who win their minutes. Scheifele is doing that now — and so is Adam Lowry, who also just turned 32 — but Winnipeg needs its next wave to arrive while Scheifele and Lowry are still at the top of their game. One best-case scenario on this front: What if Gabriel Vilardi or Cole Perfetti are the answer, despite the Jets' concerns about their footspeed? Advertisement Another depends on Connor Hellebuyck delivering his regular-season results — or close to — in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Those are wishful, passive suggestions. Another option is striking for a second-line centre this summer, while I think a key to unlocking Hellebuyck is augmenting Winnipeg's cerebral top-four defence with a Byfuglien-esque bulldozer to open up his sight lines. How can the Jets address their recurring need for a second-line centre? Trading a first-round pick at every deadline significantly depletes their assets. — Travis R. What about trading a first-round pick at the draft? What are the odds the #NHLJets make their first round pick this year? @hustlerama asked @wpgmurat earlier this week@BenMossJeweller — Winnipeg Sports Talk (@SportsTalkWPG) June 2, 2025 Murat, you mentioned that Chevy seems to have admitted he overestimated Logan Stanley's ceiling based on some plays in the playoffs against Montreal. Does this signal the Jets may be ready to move on from him either via waivers, trade or make him a press box regular? — Andywpg You've characterized Kevin Cheveldayoff's comments correctly, Andy, but let's start by making sure everyone has the context. In January, I was one of a couple of reporters who had the chance to sit down with Cheveldayoff for about an hour at the Jets hotel in Denver. Logan Stanley was a huge talking point for fans at the time — he'd been booed by a smattering of fans at Canada Life Centre after a mistake helped end Connor Hellebuyck's shutout bid against Vancouver. Cheveldayoff was asked several questions about Stanley's status in the lineup. Cheveldayoff was adamant that he doesn't tell his coaches who to put in the lineup. He acknowledged no NHL player is perfect and pointed out Stanley played several games during the Jets' 15-1 start to the season. Advertisement I made the point that Cheveldayoff may not tell his coaches who to play in the lineup, but he does control who Winnipeg has available on the roster. I noted that the Jets protected Stanley in the 2021 expansion draft and lost Johnathan Kovacevic and Declan Chisholm to waivers at consecutive training camps. Cheveldayoff rooted his response in Winnipeg's decision-making heading into Seattle's expansion draft. 'Everyone seems to forget the role that he played (in the 2021 playoffs) in winning four straight against Edmonton. He was a regular shift player, he played all the games. We go into Montreal, he's the one that scores the two goals in Montreal. So he's on a pretty good trajectory as a developing player at that point in time,' Cheveldayoff said. He went on to talk about Stanley's injuries, suggesting that they may have stalled or at least changed Stanley's development path. I bristle at this, given how clear it was that Winnipeg kept Stanley miles from top-six competition, but that's beside the point. Cheveldayoff's estimation of Stanley's ceiling was higher coming off his 2021 playoffs than it is now. I don't share your conclusion, though. (And do I detect notes of hopefulness in your question?) Stanley played 63 games this season and was a fixture in Winnipeg's April roster until injuries derailed his playoffs. He's one of seven defencemen under contract for next season (eight when Dylan Samberg signs), and he's played 70 more games than his closest competition (Heinola) at the edge of the roster. If somebody gets traded or committed to the press box, I think it's Heinola, who went over a month between games multiple times, even after returning to full health. One of Stanley's roles on the Jets roster is to take a few fights each year off Adam Lowry's fight card, especially following Brenden Dillon's 2024 departure. Advertisement By the way, if you're looking for a surprise on defence, this one might count: Heinola is just 24 years old but is on track to become an unrestricted free agent next summer. The Jets need to play him in 27 or more games next season to retain his rights, lest he become a Group VI UFA. Heinola's trade value is negligible, given his lack of NHL games this far into his career, but the Jets may soon add Heinola to the list of players outlasted by their belief in Stanley's potential. You have mentioned that the Jets need a 'Byfuglien-esque' player a few times. Big Buff is a unicorn, but: Can you identify some players who fit this mold currently in the league who could be available (including asking price, no-trade clauses, and realism?) — Duane W. What a wild needle to try to thread. There isn't a modern-day Dustin Byfuglien available, but we can try to recreate him in the aggregate. So, a big, mobile, offensively talented, defensively imposing right-shot defenceman. We could also force Josh Morrissey or Dylan Samberg to play on their off-hand side, if you've found a way to pry Victor Hedman from Tampa Bay. (I wish you'd let me use Miro Heiskanen as a solution here — he's a left-shot D but excels on both sides.) Vladislav Gavrikov is a left-shot pending UFA who plays with the right combination of snarl and smarts to keep a clean defensive zone while playing heavy minutes against top competition. His impact is exactly what you want from a top-four defenceman: Gavrikov makes it painful to get to the front of the net and hard to win pucks on the boards — all while moving the puck well enough to play in the modern NHL. A scroll through our latest trade board yields names like Rasmus Andersson, K'Andre Miller and Connor Murphy. Murphy is a big right-hander who has one year left on his $4.4 million contract in Chicago. He has more defensive quality to him than poor counting stats in Chicago imply, with strong underlying numbers protecting the middle of the ice and plenty of hits and blocks. However, he has a 10-team no-trade clause and might not feel like a substantial enough upgrade on Neal Pionk or Dylan DeMelo in the top four, despite playing a more rugged style. Rasmus Andersson's recent defensive numbers are porous, but he's produced a lot of points from the Flames' right side. He has a six-team no-trade clause on his $4.55 million contract, which ends next summer. (My ideal Flames acquisition for Winnipeg would be MacKenzie Weegar, who is a right-shot defenceman who plays both sides well, protects the middle of the ice, and has all of the talented truculence I've been campaigning for … but he has a full no-trade clause and Calgary is heavily invested in him.) Advertisement K'Andre Miller is a big, mobile, Minnesotan who needs a new RFA contract this summer and is eligible for UFA status in 2027. The 25-year-old is a productive, elite skater whose career arc seems worthy of long-term investment, although he's not the right-shot defenceman you seek. He doesn't have no-trade protection, which helps, but his proximity to UFA status comes with some risk. The more words I write on the topic, the more ready I am to see what Elias Salomonsson looks like in a third-pairing role this season, with occasional bumps up to Josh Morrissey's side as performance merits. It seems more likely that the Jets want Salomonsson to keep developing in the AHL, given the number of defencemen they have under contract and Salomonsson's two remaining ELC years. If you believe that there is a time crunch on Winnipeg's window to win, you'd want to take that chance. Salomonsson may be 'only' 21 years old, but the Jets were just beaten in the playoffs by a team with a 21-year-old (Lian Bichsel) on its third pair. (Top photo of Mark Scheifele, Adam Lowry and Josh Morrissey: Nick Wosika / Imagn Images)
Global News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Global News
ANALYSIS: Jets have grown into a very good team, but changes must come
The anguish that players, management and fans alike felt when the Winnipeg Jets' season ended last weekend is still palpable. You could hear it in the voices we've heard this week as everyone tries to summarize this season: the highs, the lows, the painful. The messages delivered could have been given in unison. 'The foundation is strong,' 'learning how to win,' 'belief in the group.' They were delivered with sincerity, passion and professionalism. It will take time to fully reflect on a great regular season, and a playoff that fell well short of expectations. Story continues below advertisement On reflection, how can you not smile on Connor Hellebuyck's season — and Josh Morrissey's and Kyle Connor's? The growth we witnessed in Dylan Samberg, Cole Perfetti and Morgan Barron gives everyone hope. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The challenge now for everyone is to understand that, as good a season in Winnipeg as we've just witnessed, it did fall short. And with that, change must come. And don't panic, we aren't talking about major change, but something has to be different. The lines that we have grown to recite, like Adam Lowry with Nino Niederreiter and Mason Appleton, might not be intact next season. Nik Ehlers might not wear a Jets sweater next season. That roster that many of us dubbed the deepest in the NHL surely will change. It has to change if this team wants to get to a conference final and eventually win the Stanley Cup. Going into next season with the exact same roster would be a mistake. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff knows that. And the fanbase knows it too. Story continues below advertisement The Jets have grown into a very good team. With growth comes progress — and with progress comes change. Those are the facts in the National Hockey League.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Josh Morrissey injury update: Winnipeg Jets head coach Scott Arniel revealed the defenseman's injury is 'not good'
Josh Morrissey (via Getty Images) Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey was taken out of the game by a nasty lower-body injury in the final minute of the second period of Winnipeg's overtime loss to Dallas in Game 6 of their second-round playoff series. Josh Morrissey did not finish the remainder of the game. Following the game, coach Scott Arniel termed the injury 'not good,' which deprived the Winnipeg Jets of their most important player for a debilitating blow. Winnipeg Jets are in off-season limbo as Josh Morrissey leaves due to injury Josh Morrissey Injury leaves game after getting leg caught under falling Mikko Rantanen | Jets Stars Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey departed Game 6 versus the Dallas Stars in visible discomfort following an awkward collision with Dallas' Mikko Rantanen. The play, in which Josh Morrissey appeared to twist his right leg. The veteran blueliner limped to the bench before ultimately being assisted to the dressing room. He did not return for the third period or overtime, and the Jets lost 2-1 to be swept. After the match, head coach Scott Arniel provided an honest update, revealing that it's 'not good' and that more information would be released when the team got back to Winnipeg. Josh Morrissey, 30, also sat out games in these playoffs. He sat for Game 1 of the second-round series after suffering a knee injury in the Jets' Game 7 victory over the St. Louis Blues, further evidence of how much he is valued for his defensive depth on the team. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 자신이 전략의 달인이라고 생각하시나요? 레이드 섀도우 레전드 무료 체험 Undo In the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Morrissey had three assists in four games against the Dallas Stars before Game 6. His vision and leadership of his Blades have made him a ubiquitous face on the Winnipeg roster for decades. Morrissey also recorded another excellent regular season with 62 points (14 goals, 48 assists) in 80 games. He remains among the greatest defensemen playing in the NHL and among the most vital components of the Jets' dressing room. Also read: From backyard lessons to NHL leadership, Morrissey's story of family strength With the off-season coming up, Winnipeg will be waiting with bated breath for word on Josh Morrissey's future. His return will be the determining factor in how the Jets approach the 2025-26 NHL season. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Edmonton Journal
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Winnipeg Jets in must-win mode after Stars take Game 4
Article content Chipman folded his arms and looked away in the dying seconds. He didn't need to look up again. The game-ending horn that blared throughout American Airlines Center and the roar from the sellout crowd said it all. Chipman moved to the side as the dejected players made their way into the room, a frustrated Josh Morrissey punching the door on his way through. The Presidents' Trophy winners have been unable to win on the road in these playoffs and now they're on the brink of elimination. The result, with Mikael Granlund scoring all three goals for the Stars, left Jets coach Scott Arniel with a clear message for his players. 'Don't lose your last game,' he said. 'Real simple.' Game 5 goes Thursday at Canada Life Centre, a venue that will be a welcome sight for a Winnipeg side that has lost nine straight road playoff games and all five this post-season.
Globe and Mail
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Winnipeg still searching for first road win of post-season
Pursed lips, a few deep breaths, and a consistent line of questions. There are no easy answers to what ails the Winnipeg Jets on the road in the NHL playoffs. Forward Cole Perfetti talked Monday about the need to focus on effort and attention to detail. Defenceman Josh Morrissey was next out of the visitors' dressing room at American Airlines Centre and said much of the same. Head coach Scott Arniel, the last to speak in the interview area, recalled a line from a conversation he once had with a 'great coach' who remained nameless. 'There isn't a home or a road way to play,' he said. 'There's only the right way.' The Jets certainly played the right way in the regular season, securing the Presidents' Trophy and home-ice advantage through the playoffs. That came in handy in a seven-game win over St. Louis in the first round with the home team winning each time. However, the Jets not only lost on the road to the Blues, they struggled mightily at times. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck was pulled from all three games. Returning to the road for Game 3 in Dallas after splitting two games at home, Winnipeg played a decent 40 minutes on Sunday before allowing three goals in the third period of a 5-2 defeat. 'It hasn't gone the way we wanted on the road but we're very much in a series right now,' Morrissey said. 'Obviously we can look at some of those moments in games where something doesn't go our way and maybe it compounds a little bit and [we're] better able to handle that in the future. 'But like I said, we're very much in a competitive series right now and obviously tomorrow's game is massive.' During the off-day media availabilities, a handful of skaters took to the ice for an optional practice. Some players strolled down the hallway in summer casual wear. Others rode stationary bikes and stretched. Despite the 2-1 deficit in the second-round series, a sense of optimism hovered in the busy hallway. And why not? These are the top-seeded Jets after all, who had the league's third-best road record (26-15-0) in the regular season and earned 116 points overall. 'This is Game 93 coming up and we've got to get back to being that road team that we were for the 82 [regular-season] games and being better,' Arniel said. 'Certainly this playoff hasn't been good. 'We've got to be more consistent and it's got to be more through the 60 minutes.' Mikko Rantanen led the charge for Dallas in Game 3 with a three-point performance. He entered Monday's games as the NHL playoff leader in goals (nine) and points (18). Dallas could also soon get a boost as star defenceman Miro Heiskanen moves closer to a return after undergoing knee surgery in early February. Stars coach Pete DeBoer said Heiskanen had a scheduled off-day Monday. 'I'm still sticking by what I projected that we would see him in the second round,' he said at the team's practice facility in nearby Frisco. The Stars have a 38-27 all-time record in Game 4s with a 21-14 record at home. Winnipeg is 3-8 in Game 4s with a 2-5 record on the road. 'If I take off my Dallas hat and just look at [Game 3] from the outside, it's a 2-2 game in the third period,' DeBoer said. 'That's a pretty good road game by that team, I think up until we kind of opened it up there in the last 10 minutes.' The Jets will need Hellebuyck to snap out of his road funk to get home-ice advantage back. A nominee for the Vezina and Hart trophies this year, he sits last in the NHL in road playoff goals-against average (6.65) and save percentage (.772). 'I thought we made it tougher on him last night,' DeBoer said. 'I thought we had more traffic and more direct play with the puck. So we've got to continue to build on that.' Hellebuyck was not made available to speak with reporters after Game 3 or on Monday. Winnipeg also needs its power play to find its form. The Jets have scored just once in 13 opportunities with the man advantage in this series. 'We were the best team in the league all year,' Perfetti said. 'So I think that gives us all the confidence in the world.'
