Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey is set to be sidelined for several weeks following an upper-body injury sustained during the Milan Cortina Olympics, according to TSN’s report on Monday. The injury occurred early in the tournament, forcing Morrissey to exit Canada‘s opening game against Czechia on February 12 and miss all remaining matches, including the gold-medal overtime loss to the United States.
Impact of Injury on Morrissey’s Olympic Performance and Jets Return
Morrissey was limited to just over seven minutes of ice time at the Olympics, a significant cut from his usual workload. This setback came shortly after he missed the previous year’s 4 Nations Face-Off championship game due to illness; that event saw Canada claim a 3-2 overtime victory against the U.S. in Boston. His absence leaves the Winnipeg Jets without a crucial playmaker and versatile defenseman as they prepare to resume their season against the Vancouver Canucks following the Olympic break.
Josh Morrissey’s Role and Contributions to the Winnipeg Jets
The 30-year-old defenseman is key to the Jets’ lineup, ranking fourth in team scoring with 42 points over 56 games this season. Morrissey also ranks among the NHL‘s top leaders in average ice time, logging 24 minutes and 37 seconds per game, which places him 11th in the entire league. Drafted 13th overall in 2013, Morrissey is in his tenth full NHL season with Winnipeg and has tallied 415 career points, including 90 goals and 325 assists over 718 games.
Coach Jon Cooper Addresses Morrissey’s Injury and Team Effort
Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper expressed the importance of Morrissey’s presence on the ice prior to the Olympic final, stating,
“We want Josh in this game. He helps us with puck moving and everything he does, but in the end, if you’re not physically able to do it…”
Cooper also emphasized the players’ commitment, saying,
“When it comes to the flag, no one is getting in the way of it. If (players are) incapable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country in harm. They understand what we have here.”
Winnipeg Jets Face Challenges Amid Current Standings
Coming off a Presidents’ Trophy-winning season, the Jets have struggled this year and have fallen to 13th place in the Western Conference standings, trailing playoff positioning by 11 points. Morrissey’s injury adds further difficulty for Winnipeg as they attempt to recover momentum in a tightly contested race to reach the postseason.
