The Winnipeg Jets will fill a large internal hole ahead of their first preseason game. Just a day before they went out to play their game, the team’s top baby blueliner is back in the fold.
Josh Morrissey was always going to suit up for the Winnipeg Jets. I can’t imagine there was a situation in which they entered the regular season without him.
But yet they broke camp, and he wasn’t there. The RFA ends the impasse with dried ink on a two year, $6.3MM bridge deal. This sets the stage for an extension next summer.
First off, they won’t have to worry about his RFA status again next year, which is what would happen with the classic one year deal. They could then use that time to extend him, building on the goodwill they received with this deal.
I like it. It’s not high or low. They didn’t have to go to salary arbitration. That’s usually just asking for trouble. I didn’t want another potentially contentious relationship with a young defenseman.
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I love Josh Morrissey, and you should, too. First off, his name is full of Morrissey jokes. Easy to write about. Also, he’s the Jets top shot blocker.
Oh, and with Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers having some lingering injury issues, and Dustin Byfuglien getting up there, he’s good to have. You know the Jets will have to dip into their injury depth at some point. That’s why they made certain they had some.
Morrissey is young, affordable and very good. I’m glad he’s joining the team at camp and it won’t be a lingering storyline. I wonder if they broached about a long-term deal now, only to be unable to match up on money.
Now, with the cheapish bridge deal buying out years of control, why not buy out some UFA years next time around? After Connor Hellebuyck, Blake Wheeler and Nikolaj Ehlers already signed extensions, you know Winnipeg is trying to lock up the core.
So, next on the priority list is Patrik Laine, of course, and then Josh Morrissey. Young, rock solid defensemen are hard to come by. After that, maybe Kyle Connor can work his way into the conversation.
But for now, the Jets can just enjoy these two (hopefully of the deep playoff variety) runs with Morrissey now. Later? That’s future Winnipeg Jets problem. Current Winnipeg Jets are doing just fine.