Winnipeg Jets Show Josh Morrissey What They Think of Him
The Winnipeg Jets went into last night’s game knowing they’ll be without their top defenseman. More importantly, he’s the captain of the powerplay.
The Winnipeg Jets know what Dustin Byfuglien‘s injury is. They don’t have to disclose it. Hopefully they just know their man, and want to give their oldest regular a maintenance day.
That, I can’t really do much more other than speculate on. Hopefully they just want to make sure the big man is well-rested for the stretch run. If he has to miss a few games in the regular season, I’m okay with that. More than okay.
The big man needs his rest. He’s the team’s top defenseman and the quarterback of the powerplay. A really good powerplay, mind you. So when he goes, someone has to take his place.
Dmitry Kulikov dropped into the lineup aside Ben Chiarot without much issue. Kulikov is a steady veteran, but nothing special. You can plug him in and expect not to notice him.
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And this is the big one: To replace Buff at the head of the powerplay? It wasn’t Jacob Trouba, as it had been at times in the past (if healthy), but Josh Morrissey.
I wouldn’t have expected this. It really tells you where the Jets are at. The team clearly loves Morrissey, and they just don’t like Trouba as much as we think. I get it.
The bridge deal, the no long-term discussions. Look, Jacob Trouba has an injury history that Morrissey doesn’t. Morrissey is the new wave, the smaller, quicker defenseman who can still hold up in his own end.
He’s not overly flashy, but you get the feeling both he and Trouba could be big point producers in the powerplay situation. And hey, Morrissey had two assists last night, including one on the man advantage to open the scoring.
He took a big slapper from the point, missed wide, and it caromed right to Blake Wheeler, who pushed it cross-ice to Patrik Laine for the easy goal. Just how they drew it up.
Jacob Trouba is still young, at 24, just a year older than Morrissey. They’re both great. But the Winnipeg Jets think that the health, speed and hockey IQ of Morrissey makes him a better building block.
And they’re probably right. Where does that leave Trouba? Well, we’ll find out sometime soon, huh? But, no point in not keeping him for a couple of Stanley Cup runs. He’s on a decent contract, if you hadn’t heard.
dark. Next. What is this, a crossover article?
Either way, I don’t expect him to be with the team at the end of his deal. Morrissey? I’ll be awaiting his long-term contract this off-season. We know Winnipeg wants it.