Jets’ Morrissey should be shoo-in for Olys Predictions for Milan-Cortina as men’s hockey roster deadline looms Dump and Chase
By: Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe Posted: 6:19 PM CST Friday, Dec. 19, 2025

A weekly lap around the NHL by Free Press hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe

DENVER — There hasn’t been a whole lot to smile about lately for Josh Morrissey, with his Winnipeg Jets experiencing extreme turbulence these days.

But the mere mention of the upcoming Winter Olympics brought an instant glow on Friday morning, especially since he’d be hitting the ice a few hours later with an expected pair of future teammates in Colorado’s Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.

“They’re both special players. Just what they’re doing is incredible every night,” Morrissey told the Free Press.

Prior to facing the Jets, MacKinnon led the NHL in goals with 28 and was tied for the points lead with Connor McDavid at 58. Makar, meanwhile, topped all blue-liners with 40 points. They are a huge reason the Avalanche are sitting on top of the league standings with a 24-2-7 record.

“They’re both great guys off the ice. I had a chance to skate with them a little bit last summer (at the orientation camp in Calgary) and see how hard they work on their craft,” said Morrissey.

He joked that it’s a lot more fun to be on the same side as the dynamic duo rather than try to contain them, which is a major part of his assignment every time Winnipeg and Colorado clash.

We already know MacKinnon and Makar will be on the squad, as they were among the six players initially named earlier this year. McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart were the others. The clock is now ticking and the final decisions are looming for the rest of the 25-man squad. The roster is set to be announced on Dec. 31.

“I’m definitely thinking about the Olympics. It’s coming up quick here,” MacKinnon said following his team’s morning skate on Friday.

“I’m excited. Obviously there’s a couple guys on the Jets that are looking good. Scheif (Mark Scheifele) and J-Mo, they’re two friends of mine now. Great guys, great players. It would be fun to play with both guys at the Olympics.”

Morrissey is a lock, especially after his strong play at the 4 Nations Face-Off. He entered play on Friday tied for sixth in scoring among NHL defencemen (tied for fourth among Canadians) with 28 points. Scheifele is among those on the bubble for the final 19 spots. His 40 points lead the Jets and are sixth amongst Canadian forwards in the league.

“Scheif, I think we play similar games a little bit in the O-zone,” said MacKinnon. “I definitely can learn a lot from him.”

Roster projections have been plentiful — and for good reason, since there appears to be some debate for the remaining spots on the periphery. With that in mind, we’ve dusted off the Dump & Chase crystal ball to predict what the team is going to look like once it is submitted.

KEN’S PICKS:

FORWARDS

Crosby-MacKinnon-Reinhart

Celebrini-McDavid-Marner

Wilson-Suzuki-Jarvis

Marchand-Bennett-Scheifele

Stone-Point

DEFENCE

Toews-Makar

Morrissey-Theodore

Sanheim-Parayko

Chychrun-Schaefer

GOAL

Thompson

Kuemper

Blackwood

KEN SAYS: Goaltending is the biggest question mark and there could be some implications attached to St. Louis Blues general manager Doug Armstrong leaving Jordan Binnington off the roster, but it has to be under consideration given how tough it’s been going for him this season.

Logan Thompson is the clear-cut No. 1, Darcy Kuemper has the Cup-winning experience Binnington would have brought to the table and Mackenzie Blackwood’s numbers since moving to the Colorado Avalanche have been impressive. While the injury to Blackwood left him off most early lists, he’s delivered strong performances in the 13 games since he returned.

On the back end, leaving Los Angeles Kings stalwart Drew Doughty off the roster isn’t an easy choice, but making room for 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer has become a necessity, given his high-end talent and mobility. Colton Parayko isn’t a lock, but he’s likely to get the nod over Doughty given how well the Blues’ defender played at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Up front, winger Brandon Hagel is likely to usurp one of the players on my list and he’s someone I have no issue with being on the team. He’s been much better than teammate Point this season, but Point was named to the team in advance.

Chicago Blackhawks star Connor Bedard will be on the on-call list in case of injuries, but his own injury might leave him on the outside looking in — despite his fantastic start to the season.

Anthony Cirelli is a Jon Cooper favourite — and for good reason — but Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki is the front-runner for the Selke Trophy and is contributing at nearly a point per game pace, that’s why he gets the nod.

A trio of Manitobans — Travis Sanheim of Elkhorn and Winnipeggers Seth Jarvis and Mark Stone — should all be back after helping Canada win a gold medal last February. Scheifele’s production at five-on-five (33 of his 40 points heading into Friday’s action) pushed him ahead of the strong candidates that also include Dallas Stars forward Wyatt Johnston.

Strathclair product Morgan Geekie is having an incredible season for the Boston Bruins, but is likely going to be a victim of the numbers game.

MIKE’S PICKS:

FORWARDS

Crosby-MacKinnon-Marner

Celebrini-McDavid-Stone

Hagel-Suzuki-Wilson

Marchand-Point-Reinhart

Jarvis-Cirelli

DEFENCE

Toews-Makar

Morrissey-Theodore

Chychrun-Doughty

Schaefer-Bouchard

GOAL

Thompson

Kuemper

Binnington

MIKE SAYS: Five differences from Kenny: Up front I have Hagel over Bennett, who is not having a great season (11 goals, 11 assists) and whose hard-nosed style of play can be filled by the likes of Tom Wilson and Brad Marchand, among others. And Cirelli over Scheifele, even though I personally wouldn’t make that call. But as Kenny alluded to above, Cooper loves him.

On the blue-line I have Evan Bouchard and Doughty in, and Parayko and Sanheim out. Bouchard, for his defensive flaws, has the big bomb from the blue-line and was outstanding in the Stanley Cup Final last spring, showing he can handle a big stage. For Parayko and Sanheim, it’s a case of getting off to slow starts (by their standards).

In goal I believe they’ll go with Binnington — based almost entirely on his 4 Nations play — even if it’s as the third-stringer, with Blackwood getting edged out.

From a purely selfish storyline perspective, given that I’ll be in Italy to cover the Olympics for the Free Press, I hope I’m wrong and Scheifele and Sanheim are both on the squad.

AROUND THE GLASS

BUS BOYS

They grow up so fast, don’t they? Morrissey was feeling nostalgic on Friday as he talked about riding the bus with the Prince Albert Raiders more than a decade ago, dreaming big with good friend and teammate Leon Draisaitl.

Just look at them now. Morrissey is one of the top defencemen in the NHL, and Draisaitl has morphed into an elite power forward who just eclipsed the 1,000-point mark earlier this week with a four-assist game in Pittsburgh.

“Going back to junior we both had aspirations of playing in the NHL. It’s hard not to reminisce,” said Morrissey, who was with Draisaitl during the 2012-13 and 2013-14 campaigns.

“Those hours on the bus where we’d be streaming hockey games. Watching NHL teams trying to emulate them. For us at the time we watched a lot of Ottawa games.”

Morrissey had his eye on then Senators defenceman Erik Karlsson, while Draisaitl would closely study Jason Spezza.

“It’s hard to imagine how fast the time has gone,” said Morrissey. “To see him (get 1,000 points) is pretty special. I don’t think he’s slowing down any time soon.”

Morrissey sent his old pal a congratulatory text earlier this week and will get the chance to talk in person when Edmonton comes to Winnipeg on Dec. 29.

“Right away in junior you saw the whole package. He’s a huge guy, big frame, amazing vision — he can hang on to the puck against anyone and you can’t take it away. And he’s got this amazing release which is kind of unique to him,” said Morrissey.

“He has every tool you could want. And the competitive edge, as well. It’s easy to look past with all the skill, but his compete and love of the game is probably what’s driven him to be as great as he is beyond just the natural ability.”

BEST D-VISION?

The Central Division got an infusion of talent last week when the Minnesota Wild added Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes in a blockbuster deal.

This was a big swing by Wild general manager Bill Guerin, who sent defenceman Zeev Buium, centre Marco Rossi, winger Liam Ohgren and a 2026 first-rounder to the Canucks, who are in a battle for the NHL basement.

The ability to add Hughes — who is one of the best defencemen in the NHL — was a major coup for Guerin, who earlier this season signed winger Kirill Kaprizov to a massive contract extension.

Hughes praised Guerin for having the gumption to make the deal, leading some observers to believe that the mobile blue-liner might be willing to sign a contract extension when he becomes eligible for one.

“I might be biased but I think the Central Division is the hardest in the whole league and it got even harder,” said Jets defenceman Dylan DeMelo.

“It is a gauntlet. Our division is really tough, top to bottom with great players at all positions. I guess we got the riches of the D-corps in our division and if there was an all-star team, I would like our chances out of the Central.”

Asked for his initial thoughts on the deal, Jets head coach Scott Arniel made it clear he would have preferred the Canucks had sent Hughes to the Eastern Conference.

“Not overly excited to see that,” said Arniel. “I was really hoping he’d get reunited with his brothers (with the New Jersey Devils).”

In three games since the move, Hughes has one goal and one assist and the Wild have gone 3-0-0.

The Jets will get a chance to see the new-look Wild when they visit next Saturday, Dec. 27.

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