Morrissey always improving

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This article was published 16/10/2024 (354 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Josh Morrissey is a hard marker.

Despite all the progress the Winnipeg Jets defenceman has made since he was chosen 13th overall in the 2013 NHL Draft, Morrissey has set a high standard and he’s constantly doing things on and off the ice to push that ceiling just a little bit higher.

“He’s always had the drive and inner push. He wants to absorb so much knowledge and soak up the game as much as he can,” said Winnipeg Jets goalie Eric Comrie. “He’s going out with a purpose. There’s intent behind everything that he does. Not many guys have that trait. It’s what makes him so special.”

Morrissey has a lot of special traits in his arsenal and they’ve been on display frequently in the early stages of the NHL season as the Jets are off to a 3-0 start as they welcome the San Jose Sharks to Canada Life Centre on Friday as they continue a four-game homestand.

The Jets’ top blue-liner has been a force in all three zones, chipping in four assists while averaging more than 24 minutes of ice time.

It’s difficult to find an area of the game he’s not impacting, which is one of the reasons he’s grown into one of the best defencemen in the NHL.

“The thought process this summer was to continue to improve on all areas of my game,” said Morrissey. “Be more consistent with everything I can do, in any capacity that I can. Trying to grow every element of my game has been my focus and is what drives me every day as an athlete. It’s what is fun to me, striving to be the best player that you can.”

Much was made about the empowering conversation former Jets head coach Rick Bowness had with Morrissey after taking the job in the summer of 2022 and for good reason.

Bowness’ contention that Morrissey should work his way into the Norris Trophy discussion wasn’t a bunch of hot air either, it ended up being a prescient prediction — with the Jets’ minute-muncher finishing fifth (2022) and seventh (2023) in voting by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the NHL’s top blue-liner.

“That’s a nice feather in your cap and makes you feel some validation for what you’re doing,” said Morrissey. “But at the same time, I am constantly judging my own game and looking at how I can improve and what areas I can get better at.”

Morrissey is quick to point out current head coach Scott Arniel (who was the associate coach on Bowness’ staff and in charge of running the defence) probably hasn’t been given as much credit as he deserves for his role with his progression.

“I’ve loved working with him. We mesh really well personality-wise,” said Morrissey, noting Arniel has also shown the ability to help him calm down when he’s running a little bit hot. “He pushes me and expects a lot out of me, just like I do out of myself. He knows when to rein me in and when to push me. I’m my biggest critic.”

The ability to self-evaluate and ask more of himself is something Morrissey has been open about since entering the league on a full-time basis in the fall of 2016.

His role and responsibilities have morphed over time to the point he’s now back to being involved in all situations — playing among the most minutes at even strength, quarterbacking the power play and returning to the penalty-killing unit.

“His instincts are just outstanding, I mean they are elite,” said Jets assistant coach Dean Chynoweth. “His anticipation, the way he moves around the ice, the way he can recover from maybe a poor situation that he got himself into or had to cover for somebody else, just very elite.”

That’s part of the reason he’s among several players on the Jets’ roster who are expected to be involved in the 4 Nations Face-off in February.

Having the opportunity to suit up for Team Canada at this best-on-best tournament is something Morrissey uses as additional motivation.

“Obviously, it’s something that you think about. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was on my radar and in my head,” said Morrissey, who recorded 26 goals and 145 points during the past two seasons. “The better player I can be for the Winnipeg Jets, day-in and day-out, will give me a better opportunity to try and make that team.”

Morrissey concurs that it’s an exciting time to be a skilled defenceman, with all of the emphasis around the NHL revolving around activating offensively and being heavily involved with the second wave of the attack.

He spends lots of time watching his peers, from Norris Trophy winners such as Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche, Roman Josi of the Nashville Predators, Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Victor Hedman of the Tampa Bay Lightning, among others.

“Stylistically, there’s a lot more motion in the O-zone and motion on the O-zone blue line,” said Morrissey. “Obviously, it suits my style and has allowed me to realize what I felt was always there.”

The ability to dance around a defender and make a slick play is something Morrissey has done numerous times during the past several seasons and it’s opened up a number of scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.

“It’s like having another forward out there, the way he thinks the game offensively,” said Jets forward Gabe Vilardi. “Yet at the same time he’s so good in his own zone. He’s strong on pucks. He’s not the biggest guy, but he plays like a big guy and then, obviously, his skating that you guys can see.”

ken.wiebe@freepress.mb.ca

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