Josh Morrissey has a new nickname this season, one that speaks to just how well the Winnipeg Jets defenseman has played: “Norrissey.”
It’s hard not to think it’s accurate with the season the 27-year-old is having.
He has an NHL career-high 39 points, which leads the Jets. His 33 assists are also an NHL career high, and he has at least one assist in 26 of Winnipeg’s games. His assist in a 3-2 loss at the Boston Bruins on Thursday extended his assist streak to 11 games (one goal, 13 assists), making him the 10th defenseman in NHL history to have a streak that long.
He’ll try to extend that streak when the Jets (21-11-1) play the Washington Capitals (17-13-4) at Capital One Arena on Friday (7 pm ET; NHLN, NBCSWA, TSN3, SN NOW).
Morrissey said the success stems from an offseason talk he had with Rick Bowness, who was named Jets coach July 3.
“From my first call with him, he basically challenged me to be able to do more and push myself and continue to take my game to new levels,” Morrissey said. “I remember getting off that call and it’s all you want as a player, right, is to have the coach have the confidence in you to play you and all those things, but also believe you have more to give and room to improve your game. .
“So, I think that really pushed me through the rest of the summer and into the start of the season. He’s been encouraging me to play aggressive and all of our defense to play more aggressive, be more up in the game.”
Morrissey is one of three Jets with a team-leading 14 power-play points (forwards Kyle Connor and Pierre-Luc Dubois). He’s averaging 1.18 points per game, third among NHL defensemen behind Erik Karlsson of the San Jose Sharks (1.31) and Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabers (1.19).
He’s being talked about as a contender for the Norris Trophy, given annually to the NHL’s best defenseman as voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association, hence the nickname.
“Fans of our team have really seemed to latch onto it. I think it’s fun,” Morrissey said. “I think obviously it’s an honor to even be mentioned in that category, whether it’s just for fun or people actually think that.”
His teammates do.
“Obviously he’s contributing at all ends of the ice and playing huge minutes,” the Jets rookie forward Cole Perfetti said. “His defensive game speaks for itself, but obviously it’s hard to score in this league as a defenseman. To put up the numbers he’s putting up is pretty impressive. It’s great to have a guy like that on the team. He’s so offensively gifted, skates so well, he can join the rush and be the first guy back. It’s fun to play with him and he makes it look pretty easy out there.”
Video: OTT@WPG: Morrissey moves around defender and scores
Bowness issued his challenge based on what he’d seen from Morrissey as coach and assistant coach of Dallas Stars from 2018-21, and as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning from 2013-18.
“Well, as I told him then, I just remember coming in here for a couple of years and our prescout had a lot to do with Josh Morrissey. ‘OK, this is what he’s going to do. Just be aware when he’s on the ice.’ He’s an elite skater. He has elite hockey IQ. He’s got great skill. I want to see those things,” Bowness said. “Anyways, you move on from last year, but I told him that’s the Josh Morrissey I want to see — that kid I coached against for a couple of years and was very impressed with. .
“I know it’s there, you know it’s there, and we’re going to work together to try to get it out.”
Morrissey’s game in the jump has been noticeable not only to the Jets, but to opponents.
“Just from the couple of times we’ve played him, he’s very aggressive, he’s not afraid to pinch down on wingers and hold pucks in and he’s pretty effective at doing it,” Chicago Blackhawks forward. Patrick Kane said. “Seems like he’s doing a great job on their power play, running the top there. We were talking about him the other day: it just seems he’s taken the next step as a player.”
It’s not that offensive production is new to Morrissey. He scored an NHL career-high 12 goals with the Jets in 2021-22 and had several productive seasons with Prince Albert of the Western Hockey League, including 73 points (28 goals, 45 assists) in 2013-14. He was selected no. 13 by the Jets in the 2013 NHL Draft.
“Yeah, he just had to get away from me. That might be the key,” New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba said with a laugh. Trouba and Morrissey were defensive partners for the better part of Trouba’s time in Winnipeg (2015-19).
“We’d talk after games and just kind of learn from each other. Being young players, that’s important to have, especially a teammate and a partner you’re going through it with,” Trouba said. “It’s good to see. I think it’s been a long time coming for him, because he has that ability and all that skill, and I’m glad it’s coming together for him.
“I can’t say enough how happy I am for him, and I hope he keeps it going. It’s fun for me to watch. I’m sure it’s fun for him and all his teammates, but definitely fun for me to keep track of.”
Morrissey’s increased productivity and steady defensive play is earning him more attention and it could earn him some individual hardware at the end of the season. His focus, however, isn’t on the Norris.
“As far as the way I view it or take it, my mentality has never changed. I’m just trying to get better every day,” he said. “We’ve had a good start as a team which helps everyone individually. There’s so much season left and so many things I need to keep working on to get better at trying and being in that conversation and having that goal is a good thing. , to push far and push for that level of play.”
NHL.com independent correspondent Darrin Bauming contributed to this story
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