Winnipeg Jets Star Defenseman Sidelined After Olympic Injury

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey will be out for an extended period after suffering an upper-body injury during the Milan Cortina Olympics. The veteran player was hurt during Canada's opening game against Czechia and missed the remainder of the tournament, including Sunday's gold medal game loss to the United States.

Winnipeg Jets defenseman Josh Morrissey will be sidelined for an extended period following an upper-body injury he suffered during the Milan Cortina Olympics, according to TSN’s Monday report.

The veteran player left Canada’s opening match against Czechia on February 12 and remained out for the rest of the Olympic tournament, missing Sunday’s 2-1 overtime defeat to the United States in the championship game.

Morrissey managed only 7:10 of playing time during the Olympics, marking another setback after he previously sat out last February’s 4 Nations Face-Off title game due to sickness. Canada claimed victory in that Boston event, defeating the U.S. 3-2 in overtime.

The injury creates a significant void for the Jets, who resume play following the Olympic pause with a Wednesday matchup against the Vancouver Canucks. Morrissey serves as a crucial offensive contributor from the blue line and plays in all game situations.

The 30-year-old ranks as Winnipeg’s fourth-highest point producer with 42 points across 56 contests this season, while logging the 11th-most ice time league-wide at 24:37 per game.

“We want Josh in this game. He helps us with puck moving and everything he does, but in the end, if you’re not physically able to do it…” Canada head coach Jon Cooper stated prior to the Olympic championship. “When it comes to the flag, no one is getting in the way of it. If (players are) incapable of giving what they think is optimal effort, they don’t want to put the country in harm. They understand what we have here.”

Now in his tenth complete campaign with Winnipeg, Morrissey was selected 13th overall by the franchise in 2013. Throughout his career, he has accumulated 415 points on 90 goals and 325 assists over 718 NHL appearances.

Following their Presidents’ Trophy championship last year, Winnipeg has fallen dramatically to 13th place in the Western Conference standings, sitting 11 points behind a playoff position.