The Winnipeg Jets have announced the team has signed defenceman Josh Morrissey to an eight-year, $50 million contract extension. The salary cap hit will be $6.25 million per season and will begin starting in the 2020-21 season.
Morrissey’s eight-year, $50 million contract breaks down as the following with an AAV of $6.25 million:
2020-21: $8 million
2021-22: $8 million
2022-23: $5.2 million
2023-24: $8 million
2024-25: $6.4 million
2025-26: $4.8 million
2026-27: $4.8 million
2027-28: $4.8 million https://t.co/IMQtNAljRu— Winnipeg Jets PR (@WpgJetsPR) September 12, 2019
Winnipeg Jets Re-Sign Josh Morrissey
Since drafting him 13th overall in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Jets have found a rock-solid defenceman in Morrissey. He still has one year left on the two-year, $6.3-million bridge deal he signed with the Jets a year ago.
Since making his debut at the end 2015-16 season, Morrissey has recorded 77 points (19 goals and 58 assists) in 223 NHL games. During the 2018-19 season, his third full season with the Jets, he set career highs in assists (25), points (31), and time on ice averaging 22:24. Morrissey set his career-high in goals (7) during the 2017-18 season.
During the Jets run to the Western Conference Final in 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Morrissey appeared in 16 playoff games. He recorded two points (one goal and one assist), while his time on ice was one of the highest at 20:23.
Going Forward
This season, Morrissey will play an even bigger role on the team. With the Jets losing defencemen Jacob Trouba, Tyler Myers, and Ben Chiarot in the offseason look for the Jets to increase Morrissey’s minutes even more. He will be relied upon now to step into the top pairing defence alongside Dustin Byfuglien. Morrissey has taken strides in his first three seasons in the NHL.
Usually, it takes defenceman longer to adapt to the league than forwards. Under head coach Paul Maurice, Morrissey has been brought along at the correct pace. Each season his minutes have increased. This season there are questions on the defence for the Jets. Now with Morrissey locked up for eight more years, the team has a good piece to build around.
Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff still has work to do this off-season. With Morrissey out of the way, he can continue to work on getting RFAs Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor signed before the start of the season.
