2 weeks Ago By Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe
Like several members of the core group before him, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey shared a few thoughts Thursday about the disappointment of last spring’s first-round playoff exit against the Colorado Avalanche. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * Like several members of the core group before him, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey shared a few thoughts Thursday about the disappointment of last spring’s first-round playoff exit against the Colorado Avalanche. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? Like several members of the core group before him, Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey shared a few thoughts Thursday about the disappointment of last spring’s first-round playoff exit against the Colorado Avalanche.
The alternate captain was emotional when he spoke to reporters after the deciding game, expressing the importance of learning from the heartache to help the group push forward. Now, speaking with media following the first on-ice session of training camp, Morrissey made it clear he wasn’t interested in living in the past, even if it provided some additional motivation. “I don’t think it ever really goes away for me.
Obviously, it was a tough end and it takes a couple of weeks to collect your thoughts but, for me, it was pretty much in my head all throughout the summer,” said Morrissey. “Just not being satisfied with having a great regular season and all that kind of stuff and trying to improve and work on things.” MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS Jets’ blue-liner Josh Morrisssey is focused on improving in his status as an elite defenceman in the NHL.
Morrissey is coming off consecutive seasons in which he garnered plenty of votes for the Norris Trophy. After notching a career-high 76 points in 2022-23, he posted an impressive 69 points while taking great pride in improving his defensive metrics. “Two years ago, I had a massive offensive jump.
I want to keep that and improve and to have my defensive game at its highest end, too,” said Morrissey. “And not trade one for the other but try to have both. I was really happy with how our whole team defensive game improved last year.
Obviously, individuals benefit from that. “But I was happy with my commitment to both ends of the puck. So, my thoughts were how can I continue to evolve offensively, defensively, watch some things (on video) that I can use and just try to learn something to improve my game.
Looking at that and trying to work on some special teams. That’s obviously an area that we worked on improving and that I want to improve on myself personally, too — some things to improve on the power play.” The last time we saw Vlad Namestnikov on the ice, the veteran Jets skater had collapsed in a pool of blood after taking a slap shot to the face from teammate Nate Schmidt during Game 4 of the playoffs in Denver.
He’d ultimately spend the night in hospital with a fractured cheekbone and miss the following contest at Canada Life Centre, which Colorado won to end Winnipeg’s season. “It was probably a couple of months that I didn’t feel good at all. Constantly pain in the cheek,” Namestnikov said Thursday of the recovery process.
“Now it’s good. Ready to go.” The veteran is a top candidate to start as Winnipeg’s second-line centre this season, a role he played at various times last year with success.
Others in the mix would include young prospects Brad Lambert and Brayden Yager. “My mindset doesn’t change. I’m coming into camp, working hard and earning that spot,” said Namestnikov.
The way last year ended left a mark — both literally and figuratively. “It definitely left a sour taste in everyone’s mouths. We had a great regular season and to end it like that was disappointment,” said Namestnikov.
“I know everyone in this room is hungry for more and pretty much we have the same group. We’re going to battle in camp and battle all season and try and make the playoffs here.” He’s far from the biggest guy on the ice.
But Nikita Chibrikov always seems to stand out in a crowd. Just ask 6-6 forward Kieron Walton, who found himself flat on his back Thursday after the 5-9 Chibrikov dished out a heck of a hit during a training camp battle drill. “I’m not scared about that.
I’m not the biggest size but I try to do all the work that big guys do,” Chibrikov told the when asked about his feisty nature. The 21-year-old from Russia is coming off a terrific rookie pro campaign with the Manitoba Moose which included making his NHL debut in Game 82 for the Jets and scoring a goal. He had a great showing last weekend at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton — with two goals and an assist in three games — and has carried that momentum into camp.
“It’s more confidence for me. Feeling more comfortable. Everything is better.
My hockey, my mind, outside of the rink, my language,” said Chibrikov “I feel good. I’m ready to make the next step.” Forward prospect Chaz Lucius was a full participant in Thursday’s session after sitting out all three games of the Young Stars Classic.
The 17th-overall selection from the 2020 NHL Draft has dealt with a number of tough injuries during the past several seasons and is eager to get into some game action after he suffered an ankle injury in January. Lucius is going to need ample time at the American Hockey League level this year to get himself back into the groove, but the Jets are going to be patient with him as he pushes forward in the development process. “He shed the non-contact.
It will be a slower process for him to get back to (being) game ready. We will kind of take it day by day with him,” said Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. “Excited to see him out there.
He generally looks like he’s moving well. The surgery he had was not a traditional one, not an easy one, one that when he had it, the doctors were very cautious about saying the rehab was going to be very intense.” Saturday and Sunday mark the first two preseason games for the Jets and head coach Scott Arniel acknowledged he would be dressing fairly youthful lineups against the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers.
It also means some of the depth players signed as free agents in the summer, such as forwards Mason Shaw and Jared Anderson-Dolan and blue-liners like Haydn Fleury and Dylan Coghlan will likely have a chance to start making an impression in the battle for jobs. “I think we’ll give them all a chance,” said Arniel. “Some of them I’ve coached against, but I’d really like to see them in our mix.
I think that the one thing, we know with free agency, it was a tough draw for us. The one thing we did as an organization is improve our depth. We have a lot more players that are NHL-ready to go.
Some of those guys you mentioned, they’re going to be right in the thick of things. Just like with the battle on defence, those guys fighting for those last few spots. We give them the ice time, let them go out and make their point.
” Arniel was also asked about defenceman Ville Heinola and if making the team out of training camp last fall before suffering the ankle injury might give him a leg up in the competition. “I just told him, and as I talked to him this summer, use that as the motivation. I challenged him last year to come in and fight for one of those jobs, and he did.
He came ready,” said Arniel. “I said the same thing to him this year. It’s unfortunate what happened to him last year, and the other thing is we had zero injuries really on our back-end last year.
“So he didn’t really get a chance, especially with us having eight D here. This year, he’s in a battle with some other guys. Come in, put his best foot forward.
I think he gained confidence last year by how he played. He knew he played well and he gave himself a chance.” Arniel also gave a glimpse of his goalie plan, noting Connor Hellebuyck would likely be in line for two-and-a-half games, with those coming during the final four outings.
Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. Kaapo Kahkonen and Eric Comrie will each get a start during the weekend games against the Wild and Oilers.
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ca X: @WiebesWorld Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man., Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer. Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler.
But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider .
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Connor, Scheifele, Vilardi Niederreiter, Lowry, Appleton Ehlers, Namestnikov, Iafallo Jonsson-Fjallby, Kupari, Barron Shaw, Gustafsson, Anderson-Dolan Barlow, Lambert, Ford Yager, Julien, Chibrikov Torgersson, Toninato, Levis He, Zhilkin, Lucius King, Walton, Loponen Morrissey, Coghlan Stanley, Demelo Samberg, Salomonsson Fleury, Pionk Heinola, Miller Kuzmin, Lundmark Sautner, Bauer Anhorn, Barteaux Hellebuyck Kahkonen Comrie Milic DiVincentiis Nikkanen (illness), Perfetti (contract) Raised in the booming metropolis of Altona, Man.
, Ken Wiebe grew up wanting to play in the NHL, but after realizing his hands were more adept at typing than scoring, he shifted his attention to cover his favourite sport as a writer. Mike McIntyre grew up wanting to be a professional wrestler. But when that dream fizzled, he put all his brawn into becoming a professional writer.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism.
Thank you for your support. Advertisement Advertisement.
