Key defenseman Josh Morrissey lands on IR. The Jets recall former Sabre Kale Clague, seeking his offensive spark to bolster the blue line.
The Winnipeg Jets will be without their No. 1 defenseman for longer than anticipated after the club confirmed Josh Morrissey has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to February 12th, following the lower-body injury he sustained in the opening game of the Winter Olympics against Czechia.
Morrissey left that tournament matchup early and did not return, and while there was early optimism from Team Canada head coach Jon Cooper that the star blueliner could rejoin the lineup before the end of the Games, that timeline ultimately did not materialize. Morrissey was held out for the remainder of the tournament and has yet to resume game action.
In a corresponding move, Winnipeg made a somewhat unexpected call-up, bringing Kale Clague up from the Manitoba Moose to help stabilize the blue line.
The 27-year-old has put together a productive season in the American Hockey League, recording eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points in 44 games. Clague has seen stints in the NHL with his longest stint coming with four points in 33 games with the Buffalo Sabres during the 2022-23 season. He will now get an opportunity to provide depth while the Jets wait for Morrissey to recover.
There is still no firm timetable for Morrissey’s return, as head coach Scott Arniel explained that he could rejoin the lineup during their upcoming three-game road trip after being looked at by team doctors Eric Comrie will get the start, according to Winnipeg Free Press writer Ken Wiebe.
In the meantime, Clague will look to translate his strong play with Manitoba into a reliable option at the NHL level as Winnipeg tries to improve its position in the playoff race.
It was also reported by Wiebe that the status of Kyle Connor is "still up in the air" for Wednesday's first game back for Winnipeg versus the Vancouver Canucks.
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