Jets Draft: Josh Morrissey at 13th Overall
10 years ago
Josh Morrissey, D, Prince Albert Raiders
- 6′, 186lbs
- Left Handed
- 70GP 15-32-47 (+14)
- Good-Better-Best Comps: Andrew McDonald – Jonas Brodin – Tobias Enstrom
With 13th overall, the Jets decided to reach again this year, taking offense-first defenceman Josh Morrissey. Kevin Cheveldayoff has shown his desire for mobility on the back end, but given the strong need for impact players in the near future, and the need for young skilled forwards throughout the lineup, the under-developed rearguard has to be considered a strange decision.
Craig Button loves Morrissey’s open ice hitting, and compared him to the stocky two-way defenceman Nik Kronwall. But Nik Kronwall is not 185lbs. Here’s what Pronman has to say:
Pronman on Morrisey:
Morrissey is a dynamic offensive defenseman with a ton of plus skills. He has amassed a considerable number of points for a 1995 birthdate over his last two WHL seasons. His strongest tool is his skating, which is easily high end, if not better. He has a very graceful stride, and his footwork is precise in any direction. His top gear, agility, pivots, and gap control stand out in each game he plays. He is also a top-end puck mover, frequently making aware and accurate passes. He can run the point on a top power play unit, jump into the rush, make a good outlet, and flash a highlight reel play with the puck. His defensive awareness is solid, and he has killed penalties at times. Still, he faces a significant issue in his physicality. I would not describe him as soft, as he can make a quality hit at times, but he often is outmuscled for pucks. Coupling this aspect of his game with his undersized frame makes him a risk at the top level.
Hockey Futures had similar things to say, but give some context to his boxcar stats:
2012-13: Morrissey was the leading scorer amongst defensemen for Prince Albert in his second season as the Raiders finished with a winning record for the first time since 2003-04. He scored 15 goals with 32 assists and was plus-14 with 91 penalty minutes. Prince Albert was second to Saskatoon in the East Division. Morrissey had 1 assist and was minus-three with 9 penalty minutes in the four-game playoff series with Red Deer. He joined Team Canada for the 2013 U18 World Junior Championship and scored 2 goals with 4 assists and was plus-seven in the first four games of the tournament. Morrissey was ranked 11th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings prior to the 2013 NHL Draft, and 27th in the CSS final rankings.
One thing everyone can agree on is that Morrissey will need more time to develop, likely playing his entire Junior eligibility. He was a former Scholastic Player of the Year, and his hockey sense is considered high level.
A Best case scenario is a player who can control the play with his skating and hockey sense, move the puck effectively, quarterback the powerplay, and put up point at the NHL level. Still, the Jets have a glut of LH defenceman currently at the NHL level – Enstrom, Byfuglien (though he plays right) (EDIT: They gave me beer all day!) Clitsome, Kulda, Stuart, and Trouba. While we won’t know what the team will look like in 2015 or 2016 when Morrissey arrives, he may be in a fight for minutes even should he develop as hoped.
Recent articles from Kevin McCartney
