Jets’ Josh Morrissey returns to lineup after 14-game absence

The Winnipeg Jets will get a massive boost against the New Jersey Devils.

Defenseman Josh Morrissey will return to the lineup after a 14-game absence, head coach Scott Arniel told media Tuesday morning.

Morrissey’s last game was Oct. 7 when he suffered an upper-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche. The left-handed defender appeared to hurt his arm while attempting to hit Avalanche center T.J. Hughes.

The team announced a week later that he would be out of the lineup on a week-to-week basis.

In four games this season, Morrissey has three assists. Now in his 12th NHL season, the 31-year-old Calgary native has 94 goals and 337 assists for 431 points in 743 career regular-season history. He’s posted four 50-point campaigns and four 40-assist seasons.

Morrissey’s most productive year came in 2022-23 when he recorded career highs in all offensive categories, scoring 16 goals and adding 60 assists for 76 points. He finished tied with Quinn Hughes for second in scoring among defenseman, behind only Erik Karlsson and his career-high 101 points.

He also has five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 54 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Winnipeg is 7-8-3 with 17 points through their first 18 games of 2026-27. Most of the attention Tuesday night will be on former Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, who demanded a trade out of Winnipeg in the offseason and forced a move him to New Jersey a few weeks ago.

The Devils announced Sunday that Hellebuyck would not start against the Jets because “playing in this game would potentially give us a reduction in our expected win probability,” GM Sunny Mehta said in a statement.