Josh Morrissey for Norris? Rick Bowness Thinks So

Through the first month-and-a-half of the 2022-23 season, Josh Morrissey has been the Winnipeg Jets’ top player.

Even if he wasn’t leading the team in points, his contributions both on and off-ice have shone brightly for those around him within the lineup. Currently owning three goals and 15 assists to his name, Morrissey’s 18 points are good for first among all Jets players, as he sits two points ahead of second-line centreman Pierre-Luc Dubois‘ 16 total points.

Operating at over a point-per-game (17 games played) the 27-year-old has rediscovered his form as an offensive defenceman, putting up career-best numbers through the Jets’ first 17 games. In fact, Morrissey is one of just two defencemen to currently lead his team in points (Erik Karlsson, San Jose Sharks). Although his numbers aren’t quite as impressive as Karlsson’s 11 goals and 29 points in 21 games played, he has played four games less than the two-time Norris Trophy winner.

According to his coach, the Norris is actually something he and Morrissey have spoken openly about.

Awarded annually to the defenceman adjudged to be the best at his position following the regular season, the Norris Trophy is voted upon by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Right now it is Karlsson’s to lose, but the steady Winnipeg blueliner has certainly turned up the heat.

“When Josh and I were talking over the summer, I mentioned to him that, listen, I remember coming in here with Dallas and coaching against you, and part of our pre-game was focused on Josh Morrissey, because he was their best defenceman.” coach Rick Bowness said following Monday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes. “We talked about that, and that’s what I said we need from you. It’s there.”

15 assists in 15 games for Josh Morrissey.

— Carter Brooks (@CBrooksie84) November 18, 2022

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Sure enough, Morrissey went out and picked up two goals on Monday, including the 4-3 overtime winner on a breakaway feed from Dubois.

“I felt we were able to create a turnover,” Morrissey said of his game-winner. “We got control of the puck. I kind of just took off when one of their guys changed. Sometimes that’s how it works. In overtime, if you can turn the puck over quick and transition the other way, you can create an odd man rush. Dubie made a great, heads-up pass and from there, I just tried to go in and score a goal… He comes out pretty far. Nothing really on the scouting report but I just saw a hole and tried to shoot it. Wasn’t going to get too fancy. Just tried to surprise him. Obviously super happy it went in.”

Although the game should have been over long before overtime was even part of the equation, Morrissey’s mates rallied together for the extra five minutes after collapsing for three goals against in the final five minutes of the game to give both the Hurricanes and Jets a single point.

#NHLJets welcome back Paul Stastny (for the second time) to ⁦@CanadaLifeCtr⁩.

He spent parts of three seasons with Winnipeg, registering 38 goals and 87 points in 146 games. pic.twitter.com/bCJnJIBtBv

— Carter Brooks (@CBrooksie84) November 22, 2022

“Obviously, we don’t want to be in that situation but from older players, coaches, to guys with a handful of games, we never wavered,” he reflected. “Although it’s not a situation, as I said, that you want to try to build off of, I think it’s a situation where we can… Hopefully we don’t get in that situation but be calm in a place where they’re kind of all over us.” 

Serving as one of the team’s alternate captains in a year that saw Blake Wheeler‘s ‘C’ stripped in advance of training camp, additional pressure and responsibility has landed on the shoulders of Morrissey. But much like his coach says, he has the potential to be one of the league’s very best defenders, which can be measured in a number of ways.

“You’ve got the green light, I want you a lot more involved with the offence. I want you skating,” Bowness added on his pre-season chat with the young defenceman. “At the end of the season, and this is what I told him, when there’s a discussion of who the Top-10 defencemen are for the Norris Trophy voting, I want to see his name in there. And he’s taken great pride in that.”

Last season, Morrissey did not receive a single Norris vote, either first, second, third, fourth or fifth-place in nature. But if voting were to be held at this very moment, he certainly would be among the Top-5 vote getters, well within his coach’s expectation.