The Jets have scored 543 goals in the past two seasons, third most in the NHL behind the Tampa Bay Lightning (609) and Toronto Maple Leafs (556).
High-energy forward Brandon Tanev signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, leaving an opening on the third line.
There will be spots in the lineup available for forward prospects
Kristian Vesalainen
, the No. 24 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, and
Mason Appleton
, a sixth-round pick (No. 168) in the 2015 NHL Draft. Center Jack Roslovic may be ready for more responsibility after the 22-year-old had a limited role last season, when he scored 24 points (nine goals, 15 assists) and averaged 9:44 of ice time in 77 games.
At defenseman, the Jets must replace Jacob Trouba, who played on their top pair before being traded to the New York Rangers for defenseman Neal Pionk and the No. 20 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft (used to select defenseman
Ville Heinola
) on June 17; Tyler Myers, who signed a five-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks on July 1; and Ben Chiarot, who signed a three-year contract with the Montreal Canadiens on July 4.
Apart from Pionk, the Jets will continue to promote defensemen from within following the departures of Trouba, Myers and Chiarot.
"We've been on this program really for the last four seasons, bringing in younger players and developing them," coach Paul Maurice said. "I feel they're ready for that. And maybe more than that, they want it. There are young guys here that can play more minutes, that can push for more important roles."
The Jets have Morrissey, Pionk, Dustin Byfuglien and Dmitry Kulikov as their top four. Sami Niku, a seventh-round pick (No. 198) in the 2015 NHL Draft, and late-blooming
Tucker Poolman
, a 26-year-old selected in the fifth round (No. 127) of the 2013 NHL Draft, could see increased playing time.