Morrissey, Lowry have 'more motivation' to see Jets succeed this season

CALGARY --A new look and new energy surrounding the Winnipeg Jets following an offseason of change has top defenseman Josh Morrissey optimistic for the team's future.

The Jets acquired centers Gabriel Vilardi and Rasmus Kupari, forward Alex Iafallo and a second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings for forward Pierre-Luc Dubois on June 27, and three days later placed forward Blake Wheeler on unconditional waivers before buying out the final season of his five-year, $41.25 million contract ($8.25 million average annual value). Wheeler signed a one-year contract with the New York Rangers the next day.

"It's tough when you lose teammates and friends," Morrissey said before participating in the Rogers Legends of Hockey Charity Skins Game on Saturday. "I'm close with 'Wheels' and 'Duby.' But at the same time, it's always exciting when you bring in new guys.

"I look at all three of those guys (Vilardi, Iafallo and Kupari) as they can play anywhere in your lineup. Certainly it's exciting to see a couple of those guys who haven't really had their chance to hit their stride. I think Vilardi really took off last year and Kupari, I think, is just getting going. I'm excited to see what those guys can do and bring to our group."

Vilardi had 41 points (23 goals, 18 assists) in 63 games with the Kings last season, Iafallo 36 points (14 goals, 22 assists) in 59 games and Kupari 15 points (three goals, 12 assists) in 66 games.

The moves came after a tough end to the season in Winnipeg.

The Jets began 2022-23 with a 31-16-1 record and were first in the Western Conference on Jan. 22, but they stumbled down the stretch, going 15-17-2 in their final 34 games. Winnipeg recovered to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs as the second wild card from the West, just two points ahead of the Calgary Flames, but lost in the first round to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights in five games.

Changes for the Jets, who failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2021-22 and were swept by the Montreal Canadiens in the Stanley Cup Second Round in 2021, weren't unexpected.

"When it was all said and done, it was disappointing," Morrissey said. "I think everyone knew there were probably some changes on the horizon. There always is in the NHL. We knew there would probably be some big moves. Disappointing that we couldn't do more with the group we had because we felt we probably could have. Just more motivation for the future."

Changes came, but Winnipeg's expectations remain the same.

"We're looking forward to trying to replicate the success we had in the first half of the season," Jets forward Adam Lowry said at the same event, "and now put it through a full 82 games where we don't have that lull where you struggle for 25 or 30 games. I think we have a lot of good pieces. There are some things, some uncertainty ... but as players we're a tight-knit group and we have a lot of fun.

"There's a lot of uncertainty and rumors circulating about our team, but the way we stand right now I think we have that optimism that some guys are going to take a step forward, some guys like Josh who really broke out as a true No. 1 (defenseman) last year, he's going to continue kind of on that trajectory and maintain that level of play. Any time you have a goalie like [Connor Hellebuyck], you have a chance to be competitive."

Hellebuyck's future with the team is one of the main topics of that uncertainty. He's one of several members of Winnipeg's core group that can become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, along with center Mark Scheifele, forward Nino Niederreiter and defensemen Brenden Dillon and Dylan DeMelo.

Morrissey's attention isn't on what might happen with his teammates, though. Instead, his focus remains on what Winnipeg currently has, and what the group can do together.

"Obviously it's easy to say it's out of your control as a player, and truly it is, but certainly those things are part of the game and part of the industry," Morrissey said. "You don't hold a grudge if a guy doesn't want to re-sign or wants to be moved or whatever happens. That's the business side. That's the individual side.

"But once you get on the ice all that stuff is out the door and you've got to compete and play and try to win. I'm excited about our group. The guys that we got back in the trade provide some depth, and a couple young guys that are just hitting their strides. All in all I'm excited."