Defenseman Josh Morrissey signs eight-year, $50 million extension with Jets

Rudi Schuller

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Defenseman Josh Morrissey signs eight-year, $50 million extension with Jets image

Josh Morrissey is set to be a member of the Winnipeg Jets for a long time.

The 24-year-old defenseman signed an eight-year contract extension with the Jets, the club announced Thursday. Morrissey's new deal is worth $50 million, meaning the contract will carry a $6.25 million average annual value over its duration. With a full season still to play under his current contract, Morrissey is committed to the Jets through the 2027-28 season. 

Drafted 13th overall by the Jets in 2013, Morrissey set career highs in assists (25), points (31) and minutes per game (22:24) in 2018-19 despite only playing 59 games. The Calgary native missed the final 20 games of last season with an upper-body injury but did return for the playoffs where he netted an assist in six games. He has proven to be durable with 82 and 81 games played in 2016-17 and 2017-28, respectively.

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Morrissey has been outspoken about staying in Manitoba, telling reporters earlier this month that he wanted a long-term deal with the Jets.

"As a player, you just want to go through the process and handle it the right way," he said, as quoted by the Winnipeg Free Press. "But I'd love to get something done and I'd love to play here throughout my career. We'll see what happens."

The Jets reportedly made Morrissey's extension an offseason priority. The Athletic's Ken Wiebe reported Thursday that Morrissey's deal includes a no-movement clause for three seasons and a limited no-trade clause toward the end of the contract.

 

Rudi Schuller