How Morrissey’s prairie roots made Winnipeg easy to commit to
The Winnipeg Jets didn’t have the season they dreamed of in 2025-26, but the team knows it can rely on a veteran presence from Josh Morrissey on the blueline, with the 2013 pick signed through the 2027-28 season as part of an eight-year, $50 million deal signed in 2019.
On a recent episode of FlamesNation’s FN Barn Burner, Morrissey explained why he made such a long-term commitment to the city and how growing up in Calgary influences his love for hockey in Canada’s flatlands.
Ryan Pinder: Winnipeg is a market that we hear a lot about being not sexy, which is fair. I mean, there are places like Miami, Los Angeles, New York, but there seems to be this stigma about it. You’re a Western Canadian; you went there. What did you know about Winnipeg before you got there, and what do you know now that you know made you commit to a maximum-term deal to stay there? Like, you must really enjoy it because it’s a place you’ve spent a lot of time.
Josh Morrissey: For me, as you mentioned, being a Western Canadian guy, playing a lot of junior hockey in Saskatchewan. I have roots in Alberta and Saskatchewan, so that’s just what I’m used to in a lot of ways.
Getting drafted to Winnipeg really wasn’t much of a change. I’d say now, looking back at my time there, just people are great, the fans are so passionate. I’ve made many friends outside of the game in Winnipeg, and just enjoyed being a part of the kind of the fabric of the community. I think it’s cool to be part of a place where you know a win or a loss can really affect the city’s mood the next day. Obviously, you hope that it’s more wins than losses, but you know it really does matter to people.
That was what I experienced growing up here in Calgary as a Flames fan. It’s cool when you know the whole city comes together in the playoffs, and you know it just means more and so much to everybody, and I think that’s special.
I’ve never really known anything else since I’ve always played my hockey in Western Canada, and the biggest thing, though, really was just having a chance to play, be a part of a good team, have a chance to win, and have a chance to, you know, go after my career and develop my career. I guess I have that opportunity in front of me, and that opportunity was always given to me there, which I’m extremely grateful for. I think we’ve had very good teams through the years and have had chances to win. So that’s all I can really ask for.
You can catch Pinder’s full interview with Morrissey here…