Jets’ Josh Morrissey out day-to-day with upper-body injury

The Winnipeg Jets will be without their star defenseman Josh Morrissey for their game against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, but head coach Scott Arniel shared an update that he is only out on a day-to-day basis after suffering an upper-body injury in the team’s 3-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Wednesday night.

Morrissey exited the Avalanche game with the ailment after recording just 9:32 of time on ice.

The Calgary native was off to a strong start before getting injured, as he had notched three points, all assists, in the Jets’ first three games of the season while averaging about 23 minutes per game.

He was particularly strong in a 3-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings last Sunday, when he dished out two power play helpers and recorded seven shots on goal in Winnipeg’s first victory of the year.

The Jets as a whole have gotten off to one of the most impressive starts in the entire league. After missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season and entering the year without three-time Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Connor Hellebuyck, who is sitting out after requesting a trade, most expected Winnipeg to fail to improve upon last season’s effort.

Instead, the new goalie tandem of Stuart Skinner and waiver claim Clay Stevenson has held up remarkably well, and a hot start from winger Kyle Connor has helped the group rattle off three straight 3-2 regulation wins. Besting the Avalanche late on Wednesday without their top defenseman was a statement in particular, as it still has Winnipeg sitting atop the Central Division with seven points.

Winnipeg will take on a third straight 2026 playoff team on Friday when the Ducks come to town, and with Morrissey unavailable, Neal Pionk will slot in as the quarterback of the top power play unit while Dylan Samberg and Dylan DeMelo will comprise the top defensive pairing.