Hellebuyck gave up five goals on 31 shots in the Jets loss in New York last Thursday. Laurent Brossoit started the last two games but the Jets will come back to Hellebuyck tonight in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have had one bad game and one good game but come into Tuesday without Evgeni Malkin and Nick Bjugstad, who are both out with lower-body injuries.
Morrissey missed Sunday’s game against the Islanders but was back at practice this morning and could be back in the lineup on Tuesday. Morrissey skated on the top pair and top power-play unit, which is a good sign for him suiting up in Pittsburgh. Morrissey has averaged an absurd 26:01 TOI/gm through two games on the Jets' new-look blueline.
Morrissey took part in warmups and was even announced in the starting lineup before being a late-scratch with an upper-body injury. The Jets blueline can ill afford to lose Morrissey, who is their clear No.1 defenseman right now. The Jets are back in action on Tuesday, so monitor Morissey's status heading into Pittsburhg.
Hellebuyck had a breakout campaign in 2018, winning 44 games while posting a .924 SV%. In his fourth season, Hellebuyck’s numbers dropped off (.913 SV%) but he still managed to win 34 games. This summer the Jets were gutted on the back-end and it hurt Hellebuyck’s chances for a bounce-back. He starts the season vs. a Rangers team that he was 2-0 against last year—however, they added some game-breaking talent in the offseason.
Comrie was a second-round pick of the Jets in 2013 and has appeared in just five NHL games since. Last year he was 25-20-2 with a 2.69 GAA, .917 SV% and two shutouts in Manitoba (AHL) last year. Comrie provides a little extra goaltending depth for the Coyotes, who had to dip into the minor leagues last year because of a long-term Antti Raanta injury.
Connor was looking for term and he got it. The 22-year-old winger has scored 30-plus goals in back-to-back seasons and set a new career-high in points (66) in 2018-19. Connor is expected to be a fixture on the Jets top-line with Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler again in 2019-20 and should have no trouble approaching 30 goals again.
Morrissey set a new career-high in points (31) despite playing in just 59 games in 2019. With Jacob Trouba now in New York, Morrissey is expected to handle the PP2 duties in 2020, which gives him a potential boost in value. He should be viewed as a reserve fantasy defenseman heading into drafts.
Comrie spent the entire 2019 season with the Manitoba Moose (AHL), going 25-20-2 with a 2.69 GAA and .917 SV% in 47 games. Comrie has appeared in five career NHL games since 2017 but will open 2020 in Manitoba yet again.
The Jets acquired Pionk from the Rangers as a part of the Jacob Trouba trade and signed the RFA defenseman to a two-year contract. Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games last season and will likely open the 2020 season on the Jets second or third pairing.
Di Giuseppe was originally picked in the second-round by the Hurricanes back in 2012 but was waived last season and had a brief stint with the Nashville Predators. He has posted decent numbers at lower-levels but has just 41 points (14G / 27A) in 150 career NHL games. The 25-year-old will either start the season in the AHL or as a fourth-liner.
Fleury split the 2019 campaign between the AHL and NHL but is set to become a full-time NHLer in 2020. Fleury had just one assist in 20 NHL games a year ago but brings great size (6-foot-3, 208 lbs.) and excellent skating ability to the Hurricanes bottom-4.
The Golden Knights have run into some cap issues and Miller is the second player to fall victim to that this week. Miller isn’t the best in his own-end but provides a lot in the offensive-zone and possesses a massive point-shot that is a weapon on the power-play. Miller had three goals and 26 assists (29 points) in 65 games last season, but had a 10-goal, 41-point campaign in 2017-18. Miller has three years left on his deal and joins a blueline that already has offensive-minded defensemen in Rasmus Dahlin, Rasmus Ristolainen and Brandon Montour.
Pionk had six goals and 20 assists (26 points) in 73 games with the Rangers in his first full NHL season in 2018-19. Like Trouba, Pionk is also a restricted free agent on July 1st, but will command a lot less money and will allow the Jets to get Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor this offseason. Winnipeg loses a top-pairing defenseman and get a player who looks like nothing more than a third-pairing player with modest offensive-upside.
