‘We’re getting real close to everything is on the table’

Josh Morrissey slowly built to a crescendo.

On an afternoon where a multitude of questions had been asked of the star defenceman, Morrissey calmly expressed his displeasure with the predicament the Winnipeg Jets currently find themselves in.

When a team with high expectations suddenly sits dead last in the NHL after going in with serious Stanley Cup aspirations, it’s natural to think frustration would be setting in at some point.

But the alternate captain reinforced his belief in the group and gave a passionate answer when asked what his message to fans would be now that this season-long losing skid (0-6-4) has reached 10 games going into Thursday’s tilt with the Edmonton Oilers.

“Bottom line, we expect better and we expect to be winning hockey games. That’s why we’re here,” said Morrissey. “That’s the expectation that we’ve created with this group for the fans over the last number of years. I’ve been fortunate to spend my entire career here in Winnipeg and am very proud to be a Jet and very proud to represent the city and this market.”

The soliloquy from Morrissey was one that should resonate on a number of levels.

“It hurts. It hurts we’re in the position we’re in,” said Morrissey. “It’s not very fun. A lot of that feeling goes to just wanting to represent the fans and the people in the city the way we feel we should — and, obviously, to replicate the support they give us with the play on the ice.

“The one thing I’ve been proud of through this stretch is I don’t think the effort level can be questioned. That compete and effort has been there. We believe we can get ourselves out of this hole and we have the team to go on a run, which we’ll need to do to get back into the playoff mix. Ultimately, I know every guy in this room feels the pride of playing in Winnipeg, being a Jet, and we want to play well for them and do right by them.”

At a time when some fans are beginning to turn their attention to the NHL draft lottery and the prospect of landing a Top-5 pick, Morrissey made it clear the focus for the players is on the task at hand — and nothing else.

Jets head coach Scott Arniel had a similar message when he met with members of the media after holding a team meeting on Wednesday afternoon, following the 4-3 overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

“Probably the short way of saying it is more. I need more. We’re close, but we need more,” said Arniel, whose team saw its record dip to 15-21-5. “Everybody. Checkers gotta score, scorers gotta check. We’ve got to do something a little bit more, to find a way to get over (the hump) and grab those two points instead of being close.”

With eight one-goal losses (including four in overtime) during this most recent stretch that dropped the Jets into the basement of the NHL, there are a number of areas being addressed these days.

The numbers paint a picture that isn’t pretty, with the Jets sitting 23rd in the NHL in goals per game (2.85), 19th in goals against per game (3.15), 25th in penalty killing efficiency (77.4 per cent) and 19th on the power play (18.8).

It’s not as simple as needing to improve one area of the game to turn things around either.

Coming out of the holiday break, the Jets have taken steps to improve the defensive-zone play but scoring has often been tough to come by.

But when the scoring has been there, turnovers or breakdowns are taking place at inopportune times, compounding matters for a group that seems to be lacking confidence.

“You can give up 10 chances and, when you’re on a roll, it seems like nothing happens and you win hockey games,” said Arniel. “For us, right now every little moment matters. It might be a wall play in the second period, it might be a breakout in the third, it might be a coverage situation, it might be a specialty teams’ situation.”

In an effort to provide a bit more balance to a forward group that has leaned heavily on its top line, Arniel moved Gabe Vilardi onto the second unit with Jonathan Toews and Cole Perfetti.

That trio connected for the Jets’ first goal on Tuesday, then Vilardi added a helper on a blended shift with Mark Scheifele and Kyle Connor.

Although Connor reached the 20th goal for a ninth consecutive season, the Scheifele line with Alex Iafallo was outshot 11-2 at five-on-five.

The one option Arniel has yet to lean into is splitting up Connor and Scheifele in an effort to try and have each of them drive their own lines.

Arniel concedes that it remains under consideration, but is basically left for in case of emergency, break glass situations.

“It’s hard when you have that chemistry and they have the puck the whole time,” said Arniel, noting that Scheifele and Connor will remain together on Thursday as the Jets continue this five-game homestand. “I don’t know if we’re in a position to split them up and hopefully they create chemistry with the next guys that they’re playing with. There is something to the fact that maybe their skillset brings out maybe more in somebody else.

“We’re getting real close to everything is on the table.”

Scheifele has actually been without a point in five of the past six games, the exception coming in the Jan. 1 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, when he racked up a goal and three points.

So while splitting up Scheifele and Connor might remain an enjoyable topic of debate, there’s also a case to be made to keep the dynamic duo together to try and help pull the team out of this lengthy funk.

On the other end of the spectrum, Oilers captain Connor McDavid comes into the contest riding a 16-game point streak.

McDavid notched his 14th career hat trick on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators and, going into Wednesday’s action, he’s overtaken Colorado Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon in the chase for the Art Ross Trophy.

During the point streak, McDavid is essentially on a pace that would see him threaten to generate 200 points in a full season.

“The run he’s been on, he’s been on another level, even for his standards,” said Morrissey. “Certainly, he’s an incredible player and someone we’ll have to be aware of (on Thursday). Knowing him a little bit, his drive to continue to improve and to continue to get better is scary for the rest of the league.”

When the Jets faced the Oilers back on Dec. 29, they actually held McDavid to an empty-net goal and kept Leon Draisaitl off the scoresheet, despite losing 3-1.

“When you play special players like that — and there are a few teams around the league with guys in that echelon — you have to alter your game plan for them, they’re that good,” said Morrissey. “Obviously, we did a good job of staying committed throughout that game to limit the free chances you give them.

“With players like that, there are going to be times that they create opportunities because of how good they are, but trying to limit the freebies or giving them free offence or odd-man rushes, they’re going to feast on that. We did a really good job of being committed to being aware when they’re out there.”

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