Winnipeg Jets lose Josh Morrissey to IR, Kale Clague recall tests blue line depth

Feb 24, 2026 (11:25)

Photo credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Josh Morrissey hitting injured reserve is a gut punch, and the Winnipeg Jets are already reaching for emergency blue line answers.

Winnipeg recalled Kale Clague from the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday.

The Jets also placed Morrissey on injured reserve, retroactive to Feb. 12.

That retro date matters, because it tells you this has been brewing since the Olympics.

Morrissey reportedly got hurt in Canada's opener vs Czechia on Feb. 12 and missed the rest of the tournament.

Winnipeg's reality is harsh right now at 22-26-8, and the margin for error is basically gone.

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Clague is not a savior, but he is a left-shot option who can survive minutes and keep pairings from getting weird.

He has 21 points this season for Manitoba, 8G-13A in 44 games.

Jets fans are tired of "next man up" speeches, because it keeps turning into "next month up" results.

Clague was drafted in 2016, Round 2, 51st overall by the Los Angeles Kings.

This is the first time this season he's been brought up, which says a lot about how thin the safety net is.

He's on a one-year, two-way deal, so the cap math stays clean while the roster gets patched.

The brutal part is Morrissey's minutes do not get replaced, they get divided, and everybody feels it.

Winnipeg comes out of the break on Wednesday, Feb. 25 in Vancouver, and this move screams "we need a body now."

Unfortunate development emerges, again, right when the Jets needed a clean reset.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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5 HOURS AGO\|23 ANSWERS Winnipeg Jets lose Josh Morrissey to IR, Kale Clague recall tests blue line depth Should the Winnipeg Jets keep Kale Clague in the lineup until Josh Morrissey returns?
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