Jets lock up Morrissey with 8-year, $50M extension

The Winnipeg Jets inked defenseman Josh Morrissey to an eight-year, $50-million contract extension, the team announced Thursday.

Morrissey's new deal will carry an average annual value of $6.25 million. He's entering the final year of his current deal, which carries a $3.15 million cap hit, and was set to become a restricted free agent after this season.

The 24-year-old recorded career highs with 25 assists and 31 points in 59 games during 2018-19, his third full season with the Jets. The 6-foot rearguard also finished third on the club in average ice time (22:24), and third in blocks with 107.

The Alberta native is now one of six Jets players signed through the 2023-24 season, joining captain Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, Nikolaj Ehlers, Bryan Little, and netminder Connor Hellebuyck

Selected by Winnipeg with the 13th overall pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, Morrissey has contributed 19 goals and 77 points in 223 career contests.

With Morrissey's new deal not hitting the books until the 2020-21 campaign, the Jets hold $15.45 million in projected cap space for the upcoming season with restricted free-agent forwards Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor in need of new contracts, according to CapFriendly.