As the 2026 Winter Olympics draw to a close, the spotlight shifts back to the Winnipeg Jets. Goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and forward Kyle Connor are returning home with gold medals, thanks to Team USA's thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the gold medal match.
Unfortunately for Josh Morrissey, he earned a silver medal with Team Canada but faced a setback, playing only one period before an upper-body injury sidelined him. This injury will keep him out of action, including the Jets' upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
In a post-Olympics celebration, Team USA, including Hellebuyck and Connor, is set to visit the White House on Tuesday. This means Hellebuyck will miss Wednesday's game, and Connor's participation is still up in the air.
This situation prompted the Jets to recall goaltender Domenic DiVincentiis from the Manitoba Moose. After briefly returning to the AHL for a game against the Iowa Wild, DiVincentiis is now set to travel with the team on their three-game road trip. He’ll back up Eric Comrie and could be eyeing his first NHL start.
On TSN’s First Up, Darren Dreger shared that Morrissey will be out for a significant period. While the Jets are in a strong position in the Western Conference, the team’s medical staff is keen to assess Morrissey’s condition, as the injury appears more severe than initially thought.
Meanwhile, forward Nino Niederreiter, fresh off representing Switzerland at the Olympics, has rejoined the Jets for practice. With these developments, the Jets are gearing up for an intriguing stretch as they navigate the post-Olympic phase of the season.