When Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey stepped onto the ice this season, there was something unmistakably different about their presence. It wasn’t just their production or the Winnipeg Jets’ 5-1-0 start — it was their command. Their calm. Their leadership.
For years, the Jets have hovered in the space between contender and pretender — talented enough to tease hope, inconsistent enough to break it. But in 2025-26, that uncertainty feels distant. At the centre of Winnipeg’s revival are two players who have grown not only into their primes but into the emotional spine of an organization — Scheifele, the relentless competitor rediscovering his purpose, and Morrissey, the quiet anchor who’s evolved into one of the league’s most respected defencemen.
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Both are chasing something bigger than numbers. For Scheifele, it’s redemption and recognition — the chance to wear the maple leaf on hockey’s grandest stage. For Morrissey, it’s legacy — to be remembered as the kind of defenceman who elevated everyone around him.
A Reignited Scheifele
The look in Scheifele’s eyes during pregame warmups says it all. It’s focus mixed with fire — the expression of a player who knows this season is personal. Over the years, Scheifele’s career has seen its fair share of peaks and valleys. From his explosive rise as a first-line centre to the occasional criticism of defensive lapses, he’s heard every narrative imaginable. But instead of fighting it, he’s evolved.
Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets is all smiles as he celebrates his first period goal against the St. Louis Blues in Game One of the First Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
That maturity radiates in his play. Gone is the tunnel-vision offensive driver. In his place stands a true two-way leader who has embraced every facet of responsibility. Whether he’s taking key defensive draws, backchecking to disrupt rushes, or mentoring younger linemates like Cole Perfetti, Scheifele has become Winnipeg’s conscience on the ice.
He’s also become their heartbeat. Every shift he takes seems to spark belief in the bench — not through flashy goals, but through relentless effort. In a league built on speed and skill, his consistency is what sets him apart.
Arniel put the night Scheifele became the franchise points leader in perspective: “He’s been such a consistent player. He has such great offensive skills and instincts.”
The Weight of Legacy and the Call of the Maple Leaf
For Scheifele, the dream of representing Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics isn’t just about adding a line to his résumé. It’s about validation — not for his talent, but for his journey. He’s been on the radar for years, often overshadowed by bigger names. But every season, he’s quietly refined his craft, built his habits, and redefined his purpose.
Playing for Canada is about more than skill; it’s about trust. Coaches want players who won’t just contribute, but who can be leaned on when the game gets tight and the crowd holds its breath. Scheifele has become exactly that.
His demeanour mirrors that of Olympic greats — stoic, selfless, and deeply committed to the details. You can see it in the way he communicates with linemates between shifts, how he anticipates plays before they develop, and how he celebrates teammates’ goals with as much passion as his own.
There’s a humility to Scheifele’s game now that makes him the perfect candidate for a Canadian team built on balance. He’s not trying to be Connor McDavid or Sidney Crosby; he’s trying to be Scheifele — a player who thrives in the spaces between glory and grit.
Morrissey: The Steady Hand Behind the Surge
While Scheifele commands attention through his energy, Josh Morrissey leads through quiet excellence. He’s the steady heartbeat on the back end, the one who never seems rushed, never panicked, never unsure.
There’s a certain poetry to Morrissey’s game. Every breakout pass feels intentional, every defensive pivot calculated. He’s not the loudest voice in the room — in fact, he often isn’t heard at all during games — but when he speaks, his teammates listen.
Josh Morrissey, Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
That steadiness has become the foundation of the Jets’ identity. Morrissey doesn’t play for highlights; he plays for control. When Winnipeg breaks out cleanly, it’s usually because Morrissey’s vision has already mapped out the next two passes. This season, he’s added an edge to his calm — not through aggression, but through assertiveness. He jumps into plays more confidently, quarterbacks the power play with poise, and sets the tone defensively with subtle physicality. Every move carries purpose, every decision carries weight.
Morrissey has also become the emotional anchor of a dressing room that’s seen its share of change. After the departures of long-time veterans and captains, it was Morrissey who quietly filled the leadership void.
From Prospects to Pillars
It’s easy to forget that both Scheifele and Morrissey were once the faces of Winnipeg’s rebuild — young draft picks tasked with reviving a franchise still finding its modern identity. Scheifele, the seventh overall pick in 2011, was the organization’s first true homegrown star. Morrissey followed two years later, a composed, undersized defenceman who quickly proved that intelligence could outweigh stature.
Through years of growing pains — playoff heartbreaks, locker-room changes, and inconsistent results — the two have been constants. They’ve witnessed every evolution of the Jets, from the offensive chaos of the Paul Maurice era to the disciplined structure under Arniel.
But what stands out most is how they’ve evolved together. Scheifele became more complete as Morrissey became more commanding. Their connection isn’t defined by line combinations or systems — it’s built on trust.
It’s that rhythm that has Winnipeg playing some of its most confident hockey in years.
The Soul of a Team
There’s a new calm surrounding the Jets this season — an energy that feels earned, not hyped. Their stars are leading by example, their young players are buying in, and the results are following. Scheifele and Morrissey have become symbols of that transformation. They represent two different types of leadership — Scheifele’s passion and drive paired with Morrissey’s patience and control. Together, they form a leadership duo that balances fire and focus.
It’s not lost on their teammates, either. Younger players like Cole Perfetti, Dylan Samberg, and Gabriel Vilardi have all spoken about how approachable and supportive both veterans have been. The message isn’t “follow me” — it’s “let’s build something together.” The Jets’ dressing room, once known for quiet tension, now radiates unity. When the team wins, it feels collective. When they lose, it’s accountability without blame. That’s culture — and it starts with the players who’ve been through the wars.
The Olympic Connection
The irony of the Olympic conversation is that neither Scheifele nor Morrissey seems focused on it — at least not publicly. When asked, both deflect to team success. That humility is what makes their cases even stronger. Scheifele’s resurgence — driven by passion, maturity, and renewed purpose — positions him as one of Canada’s most complete centres. Morrissey’s quiet dominance offers the kind of reliability any coach dreams of on international ice.
“The focus is having a great training camp and getting off to a great start as a team and individually… but ultimately, for sure, it’s a huge goal of mine to play on that team and have a chance to represent Canada at the Olympics,” Morrissey told NHL.com in September 2025.
But beyond statistics or selection committees, there’s a poetic justice in imagining both of them sharing that stage together. Two players who grew through adversity, who built a culture in a small Canadian market, representing their country on hockey’s greatest stage.
A Team Transformed
In many ways, the Jets’ start to this season mirrors the arcs of their two leaders. A team once criticized for inconsistency has become a model of structure and poise. They’ve learned to win games not just with talent, but with resilience.
When you watch them now, there’s no panic in their play. No selfishness in their stars. Just a collective trust that radiates through every shift. Scheifele leads the charge up ice, Morrissey holds the line, and everyone else follows the rhythm.
It’s the kind of foundation that winning teams — and Olympic rosters — are built on.
The Quiet Revival of a Hockey City
Winnipeg has always been a city that wears its heart on its sleeve — blue-collar, passionate, and fiercely loyal. It loves its hockey team not because of banners or headlines, but because of the people who wear its crest with pride. Scheifele and Morrissey embody that pride. They’ve been through the noise, the criticism, and the questions about the franchise’s direction. And through it all, they’ve become the embodiment of what it means to represent Winnipeg — humble, hardworking, and unwavering.
Whether or not the Olympic call comes, they’ve already left their mark. They’ve proven that leadership isn’t about volume or bravado; it’s about example. They’ve shown that greatness isn’t measured in flash, but in consistency.
As the season unfolds and the whispers of Milan 2026 grow louder, one thing is certain: if Canada is looking for players who embody heart, humility, and hockey IQ, it doesn’t need to look far. The proof is right there in Winnipeg, wearing numbers 55 and 44.
