Jets issue concerning Josh Morrissey injury update

The absolute worst fears surrounding the elite defenseman are now officially a nightmare scenario for the franchise.

Management officially recalled Kale Clague from the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday morning to fill the sudden roster void.

That corresponding AHL call-up arrives with the painful confirmation that their star blueliner is heading straight to injured reserve.

The transaction is retroactive to February 12, but nobody in the locker room feels overly optimistic about a quick return.

He missed almost the entire Olympic tournament after going down with a nasty injury in the opening group stage game.

Losing him on the back end played a massive role in Canada falling short against Team USA in a bitter gold medal clash.

Whispers initially suggested he might find a way to tough it out and dress for that high-stakes championship showdown.

He couldn't answer the bell then, and now his availability for the remainder of the NHL season looks incredibly bleak.

With 42 points already banked this year, the 30-year-old veteran was single-handedly driving the transition game every single night.

Replacing a guy who logs a heavy 24:37 of average ice time is literally impossible for any legitimate playoff contender.

He currently boasts 10 goals and anchors the top power play unit against the fiercest opposition in the Western Conference. Clague brings some professional experience to the table, but expecting him to replicate that elite offensive output is wildly unfair.

Winnipeg desperately needs crisp passing and solid execution deep in their own zone to survive this brutal upcoming stretch. They sit right in the thick of the Central Division race and heavily rely on him for controlled entries.

Over his NHL career, the Calgary native has developed into one of the most reliable two-way defenders in the entire Show.

Finding a way to string together wins without their undisputed minute-muncher eating heavy minutes on the penalty kill doesn't look promising.

Also read on Blade of steel :
Team USA Olympic heroes Quinn and Jack Hughes hide a deep Canadian secret