Winnipeg Jets news: Josh Morrissey skated in a non-contact jersey at practice in Montreal on November 2, 2026, while Dawson Mercer was absent, as the Jets prepared to end a four game road trip against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night.
By Maplestime Sports Desk | Winnipeg, Manitoba | November 2, 2026
Sources: Illegal Curve Hockey practice report, with skate news from Mike McIntyre of the Winnipeg Free Press | Last updated: November 2, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Josh Morrissey skated in a non-contact jersey at Jets practice in Montreal on November 2, 2026.
- Dawson Mercer did not skate at practice, and no reason for his absence was stated in the report.
- The forward lines at practice were Connor with Scheifele and Vilardi, Perfetti with Lowry and Iafallo, Niederreiter with Barron and Bjorck, and Koepke with Lambert and Rosen.
- Winnipeg faces Montreal on Tuesday, November 3 at 7 p.m. ET at Bell Centre to close a four game road trip.
- The Jets are 4-8-3 and winless in nine games after a 7-0 loss to Carolina on November 1.
What Happened At Practice
The Jets skated in Montreal on Monday ahead of the final game of their four game road trip. The practice report, published at 12:34 p.m. ET, put the focus squarely on two names. Morrissey, the Jets top defenceman, was back on the ice in a non-contact jersey. Mercer, the forward acquired in the Connor Hellebuyck trade, was not on the ice at all.
Morrissey has been out since October 7, when he was hurt against Colorado, and the club has described his recovery as week to week. A non-contact jersey is a step forward, but it is not a return to full practice, and it does not by itself mean he plays Tuesday. Player and coach media were still to follow when the practice report was published, so no new timeline from Scott Arniel was included in it.
What The Lines Tell Us
Without Mercer, the forward lines at practice were:
- Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Gabriel Vilardi
- Cole Perfetti, Adam Lowry, Alex Iafallo
- Nino Niederreiter, Morgan Barron, Viggo Bjorck
- Cole Koepke, Brad Lambert, Nikita Rosen
Koepke skating on the fourth line is notable in its own right. He was day to day with a lower body injury and missed the Carolina game on Sunday. His presence at practice suggests he is at least back in the mix for Tuesday, though nothing in the report confirms a lineup decision.
No defensive pairs were listed in the practice report, and no reason was given for Mercer’s absence. Both gaps matter, so this post claims neither.
What Comes Next
Tuesday night in Montreal is the last stop on a road trip that has gone 0-3-0 so far, with losses in Tampa, Florida and Carolina. The Jets have lost nine straight games, and the last four defeats have come by a combined 23-7 margin. A win in Montreal would stop the slide before the team returns home to face Vancouver on Thursday.
For now, the watch is simple. Does Morrissey take another step out of the non-contact jersey, and does Mercer return to practice? The answers will shape the lineup for Tuesday night.
Maplestime will provide updates from Winnipeg Jets practice and the game against Montreal as announcements are made.
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Does Morrissey skating in a non-contact jersey give you real hope for Tuesday, or is this Jets slide too deep for one returning defenceman to fix? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Jets fan waiting on the Montreal lineup.
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