Jets Recall Top Defenseman Kale Clague After Morrissey Placed on IR

Kale Clague was recalled from the Manitoba Moose to the Winnipeg Jets' NHL roster after veteran defenseman Josh Morrissey was placed on injured reserve, a move the Jets announced Feb. 24, 2026. The transaction was explicitly tied to Morrissey's placement on IR and shifts the Moose blueliner back into Winnipeg's lineup framework.

The recall arrived via team communications from both the Manitoba Moose and the Winnipeg Jets, which described Clague as a top-performing defenseman in the American Hockey League. That characterization framed the decision as more than a short-term roster patch; the organizations presented Clague as the immediate internal option to fill the vacancy created by Morrissey's absence.

Morrissey, the veteran presence on Winnipeg's blue line, was moved to injured reserve on Feb. 24, 2026, opening the roster spot Clague now occupies. The Jets' use of IR for Morrissey created the procedural pathway for the recall, and it signals that the organization will rely on Clague's familiarity with the club's systems after his time with the Moose in the AHL.

Clague's recall returns an AHL-caliber defenseman to the NHL fold just weeks into the late-February stretch of the schedule. Manitoba and Winnipeg communications emphasized his recent performance with the Moose, noting him as a top performer among the club's defense corps. The move reunites Clague with the Jets' coaching staff and gives Winnipeg a veteran option replacement in the NHL lineup without turning to outside signings or trades.

With Morrissey on injured reserve, the Jets have filled the immediate roster gap by recalling Clague on Feb. 24, 2026, from their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. How long Clague remains on the NHL roster will hinge on Morrissey's timetable for returning from IR and any further roster adjustments Winnipeg elects to make as the season progresses.