Leon Draisaitl's friendship with Jets' star defenseman fuels trade buzz

A wave of trade speculation has hit Winnipeg, and now Josh Morrissey's name has been pulled into the mix.

According to a post from BleedOilBlue on X, Morrissey and Oilers superstar Leon Draisaitl share a real friendship, a connection that could theoretically make Edmonton an appealing destination if the defenseman ever became available.

The post comes on the heels of Connor Hellebuyck's trade request, which the Jets confirmed on Thursday through a statement from general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff.

Hellebuyck's camp made clear the goaltender wants a change of scenery, and the fallout has fans wondering who else might follow him out the door.

The account notes that Edmonton has already been floated as a potential suitor for Hellebuyck and center Mark Scheifele this offseason, and adding Morrissey to that list only raises the stakes for a Jets team that just watched its franchise goaltender go public with his frustration.

Morrissey, an alternate captain since 2022, has spent his entire eleven year career in Winnipeg and was a key piece of the blue line during last season's playoff push.

Both Scheifele and Morrissey are Canadian born, which the post points out as one more reason either player could be a fit for an Oilers team built around homegrown talent and championship urgency.

Neither move looks close to happening, but the timing lines up with a franchise that suddenly finds itself answering questions it did not expect this close to training camp.

Winnipeg has not commented on any speculation involving Morrissey or Scheifele, and the front office says it will continue working through the Hellebuyck situation in a thoughtful manner.

Still, the idea that a rebuild could be starting is gaining traction among fans who watched a difficult 2025-26 season unfold.

For now, the connection between Morrissey and Draisaitl remains just that, a friendship worth watching if Edmonton comes calling.

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