Prospect Info: #40OA - Hurricanes select RHD Scott Morrow

[Unsustainable]

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[Unsustainable]

 

[Stickpucker]

I'm confused....sounds like he's developing nicely yet there are a lot poopooing his ability to become a nhler?

 

[MinJaBen]

I'm confused....sounds like he's developing nicely yet there are a lot poopooing his ability to become a nhler?

His numbers look great. Unfortunately, his numbers only show his offensive prowess, which I don't think have every been in doubt. I think the organization will be looking mostly at how he handles himself in his own zone.

Anybody have any of his defensive metrics to share?

 

[To Be Determined]

His numbers look great. Unfortunately, his numbers only show his offensive prowess, which I don't think have every been in doubt. I think the organization will be looking mostly at how he handles himself in his own zone.

Anybody have any of his defensive metrics to share?

I don't know - is his defense really make or break for making the jump?

As much as the canes have a rep for defense-first, they've shown over the years they'll put a turnstile with slavin, and lesser d on the third pair.

Skjei didn't come in as nearly what he became, though we don't have the luxury of prime pesce to cover sins anymore. Dougie wasn't as bad as some said, but he wasn't what the (poor for the most part, imo) defensive metrics said. D'angelo... yeah. And they chose to bring him back. That wadn't great, but when he did play in the playoffs (by necessity, admittedly) he wasn't the worst we've seen. Ghost has been better than expected defensively, but wasn't brought in based on his prowess in his own zone. Burns is still eating minutes even as his gaffes/60 skyrocket.

I'm not saying it'll happen, but i think the braintrust feels like they could make it work with morrow. He'd take his lumps, but he may need the step up in competition at some point soon to get to the next level in his development.

Hopium? You decide.

 

[Chrispy]

I don't know - is his defense really make or break for making the jump?

As much as the canes have a rep for defense-first, they've shown over the years they'll put a turnstile with slavin, and lesser d on the third pair.

Skjei didn't come in as nearly what he became, though we don't have the luxury of prime pesce to cover sins anymore. Dougie wasn't as bad as some said, but he wasn't what the (poor for the most part, imo) defensive metrics said. D'angelo... yeah. And they chose to bring him back. That wadn't great, but when he did play in the playoffs (by necessity, admittedly) he wasn't the worst we've seen. Ghost has been better than expected defensively, but wasn't brought in based on his prowess in his own zone. Burns is still eating minutes even as his gaffes/60 skyrocket.

I'm not saying it'll happen, but i think the braintrust feels like they could make it work with morrow. He'd take his lumps, but he may need the step up in competition at some point soon to get to the next level in his development.

Hopium? You decide.

It's possible Morrow is ready next year. But the defense corp will need more moves to bring in 2 kids and still work. Try to make defensive pairings out of
Slavin
Chatfield
Nikishin
Morrow
Ghost
Walker

That you feel comfortable with. I don't see that set of 6 working next year, which either means moving out a veteran D to bring in someone who can help this setup, or waiting on Morrow for a year and bringing in someone to pair with Slavin on the top pair.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

It's possible Morrow is ready next year. But the defense corp will need more moves to bring in 2 kids and still work. Try to make defensive pairings out of
Slavin
Chatfield
Nikishin
Morrow
Ghost
Walker

That you feel comfortable with. I don't see that set of 6 working next year, which either means moving out a veteran D to bring in someone who can help this setup, or waiting on Morrow for a year and bringing in someone to pair with Slavin on the top pair.

Well I don't think those will be our 6 next year personally but I have no issue with those 6 and think it's pretty simple:

Slavin-Morrow
Nikishin-Chatfield
Ghost-Walker

I don't think Morrow can be any worse with Slavin than TDA was a few years ago or Burns has been this year, probably wouldn't be ideal or Rod's MO to slot him right there from the start but from my perspective we could make that work.
Nikishin-Chatty seems pretty obvious regardless of who else we have (unless we do somehow keep Orlov, maybe then play Nikishin off-side with Slavin? but that's also against Rod's MO in 2 ways).
And Ghost-Walker is what we have right now on the 3rd pair and while it's nowhere near as good as our 3rd pair of Orlov-Chatty last year, it's still one of the better 3rd pairs in the league.

 

[spockBokk]

Well I don't think those will be our 6 next year personally but I have no issue with those 6 and think it's pretty simple:

Slavin-Morrow
Nikishin-Chatfield
Ghost-Walker

I don't think Morrow can be any worse with Slavin than TDA was a few years ago or Burns has been this year, probably wouldn't be ideal or Rod's MO to slot him right there from the start but from my perspective we could make that work.
Nikishin-Chatty seems pretty obvious regardless of who else we have (unless we do somehow keep Orlov, maybe then play Nikishin off-side with Slavin? but that's also against Rod's MO in 2 ways).
And Ghost-Walker is what we have right now on the 3rd pair and while it's nowhere near as good as our 3rd pair of Orlov-Chatty last year, it's still one of the better 3rd pairs in the league.

I wouldn’t be completely surprised if they took Morrow+ and turned him into a more established RD with term.

I’d say if they’re set with playing 2 rookies on the blueline next year, Morrow would more likely be on the 3rd pair vs 1st. So I’d go:

Slavin-Walker
Nikishin-Chatfield
Gostisbehere-Morrow

And yes, that 3rd pair could be horrific defensively but incredible offensively. I was taken aback when RBA paired Gostisbehere with Walker, but for the most part that’s worked.

I think they key next year if they’re going with Morrow on roster will be to make sure they sign a steady 7D that can be plugged right in if Morrow proves he isn’t ready.

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

I wouldn’t be completely surprised if they took Morrow+ and turned him into a more established RD with term.

I’d say if they’re set with playing 2 rookies on the blueline next year, Morrow would more likely be on the 3rd pair vs 1st. So I’d go:

Slavin-Walker
Nikishin-Chatfield
Gostisbehere-Morrow

And yes, that 3rd pair could be horrific defensively but incredible offensively. I was taken aback when RBA paired Gostisbehere with Walker, but for the most part that’s worked.

I think they key next year if they’re going with Morrow on roster will be to make sure they sign a steady 7D that can be plugged right in if Morrow proves he isn’t ready.

I also think we may go big game hunting at RHD, or potentially take on EK at a discount/with retained like we did with Burns before.

I just can't see a Ghost Morrow pairing though lol, Rod would have a stroke watching them for even like 5 minutes together in a game. Walker is actually solid defensively and a good fit with Ghost skill-set wise. A rookie Morrow with Ghost is just a disaster defensively.

I also still think Burns will be back for somewhat cheap next year, for locker room/leadership presence moreso than on-ice. He's a Rod guy through and through and I think still wants a Cup. Maybe if we win this year he just retires but otherwise I think we see him back. Wouldn't shock me to see us run it back on D (except Nikishin in for Orlov) or move out Walker to make room for an upgrade at top pair RHD.

There's also a slim chance Rod comes to terms with the idea of playing a lefty on the right side and we could potentially see Nikishin slot right in with Slavin, Orlov kept around, etc., etc.

Will be really interesting to see how things play out with the D next year. Honestly think my preferred outcome is:

Slavin-Nikishin
Orlov-Chatfield
Ghost-Walker

Orlov will come cheaper than he has been these past 2 years and actually has fit in really really well here and with Chatty. He has arguably been our best our best D man this year overall. At least he's not been that far off of Slavin, although of course Chatty playing much better than Burns on their pairs factors in.

And I think Nikishin can play the right side and slot right in on the top pair to make it the best top pair we've had since Slavin Dougie. His skillset fits with Slavin perfectly if he can play on his off hand side.

 

[robbieberns]

I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?

 

[chaz4hockey]

Many of the goals I've seen from Morrow this year have been close to the net (ie he went for a journey to out front). Whether that would be acceptable from RBA is a future question to be answered.

Re: other metrics. Info is pretty sparse re: AHL players (I bet Tulsky has internal info for Wolves players and others though) so getting defensive info is nil outside of the "eye test" from folks watching him all year.

 

[Stickpucker]

I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?

Doesn't Buffalo have a wealth of rd and is in dire need of a shake up?

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?

The Isles are not trading Dobson as one of the only truly valuable young assets that they have. If the Canes go for a big splash at RD (I have my doubts), IMO they will go either for Weegar or for Andersson.

 

[TheReelChuckFletcher]

Doesn't Buffalo have a wealth of rd and is in dire need of a shake up?

Opposite. Their glut is at LD, with Byram, Dahlin, Power, and Samuelsson all lefties.

 

[robbieberns]

The Isles are not trading Dobson as one of the only truly valuable young assets that they have. If the Canes go for a big splash at RD (I have my doubts), IMO they will go either for Weegar or for Andersson.

I just remember hearing Dobson’s name as one that may be available before, Calgary guys make sense.

 

[NotOpie]

I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?

I've watched bits and pieces of Wolves game and I think the fear about Morrow's defensive prowess is way, way overblown. His defensive game has improved and continues to do so. He's getting top pairing minutes and, while I can't speak to the quality of competition or zone starts, he's been solid on that side of the puck.

The other thing that is happening is that he continues to get stronger. Already a very good skater, as he builds strength, his crease clearing ability will also get better.

Personally, I'd be surprised if we didn't see Scott Morrow on the big club next season and it would not surprise me to see him paired with Slavin...although pairing Slavin w/Walker probably puts the team in a difficult position w/Morrow.

 

[WreckingCrew]

Please god no Karlsson