I'm confused....sounds like he's developing nicely yet there are a lot poopooing his ability to become a nhler?
I don't know - is his defense really make or break for making the jump?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?
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 ofI 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.
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: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.
I wouldn’t be completely surprised if they took Morrow+ and turned him into a more established RD with term.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 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 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.
Doesn't Buffalo have a wealth of rd and is in dire need of a shake up?I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?
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?
I just remember hearing Dobson’s name as one that may be available before, Calgary guys make sense.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'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.I can see us going hard after Dobson in the summer. Morrow, 1st, another prospect?