Takes and trash talk from both ALL sides of the NHL's most obscure PATHETIC* rivalry

* Thanks, Kevin Lowe!

Monday, July 07, 2008

B-Mo! Burke upgrades through West Coast Exchange

UFA forward Brendan Morrison reportedly is signing a one-year contract tomorrow with the Ducks. I haven’t heard the salary figure [UPDATE: TSN says 1 year, $2.75 M; thanks Mike in OC!], so I won’t get detailed into budget repercussions just yet. Still, here's three marginally useful thoughts I had:

B-Mo won the Hobey Baker award in 1997. Actually, Morrison becomes the fifth Hobey Baker winner in Anaheim’s history, joining former Ducks Tony “the Circus*” Hrkac (1987), Kip Miller (1990), Paul Kariya (1993), and Jason “K-Rog**” Krog (1999). Looking at the list of historical winners, I have to think that the Ducks hold the odd record of having the most games played (923) and points (784) from Hobey Baker winners. Other notable winners include Chris Drury (1998), Ryan Miller (2001), and Matt Carle (2006).

B-Mo was once part of a trade for Alexander Mogilny. It’s not that significant, really, but for some reason I sort of enjoy knowing about young brushes with greatness, like when Pahlsson was traded for Ray Bourque. What’s actually meaningful, though, is that Morrison debuted as a New Jersey Devil. He knows his defensive responsibility, that’s for sure, and may even have a reunion of sorts with Scott Niedermayer.

B-Mo, of course, centered the West Coast Express. The Yankee Canuck wrote a timely tribute post to the members of that high-flying line (including a link to Morrison scoring a triple-OT goal), and I couldn’t resist quoting this ironic part: “We all share in common the wonder of what could have been if (a) Dan Cloutier and (b) Marc Crawford had been just a shade better at their jobs...” The Humming Giraffe is going to miss B-Mo as well. Between all-star scoring wingers Naslund and Bertuzzi, Morrison was a more-than-serviceable centerman who not only chipped in points, but largely served as a defensive conscience for the line as well. To put it in 90s Ducks terms, B-Mo served as the “Rucchin” of that line.

Overall, I’m pretty excited; Morrison represents a much-coveted top-six forward. I can’t call it a “great” signing until I know what the salary is, but I think Morrison fits fabulously roster-wise. Getzlaf-Morrison-Pahlsson-Marchant/Carter is a pretty solid set of centers (especially if Getzy decides to win some faceoffs). This team still looks to be short a Selanne up front, but generally I like where this Burkie swan song team is headed.

Of course, it should be recognized that so far this offseason, Ducks fans have only seen the pleasant side of summer business. Until now, it’s been all roses. Good players have been brought in or re-signed (Niedermayer, Perry, Morrison, Hiller), and less-good players have been let go (Weight, Bertuzzi). It’s about time to brace for the harder choices—getting rid of good players. If it means a final year of Pronger and Niedermayer, though, I’m fully aboard.

Go Ducks.


* Also acceptable is “the Jerk-Ass”, but you have to say it kind of funny and make it rhyme with “circus”.
** Patterned after the “K-Rod” nickname given to Angels phenom Francisco Rodriguez.

16 comments:

Doogie2K said...

See, when I hear B-Mo, I think of the Bank of Montreal.

Stupid Sportsnet commercials.

Earl Sleek said...

I used to have that problem with the acronym for Battle of Alberta (BoA).

It's exactly the same thing I'd been calling Bank of America, which holds my money.

Mike in OC said...

TSN is reporting 1 year, 2.75 million.

They also said 9 teams wanted him including the Kings.

Take that 9 teams!

Earl Sleek said...

I'm happy with that signing amount for sure -- it's what the Wild are paying the next two years for Owen Nolan, for reference.

I don't know what the Kings wanted with B-Mo; were they going to ask him to play defense?

antro said...

This is a good signing by the Ducks. BMo is very smart, very steady, and was regaining a lot of his scoring touch when he got injured. He plays hard and is a good team guy. Plus he's a hell of a back-checker and does PK duty (something the Canucks sorely missed when he went down) Figure him for another 20-40 season.

I'll miss seeing him in Vancity silks, but glad he ended up with a good org like the Ducks, who rightly cleansed themselves of the Bertuzzi stigma.

RudyKelly said...

I doubt the Kings wanted him unless they were hoping to just play all forwards next season. Hmmm...

B-Mo x1000

Damn you, Sleek.

Earl Sleek said...

Damn you, Sleek.

You probably mean, "Damn you, E-Sle."

Rick said...

Morrison was chased out of New Jersey because he refused to ever sign a contract. And he was supposedly a dick -- but that was 8 years ago.

Here's the thing.

The whole team except Kunitz, Getzlaf, Perry, Giguere, Hiller and Pronger are UFA after next season. That's not a bad core, but damn. (Oh yeah, Ryan Carter is locked up solid. Lol.)

Add that to the fact that they appear to be OVER the cap now. Who gets traded? Schneider? Marchant?

Anonymous said...

Canucks sorely missed when he went down) Figure him for another 20-40 season.

Jeez, for 2.75 I'd hope he gets 40 points, the bar just keeps getting set lower and lower. I know..old fogeydom... setting in.. must resist.

Earl Sleek said...

The whole team except Kunitz, Getzlaf, Perry, Giguere, Hiller and Pronger are UFA after next season. That's not a bad core, but damn. (Oh yeah, Ryan Carter is locked up solid. Lol.)

Yeah, maybe throw Bobby Ryan on that list and it's near-comprehensive. I wrote about this a while back, actually, when talking about B. Burke and Toronto rumours. Normally, it might be bothersome, but if we really are doing a GM transition, I think it's actually kind of ideal. Best to let the new GM dig his own grave, rather than have to wait out Burke's footprint.

Still, I'll be campaigning for a Pahlsson extension very soon.

Who gets traded? Schneider? Marchant?

I'm guessing A and B from that list, but I've been wrong before. Both guys are attractive enough veterans on semi-reasonable deals, both on the last year of a contract.

Also, both have a higher actual salary than their cap hit, which works against the $50M target. I actually pushed for a Schneider trade when Scott came back last year, he's just too logical a choice.

Jeez, for 2.75 I'd hope he gets 40 points

I suspect that was meant to be 40 assists, but I'll join you in your hope.

Anonymous said...

Selanne we want you.

Anonymous said...

Canuck fans rave about Morrison like we rave about Sammy.

Lets hope the rehab is going well.

antro said...

Canucks sorely missed when he went down) Figure him for another 20-40 season.

Jeez, for 2.75 I'd hope he gets 40 points, the bar just keeps getting set lower and lower. I know..old fogeydom... setting in.. must resist.


For the record, I meant 20 goals and 40 assists = 60 points. That's about his average.

Anonymous said...

For the record, I meant 20 goals and 40 assists = 60 points. That's about his average.

Yeah, noted. I guess I jumped the gun there a bit and just assumed. But, you know, I went and looked up the 40 point guys last year and the vast majority of them are making about 2.75million or above. You just can't even satirize this league anymore..

Mr. Plank said...

I actually pushed for a Schneider trade when Scott came back last year, he's just too logical a choice.

He's definitely on his way out- your blueline is strong enough without him, and I don't see Pronger going anywhere. We would have loved him in San Jose, but alas that's not going to happen.

Phoenix anyone?

Kirsten said...

I knew a kid in grade school whose last name was Jerkus. Too bad for him he lived up to it, so we all gave him hell.