EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Logan Morrison retains proving his detractors flawed and making his supporters look sensible.
The 22-year-old ahead performed top-line middle and was an alternate captain for the Seattle Kraken in a 5-1 victory towards the Colorado Avalanche on the 2024 Rookie Faceoff at Toyota Sports activities Efficiency Heart on Saturday.
Morrison had the successful objective within the sport and dominated most of his shifts, not unhealthy for a participant that was handed over thrice within the NHL Draft.
It’s one other cautionary story in an increasing file to warn hockey folks of the perils of betting towards Morrison.
Possibly, they’ll lastly hear.
“I hope so,” he stated.
This four-day event options seven groups and is loaded with top-line prospects like Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks, who was the No. 1 decide within the 2024 NHL Draft, and Cutter Gauthier of the Anaheim Geese, the No. 5 decide within the 2022 NHL Draft.
However the pedigree of others has by no means bothered Morrison.
He has all the time guess on himself. Those that refused to doubt him have reaped the advantages. Depend Kraken common supervisor Ron Francis amongst these having fun with the payouts.
“Clearly, it’s been a protracted journey getting right here and there’s tons extra to go,” Morrison stated.
Three seasons in the past, he scored 100 factors (34 targets, 66 assists) in 60 regular-season video games with Hamilton of the Ontario Hockey League. But, he was not one of many 225 gamers chosen within the 2022 NHL Draft, his second kick at that may.
The subsequent season, Hamilton traded Morrison to Ottawa in a blockbuster OHL commerce that netted Hamilton six gamers. Morrison scored 20 targets — and 39 factors — in 22 regular-season video games for Ottawa. He added 10 targets in 11 postseason video games.
This time, 224 gamers had been chosen with out his title being referred to as.
He was invited to prospect camps previously. He performed in a earlier model of this event as a free-agent invitee by the Los Angeles Kings. He performed within the Traverse Metropolis prospect event as a free agent with the Dallas Stars.
Every time, he was lower and despatched again to junior with out a contract.
Morrison didn’t develop into demoralized. He used it as gas.
“It’s a superb feeling; being part of a workforce and never a free agent is unquestionably a superb feeling,” Morrison stated. “It took a number of exhausting work, nevertheless it’s been nice.”
The Kraken heard the considerations concerning the participant’s foot pace. However they noticed it as fixable, particularly with Morrison’s can-do perspective.
They signed him to a three-year entry-level contract on April 12, 2023.
Morrison repaid the Kraken’s religion with a stable season at Coachella Valley within the American Hockey League, scoring 41 factors (16 targets, 25 assists) in 64 video games. He had 10 factors (one objective, 9 assists) in 18 postseason video games when Coachella Valley misplaced to Hershey within the Calder Cup Last for the second straight season.
“He’s a cerebral participant,” stated new Coachella Valley coach Derek Laxdal, who coached the sport Saturday. “What he lacks in [foot speed] he makes up for in brains. He’s a kind of gamers as he matures and he settles into the NHL/AHL, he finds a method to succeed.”
To enhance his foot pace, he spent half-hour earlier than every observe final season working with Coachella Valley assistant coach Jessica Campbell, who makes a speciality of power-skating methods.
His stable offense was complemented by a rising defensive presence that earned the belief of then-coach Dan Bylsma, who’s now the coach of the Kraken, changing Dave Hakstol.
Campbell is on the Seattle employees as nicely, the primary feminine coach within the NHL.
Morrison performed 4 video games for the Kraken final season, getting a style of his dream.
Now, he needs to make it a full-time scenario.
In the course of the offseason, Morrison labored on placing on what he referred to as “good weight,” so he can higher compete on the NHL stage.
“I got here to camp rather a lot stronger and I’m simply attempting to place my greatest foot ahead and we’ll see what occurs,” Morrison stated.
Laxdal would like to have Morrison on his first line in Coachella Valley, however he’s unsure Morrison shall be despatched to the AHL when coaching camp finishes.
He’s discovered and he’s not betting towards Morrison.
“I’ve a gentle spot for teenagers that work exhausting, that cling in there and battle. These are the forms of youngsters that appear to discover a method on a regular basis,” Laxdal stated. “Typically, these gamers get missed. When these gamers put the work in, they get rewarded for it. It’s good to see him get rewarded.”
Can Morrison flip his exhausting work and a familiarity with the brand new teaching employees in Seattle right into a full-time gig this season?
“I hope so,” Morrison stated with a decided look. “I’ll do the whole lot I can.”
At this level, it’s a secure guess he’ll put his greatest foot ahead.
It began Saturday.
