BRIGHTON -- To say this is a big season for Joe Morrow would be an understatement.
The former first-round pick is entering his fourth season with the Bruins organization and is, perhaps unbelievably, the final player still with Boston who was involved in the Tyler Seguin trade. Morrow, 23, had his best moments at the NHL level to date last season with a goal and seven points in 33 games and he remained on the Bruins roster from beginning to end.
So there was some level of opportunity for Morrow last season to establish himself as a young D-man worthy of playing in the top-6, but there were also long stretches of healthy scratches and inactivity. He was never able to truly seize that chance despite passing, shooting and size/strength skills that make him look like a potential top-4 defenseman at his best.
But he says he hasn't reached his highest level of play at the NHL quite yet.
“Absolutely not,” said Morrow, who was wearing a Barstool Sports 37+63= 100 T-shirt supporting Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand at the World Cup of Hockey. “But there comes a time when you’ve got to grow, and with experience you feel comfortable with the team. You get a consistent chance to prove yourself. I’m a pretty optimistic person, so I feel like the sky is the limit. I feel like from the beginning of the year to the end of the year last year I was making some pretty big strides, and moving forward. That’s what I’m going to focus on, and expediting the process.
“This year I look forward to stepping up into a more consistent role, and that pretty much isn’t up to anybody but me. I look forward to it. It’s always to have a little more pressure on you. You tend to play a little better, at least from my perspective in the past playing junior in playoff situations. I’ve always kind of stepped my game up, so I kind of view it as [that situation]. I aim to not disappointment anyone. I’m looking forward to that.”
The good news is that the Bruins front office has voiced a renewed effort to invest in the development of their young D-men, and that means giving both Morrow and Colin Miller ample chances to establish themselves. Going young is part of the reason they bought out Dennis Seidenberg, a steady veteran who was effectively blocking the young players.
Boston Bruins
“Both [Miller and Morrow] were key contributors last season,” said Bruins executive director of player personnel John Ferguson back at B’s development camp in July when Morrow’s one year deal for $800,000 was announced. “Joe Morrow is a former first-round pick with good size, and good strength.
"He’ll be challenged to continue that development, and also earn the opportunity to prove that he can do more. Colin just had an outstanding year two years ago in Manchester in the AHL. He was a key piece of a trade and he came in and demonstrated during his duty in the NHL that he can contribute offensively.
“[Miller] is a tremendous skater, and he’s really competitive with a good shot. We think there’s really big upside for both players, and they’re going to get a chance to earn more ice time than they got last year. It will be available to the, and we’re certainly really happy to get those deals done.
"Sometimes goalies and defensemen can take a little more time. I’ve seen a lot of players spend too little time in the American Hockey League, but I haven’t seen too many that have spent too much time developing there. They continue to get better as pros. The main thing is that they’re ready when their opportunity comes, and that they earn it.”
The bottom line for Morrow is this: He hasn’t shown the consistency or the urgency needed to take hold of a steady job with the Bruins. The talent that made him a first-rounder hasn’t all come together for long stretches on the ice, but it's been there in flashes . . . along with defensive breakdowns. Morrow was a minus-7 for the Bruins, and that was part of the reason he didn't play more under Claude Julien last year.
He’s on his third organization as a former first-round pick, and this season with the B’s might be the best shot he gets to establish himself as NHL talent.
Morrow wants to show his best this season, and that would benefit both player and organization.