[A] Hawks acquire C Brendan Morrison for D Brian Connelly

[R K]

sure he was the whiner calling them out for chirping to him after he tore his ACL. What ever, he's now a Hawk and I give him a chance. I also understand TCD's apprehension as he comes from Canuck land. But with the locker room here, primarily a guy named Toews, it doesn't worry me. Not to mention another guy named Odonnell.



Locker room douchbaggery will not be tolerated IMO.

 

[Pez68]

they won teh Cup with Madden the 4th line Center. He's no slower than Madden. I like the Depth it gives them at C.



TCD just like with Carcillo, he gets a chance. No one is as big of dick as Bertuzzi. He should be in jail.



I also think Bolland is going to get a chance to stay where he is, although Morrison was playing some with Iginla so I'm sure he could hang with Hossa.

Was the 4th line center really an issue though? I think Mayers has been just fine in that role. I just don't understand bringing in a guy like Morrison, even for depth. What does he offer the Hawks that they don't already have?



Toews

Bolland

Kruger

Mayers



So instead we will have



Toews

Bolland

Kruger

Morrison?



Is Morrison really an upgrade over Mayers at 4C? I don't know about that. Plus, Morrison is small, and not a physical player. My worst fear is that the Hawks try to use this guy as a #2 center. He's not even close to that at this point in his career. The Hawks already have better options for 2C.... and frankly, Morrison isn't an upgrade over any of the CURRENT Hawks' centers. Even more so if you decide to slot Sharp there.

 

[Ton]

You get him for guy who would never get a chance in a Hawk uniform, but has value elsewhere, then do it.... low-risk. He either plays well enough to stick in the line-up or, at worst, he's a healthy scratch.

 

[R K]

I think Mayers is better in his Wing position, plus I think he'd be an upgrade there.



Q is not going to slot Sharp there, and Sharp does not want to be slotted there.



I think it'll be JT-Bolland-Morrison-Kruger.

 

[R K]

You get him for guy who would never get a chance in a Hawk uniform, but has value elsewhere, then do it.... low-risk. He either plays well enough to stick in the line-up or, at worst, he's a healthy scratch.

Exactly. It didn't cost anything nor has it made the team worse in any way shape or form.

 

[R K]

I also don't think many 2nd line Centers will be availabe, and if there are 4-5 teams will and can have a bidding war. Point is we won the Cup with Madden as the fourth line Center. We had DEPTH in that position. This gives them Depth, with NATURAL Centers, not stop gaps that really don't like playing Center.

 

[the canadian dream]

I think Mayers is better in his Wing position, plus I think he'd be an upgrade there.



Q is not going to slot Sharp there, and Sharp does not want to be slotted there.



I think it'll be JT-Bolland-Morrison-Kruger.

Hope so. Bollands a much better option at 2nd line than Morrison. I would bury Morrison on the 4th myself. I have to get over this feeling I have and try to accept it...it's so bloody hard. If I see Morrison playing second line center ahead of a more talented and useful Bolland then I will be extremely upset.



lol it's going to be so hard seeing him in the jersey..so hard.

 

[Pez68]

Hawks also won the cup with Sharp as the second line center. Just saying.



I think Mayers is a better 4C than Kruger. Yeah, I said it. I don't like Kruger at center. Guy can't win a fucking faceoff. Mayers, meanwhile, for not being a center, is 55% in the circle. And even. Kruger is negative. I am MEH about this trade until I see Morrison play.

 

[R K]

I was like that with Carcillo, but I gave him a chance, and he proved me wrong. Sometimes the drive for a Cup do strange things to players, or athletes trying to go for a Championship.



All it is is a depth move at C. No way is Mayers a better Center than Morrison. Mayers is NOT a Center, playing out of position. He hasn't been bad because of the way he plays, but the fact is he's not a Center. Just like Kaner.



Sometimes the small moves Championship teams make are key. This could be one of them.



remember fraser, who centered that line most of the year, get benched for Madden in the Finals.



No biggie "IF" he can stay healthy. Unless like Tony said they try to force him on the 2nd line, which I can't see them doing. Well it's Q so maybe I could LOL!

 

[Pez68]

Madden is ten times the player and leader that Morrison is though. Apples to oranges.

 

[R K]

Yea I know they won the Cup with Sharp there. And eventually some how I see him being back there before the year is out. But this can't hurt them.



I also think Stan is far from done. I bet he's still looking at a Dman or TWO and maybe a top 6 foward if possible. Month left to go.



and I disagree about the Madden comment and I also think the numbers do as well.

 

[bookjones]

DAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMIT!



It shows on the main forum page: "Hawks acquire Brendan Morr......"



I THOUGHT IT WAS MORROW!!!

Likewise.

^ Ditto.





Then the whole name was revealed within and I was all sadness and sighs.

 

[the canadian dream]

The one thing ON THE ICE Morrison does still have going for him is he probably still can play a reliable and committed defensive game. He has never had an issue in this area. I will give him that. This could help the team if the leg is in better shape. I don't doubt his defensive game. I don't expect anymore 30 + assist seasons though which is fine if he can give this team an extended and strong defensive effort. I think this is why he was brought in. Has to be 3rd/4th line..it just has to be.

 

[sth]

And you get your wish Bolland to say on the 2nd line. And I must admit tony if he continues his play there like the other night, you will have been right.

I've always been high on Bolland. I've felt he could handle a 2nd line center position. Now I guess we'll see. So ton we will both look dumb if it doesn't work out.

 

[Samurai]

You get him for guy who would never get a chance in a Hawk uniform, but has value elsewhere, then do it.... low-risk. He either plays well enough to stick in the line-up or, at worst, he's a healthy scratch.

Simply...this.



[looks up to see if roof is caving in]



It isn't.

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Too bad Connelly never got a shot up here. Might have been a decent PP QB.



It's a small move IMO and to be honest, if Jimmy Hayes is only going to get 11 minutes a game, then send him back to the AHL where he can get some quality minutes and keep improving. Don't get me wrong, I really like what he brings to the team, but we are in a situation where we can be developing guys like him and I'd like to keep Shaw up before Hayes only because Shaw is a bit more versatile in positions.



I'm sure this is the first of a few trades the Hawks are working on so I'm not worried. Worst that happens is Morrison sits in the pressbox and we lost out on a prospect who never seemed to interest the Hawks anyways.

 

[roshinaya]

Good enough trade. Gave up on a player that would probably not have a shot on the team anyways. Hopefully Morrison can help the team. I don't care about his offensive output, his defensive game is more important.

 

[Ton]

Seems like his two-way play has been fine this season and last season, although stats of course mean very litte, for what it's worth:



This season

• 63 takeaways over both seasons
  
• 48 giveaways over both seasons
  
• 15 blocked shots this season
  
• 50.3 FO% this season
  
• +12 over both seasons
  

Most of these are better than Kruger/Mayers in comparison this season..

 

[Shantz My Pants]

Seems like his two-way play has been fine this season and last season:



This season

• 20 Takeaways
  
• 11 Giveaways
  
• 15 Blocked Shots
  
• 50.3 FO%
  
• +12 over both seasons
  

Would rather him be our 4th line center and let Kruger get some minutes as our 2nd or 3rd depending on Bolland.



Use the rookies or send them to the AHL where they can get experience.

 

[Chief Walking Stick]

Would rather him be our 4th line center and let Kruger get some minutes as our 2nd or 3rd depending on Bolland.



Use the rookies or send them to the AHL where they can get experience.

You don't bring him in if he's going to be your 4th line center... Mayers has done the job all year and done it well.