BMo
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- Madcombinepilot
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BMo
I am not sure what has happened.
Since aquired from the New Jersey Devils in Exchange for Almo, Morrison has undergone quite the sieries of changes.
Anyone remember when he took over the first line center duties when Cassels was injured? We all said he was too small, not the right mentality, not the right skill set to be a number one center.
When Cassels moved on, Mo the centered our number one line with Naslund and Bertuzzi. We said: "Mo is too small, can't win key faceoffs, not the right mentality, wrong skill set'
Did we forget?
Why all the sudden (after spending a couple of YEARS in the doghouse) does everyone think that Mo should be traded? Is it his apparent lack of work ethic these last couple years? Could it be he does not seem to win key faceoffs? Perhaps he feels shunned for being moved from the top line center to fourth line winger last game? Could it be that people are starting to remember the same arguments that others have said against him for the last few years??
Simply put, I think that Morrison needs to go. When he first started out with our top line, everyone was agianst him, and he played like he had someting to prove. He played hard, skaeted hard, backchecked, won faceoffs, and did the little things right. The last couple years, he has been floating around worse than Bertuzzi ever did. he plays flat, uninspired hockey, shows no intrest in backchecking, other players do not seem to be excited to play on his line, (a lack of leadership or a poor attitude - perhaps a combination of both)..... where are the days when Morrison was called "a portable second line - he makes other around him better!' ??
If he doesn't want to play here, move him and use his contract elsewhere.
Since aquired from the New Jersey Devils in Exchange for Almo, Morrison has undergone quite the sieries of changes.
Anyone remember when he took over the first line center duties when Cassels was injured? We all said he was too small, not the right mentality, not the right skill set to be a number one center.
When Cassels moved on, Mo the centered our number one line with Naslund and Bertuzzi. We said: "Mo is too small, can't win key faceoffs, not the right mentality, wrong skill set'
Did we forget?
Why all the sudden (after spending a couple of YEARS in the doghouse) does everyone think that Mo should be traded? Is it his apparent lack of work ethic these last couple years? Could it be he does not seem to win key faceoffs? Perhaps he feels shunned for being moved from the top line center to fourth line winger last game? Could it be that people are starting to remember the same arguments that others have said against him for the last few years??
Simply put, I think that Morrison needs to go. When he first started out with our top line, everyone was agianst him, and he played like he had someting to prove. He played hard, skaeted hard, backchecked, won faceoffs, and did the little things right. The last couple years, he has been floating around worse than Bertuzzi ever did. he plays flat, uninspired hockey, shows no intrest in backchecking, other players do not seem to be excited to play on his line, (a lack of leadership or a poor attitude - perhaps a combination of both)..... where are the days when Morrison was called "a portable second line - he makes other around him better!' ??
If he doesn't want to play here, move him and use his contract elsewhere.
Last edited by Madcombinepilot on Wed Nov 15, 2006 7:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
The 'Chain of Command' is the chain I am going to beat you with until you understand I am in charge.
I've always had a soft spot for BMo. Probably because I was in his graduating class in high school. But I've got to admit that my opinion on his value to this team is starting to change.
I still think he's a great human being and a decent NHL center but not one worth 3.2/yr. In some ways I think his recent shortcommings are a result of his chemistry with Bert and Nazzy. If he had not clicked for a couple of seasons with them he would not be viewed OR paid as a #1 center OR dealing with the presure from fans, managers, teammates and himself to produce like one.
At this stage it might just be best for him to move on. Having said that his stock is falling and it may be hard to find a team to take him and give back anything of value.
I still think he's a great human being and a decent NHL center but not one worth 3.2/yr. In some ways I think his recent shortcommings are a result of his chemistry with Bert and Nazzy. If he had not clicked for a couple of seasons with them he would not be viewed OR paid as a #1 center OR dealing with the presure from fans, managers, teammates and himself to produce like one.
At this stage it might just be best for him to move on. Having said that his stock is falling and it may be hard to find a team to take him and give back anything of value.
R.I.P. Luc.
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He never makes much mention of that point but frankly if I'd been on crutches all summer I don't think I'd be doing the things he's doing right now. I know hockey is ofter what did you do last shift, Morrison has always played at both ends of the ice unlike some others that were lining their pockets.Larry Goodenough wrote:Morrison has mentioned he is still having issues with his hip and the subsequent rehab issues after being on crutches all summer.
I don't think you can fully judge him for a few more months, unitl the hip has totally healed.
He does want to be here, local boy whose favourite pass time is fishing the local waters. He does care some thing he could maybe pass on to some others.
Plus of course he would be very difficult to tarde as are all the players. Thank heavans we didn't trade the Sedins as many suggested here.
cheers
- Jyrki21
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I continue to be a big Morrison fan. Is he overpaid? Sure. So are a lot of guys.
Doe he contribute positively to the team? Yes. He's still one of the better two-way players we have. He's also one of the few that I do expect to score when in close. He's also an excellent clutch player.
I don't question his effort, sorry. If the puck's not going in for him, that doesn't mean he's not trying.
Doe he contribute positively to the team? Yes. He's still one of the better two-way players we have. He's also one of the few that I do expect to score when in close. He's also an excellent clutch player.
I don't question his effort, sorry. If the puck's not going in for him, that doesn't mean he's not trying.
- westvandal
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I think its his hip more than his heart.
That being said though, he NEEDS to sit a few then....I can't imagine him getting better if he does not rest it awhile. The IR would help the cap restraint and allow him to contribute the way he is paid.
Playing because he feels he has to is not the right way to go about it....if anything, he is playing still because he feels obligated, not because he "selfishly wants his iron-man streak to continue" (what a load of garbage) as another poster mentioned.
He obviously doesn't have his shiftiness, that 's gotta be the hip. I would prefer a Cooke for more offensive winger trade, to see if he can jell with Morrison and add to the team. Trading Morrison will deplete the ofense even more.
I don't mind Bulis, but he's a better player on the 3rd line, Gainey was right.
Who do we trade Cooke for? and to what team?
Teams need grit out there (shhh we won't tell he hasn't done that either this year;)) .
How about Matt Pettinger from WAS? (900,000)....Someone like Ouellet from Pit? (we'd have to throw in a minimum 3rd rounder).
Just throwing names out there to stimulate discussion on the matter, don't flame me, I jsut started at washington and then got lazy haha.
That being said though, he NEEDS to sit a few then....I can't imagine him getting better if he does not rest it awhile. The IR would help the cap restraint and allow him to contribute the way he is paid.
Playing because he feels he has to is not the right way to go about it....if anything, he is playing still because he feels obligated, not because he "selfishly wants his iron-man streak to continue" (what a load of garbage) as another poster mentioned.
He obviously doesn't have his shiftiness, that 's gotta be the hip. I would prefer a Cooke for more offensive winger trade, to see if he can jell with Morrison and add to the team. Trading Morrison will deplete the ofense even more.
I don't mind Bulis, but he's a better player on the 3rd line, Gainey was right.
Who do we trade Cooke for? and to what team?
Teams need grit out there (shhh we won't tell he hasn't done that either this year;)) .
How about Matt Pettinger from WAS? (900,000)....Someone like Ouellet from Pit? (we'd have to throw in a minimum 3rd rounder).
Just throwing names out there to stimulate discussion on the matter, don't flame me, I jsut started at washington and then got lazy haha.
- JamesOwnzSam11
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I still don't know if I agree with that trade way back then, I think we could have gotten more for Almo....he along with Messier were playing they're best hockey in years...( though it was a contract year for Almo) they would have made the playoffs that year even with Potvin in goal.
Anyway, how many games does Morrision have to go to pass Linden for Ironman games?
Anyway, how many games does Morrision have to go to pass Linden for Ironman games?
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- tantalum
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I can understand the injury affecting his offence to a certain extent. Though if he's going to be this useless he shouldn't be playing.
What I can't understand is that as a veteran of 8 NHL seasons is that an injury that is apparently good enough to play one affects his decision making so much. He just doesn't seem to have his head in the game the last season or so. Last night in the first was a good example IMO...he tries to force a pass across the blueline and it gets intercepted and Detroit turns the other way. Morrison never would have made such a play a couple of season ago. He should know not to make it. Hhe just isn't performing as expected.
Again, i like Morrison. He has competed hard for this club in the past. But the problem is that it has been in the past. i'd love that Morrison on the second line (never thought of him as a true first line center). But I don't love THIS Morrison on the second line.
I still look at it is 6+3.2+1.5+1.3 mil = $12 mil dollars. Is the team gettng their moneys worth?
That's where the necessary changes lie on this team. That's where the money is going to come from to create better offensive depth.
What I can't understand is that as a veteran of 8 NHL seasons is that an injury that is apparently good enough to play one affects his decision making so much. He just doesn't seem to have his head in the game the last season or so. Last night in the first was a good example IMO...he tries to force a pass across the blueline and it gets intercepted and Detroit turns the other way. Morrison never would have made such a play a couple of season ago. He should know not to make it. Hhe just isn't performing as expected.
Again, i like Morrison. He has competed hard for this club in the past. But the problem is that it has been in the past. i'd love that Morrison on the second line (never thought of him as a true first line center). But I don't love THIS Morrison on the second line.
I still look at it is 6+3.2+1.5+1.3 mil = $12 mil dollars. Is the team gettng their moneys worth?
That's where the necessary changes lie on this team. That's where the money is going to come from to create better offensive depth.
- Madcombinepilot
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I don't mean to come across that I do not like Morrison, (I do) but I will argue a couple of the points mentioned yesterday here....
First off, the point of the thread is that I never have thought (and at this point I do not think I ever will think) that Morrison was first line center material. Sure he clicked with the WCE, but I think that almost anyone would have clicked with Bertuzzi and Naslund when they were rolling hot, and he was the only guy we had to play with them.
I have trouble following the logic on this. In 2000-02 Morrison played hard, skated hard and make good thinking plays with and without the puck. His only real fault (in his play) was that he had to adjust to play Naslund/Bertuzzi style hockey because he kept putting them offside. He got over that, and the line excelled.
Then the hip injury occurs.
For the last couple years, we have seen a different Morrison. One who does not skate as he used to, one who does not make the smart plays that he used to, one that does not have the puck skills he used to, and one that seems to not have the work ethic/drive that he used to. These are the things that we pay him 3.2 million for, and we are not getting it. We were not getting it last season either... Yet, during the lockout, Morrison played in Sweden like the Morrison of 2001...
My point/question to my thinking is this: At what point does the injury become the new player? I mean, its been 2 years now.... If he is injured, he should get better (and he has shown no signs of it - sure he had the surgury in the summer, but his play now is really no different than his play all last season)
I am not bashing Morrison (well I guess I am), but I think that the time has come for him to move on. I am thinking that ta change of scenery will do him and his career wonders. I am so confident in saying this (especially after seeing how he played in Sweden) that I think he will have a career year (stats wise) AFTER he leaves Vancouver. I also believe that he will never have that year if he stays....
I hope I am wrong..
People keep throwing Cooke into the same pile as Morrison. I disagree. Morrsion is a 3.2 million dollar player who is playing like a 1 million dollar player. that is 2 million wasted right now. Cooke is a 1.5 million dollar player playing like a 1.1 million dollar player. Thats 400K wasted. We can argue the numbers for Cooke but the couple hundred grand of perceved value will not alter the concept of the comparison.
First off, the point of the thread is that I never have thought (and at this point I do not think I ever will think) that Morrison was first line center material. Sure he clicked with the WCE, but I think that almost anyone would have clicked with Bertuzzi and Naslund when they were rolling hot, and he was the only guy we had to play with them.
I have trouble following the logic on this. In 2000-02 Morrison played hard, skated hard and make good thinking plays with and without the puck. His only real fault (in his play) was that he had to adjust to play Naslund/Bertuzzi style hockey because he kept putting them offside. He got over that, and the line excelled.
Then the hip injury occurs.
For the last couple years, we have seen a different Morrison. One who does not skate as he used to, one who does not make the smart plays that he used to, one that does not have the puck skills he used to, and one that seems to not have the work ethic/drive that he used to. These are the things that we pay him 3.2 million for, and we are not getting it. We were not getting it last season either... Yet, during the lockout, Morrison played in Sweden like the Morrison of 2001...
My point/question to my thinking is this: At what point does the injury become the new player? I mean, its been 2 years now.... If he is injured, he should get better (and he has shown no signs of it - sure he had the surgury in the summer, but his play now is really no different than his play all last season)
I am not bashing Morrison (well I guess I am), but I think that the time has come for him to move on. I am thinking that ta change of scenery will do him and his career wonders. I am so confident in saying this (especially after seeing how he played in Sweden) that I think he will have a career year (stats wise) AFTER he leaves Vancouver. I also believe that he will never have that year if he stays....
I hope I am wrong..
People keep throwing Cooke into the same pile as Morrison. I disagree. Morrsion is a 3.2 million dollar player who is playing like a 1 million dollar player. that is 2 million wasted right now. Cooke is a 1.5 million dollar player playing like a 1.1 million dollar player. Thats 400K wasted. We can argue the numbers for Cooke but the couple hundred grand of perceved value will not alter the concept of the comparison.
The 'Chain of Command' is the chain I am going to beat you with until you understand I am in charge.
- tantalum
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Well i would argue Cooke is playing more like a 700k player and perhaps not even that. I don't think you'd run out of fingers and toes if you tried to count up the number of good shifts Cooke has had this year. But while it isn't as big a problem as the money on Morrison (and to an extent the money on Naslund) it is money that was overspent. They should be getting more for that extra 400k than they are. They should be getting what Cooke said he could bring when he got that deal. The problem is Nonis gave Cooke that deal as backpay. Can't do that in a cap world. You can't give bonuses for past performance. It is all about the here and now. Really as I said last year eventually those 400k overpayments really add up. Right now it looks like Chouinard is overpaid by 400-500k (can't complain too much I didn't think it was too bad of signing at the time..a minimal overpayment. I was wrong), Bulis is overpaid by 200-300k, Cooke 400k....all of a sudden that's over $1mil in overpayment and a loss of cap flexibility and/or a pretty darn good addition to the roster. You need a $1.5 mil player to play like it. A $6 mil player to play like it. And once all the players on the roster are playing to the level of compensation you need some to overachieve and be underpaid.Madcombinepilot wrote: People keep throwing Cooke into the same pile as Morrison. I disagree. Morrsion is a 3.2 million dollar player who is playing like a 1 million dollar player. that is 2 million wasted right now. Cooke is a 1.5 million dollar player playing like a 1.1 million dollar player. Thats 400K wasted. We can argue the numbers for Cooke but the couple hundred grand of perceved value will not alter the concept of the comparison.
As I said, they have $12+ mil tied up in 4 forwards up front that really aren't living up to their paycheques (13.1 mil if you include Chouinard). I think that money could be much better distributed to create a deeper team up front. I look at the money and think 6 forwards averaging $2 mil a year would be better than 4 forwards.
But I also know that the rebuild isn't going to happen in one off-season. Nonis will have a hard time moving Morrison right now. Naslund has a no trade clause and is a potential PR disaster if Nonis gets a poor return. He puts himself into a tough spot if he has to move both Chouinard and Bulis...his own signings. An admission of failure on those. But if the team continues to struggle I do see a fire sale in the future that will free up an awful lot of money for the offseason and probably bring back some good assets as well.
- the Cunning Linguist
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IMO, BMo's struggles this season were perfectly encapsulated early in the 3rd with the puck along the boards to Luongo's right... BMo goes after the loose puck and is checked to the ice by one of the Wings; he falls down and stays down just long enough to make a nice snow angel ; meanwhile, Lidstrom pounces on the loose puck, fires a pass to a now wide-open Zetterberg making for the front of the net in front of a surprised Luongo - and whose responsibility was it to take out or neutralize Zetterberg? BMo...
I don't know if his injury is hampering his movement, and therefore also his confidence, but dammit, where is your focus, man? The puck is still loose in your zone and you're looking for a penalty?
I don't know if his injury is hampering his movement, and therefore also his confidence, but dammit, where is your focus, man? The puck is still loose in your zone and you're looking for a penalty?
Why hasn't Rypien been called up yet?
http://www.moosehockey.com/2006-07/061107/recap.php#
Kid is a spark plug and fights like a buzzsaw (very similar to Bieksa in that pound for pound he is an outstanding fighter).
I'd sure as hell like to see some physical play. If we are going to be a team that has stone hands, we might as well throw a few.
Maybe something that will give the team a jolt and help them stay on the plus side of .500
http://www.moosehockey.com/2006-07/061107/recap.php#
Kid is a spark plug and fights like a buzzsaw (very similar to Bieksa in that pound for pound he is an outstanding fighter).
I'd sure as hell like to see some physical play. If we are going to be a team that has stone hands, we might as well throw a few.
Maybe something that will give the team a jolt and help them stay on the plus side of .500
"We Will Rise Again"
- Fan's sign from the final game of the 05/06 season
- Fan's sign from the final game of the 05/06 season
Seeing as he was virtually a lock to make the team before getting injured one has to wonder why he hasn't been called back. Unless he isn't 100%. The other question is who goes the other way? Isn't everyone on a one way and have to go thru waivers?WCE wrote:Why hasn't Rypien been called up yet?
http://www.moosehockey.com/2006-07/061107/recap.php#
Kid is a spark plug and fights like a buzzsaw (very similar to Bieksa in that pound for pound he is an outstanding fighter).
I'd sure as hell like to see some physical play. If we are going to be a team that has stone hands, we might as well throw a few.
Maybe something that will give the team a jolt and help them stay on the plus side of .500
R.I.P. Luc.