Veteran center Brendan Morrison, 33, an unrestricted free agent, has been signed to a one-year contract with the Washington Capitals, according to vice president and general manager George McPhee on Friday.
The price of acquiring Morrison has been reported as $1.5 million – a tremendous bargain for the Capitals if Morrison can avoid the injuries that have plagued him during the past couple of years and can return to the offensive weapon that he was when playing for Vancouver.
And Morrison this week said that he is completely healthy and believes that he still has a lot of his career in front of him.
The expectation is that the 5 ft 11, 181 pound Morrison will play second-line center, replacing Sergei Fedorov who left at the end of the season to play in the KHL in Russia.
“I sure hope so,” he told NHL staff writer Brian Hunter. “In the initial talks we had, that’s what we’ve discussed. Obviously I know nothing is guaranteed and they don’t just hand out positions, but if I can get my game back, that’s the role I hope to play.”
And Morrison revealed that he has really wanted to play on the Capitals team, saying, “This is a team I wanted to be a part of. I feel like they’re right on the cusp of some real good playoff success.”
Last year Morrison reportedly earned $2.75 million between the Anaheim Ducks and the Dallas Stars who acquired him on waivers in March. He scored 16 goals and 31 points in 81 games.
Between 2000 and 2007, Morrison played in 542 consecutive games -- and scored over 50 points in each of his first six full seasons -- with Vancouver, but eventually he was plagued by injuries that resulted in four surgical procedures. During the 2007-08 season he only managed 39 games with the team, and then moved on to the Ducks in 2008-09, being waived in March and picked up by the Stars.
“I think initially the opportunity was there in Anaheim,” Morrison told the NHL, “but I couldn’t take advantage. I could barely get up and down the ice. When you don’t perform for a few games, they move on to the next guy. When I moved to Dallas, I got a lot of minutes right away. That, coupled with the fact I felt a lot better physically, helped me get back to being an offensive threat.”
Morrison said healthy and ready for summer camp.
“He has a clean bill of health and is committed to coming to camp in great shape,”explained McPhee. “We think he could really flourish here.”
A native of British Columbia, Morrison began his career with the New Jersey Devils and has played a total of 12 seasons with Dallas, Anaheim, Vancouver and New Jersey. In 755 career games, he scored 175 goals and 505 points. And he has eight goals and 28 points in 53 career playoff games.
Morrison, who will turn 34 next month, is actually the second “thirty-something” player added to the Capitals team this month. On July 1st, the first day of free agency, 37-year-old winger Mike Knuble was signed by the Capitals. And, in fact, Morrison, winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the country’s top college player, actually played with Knuble for two years at the University of Michigan.
“Mike and I are good friends,” said Morrison. “We played on the same line for two years at Michigan, and we actually played together in Sweden the lockout year. We’re familiar with each other. I haven’t spoken to him yet, but I told him I was coming to Washington for a visit and he was excited about that.”
Morrison said that he is skating well and feeling strong – “I’m back now. I feel ready.” Sphere: Related Content
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