Derek Morris (ice hockey)

Last updated
Derek Morris
Derek Morris Coyotes practice.jpg
Morris with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010
Born (1978-08-24) August 24, 1978 (age 45)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 221 lb (100 kg; 15 st 11 lb)
Position Defence
Shot Right
Played for Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Phoenix Coyotes
New York Rangers
Boston Bruins
National teamFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
NHL Draft 13th overall, 1996
Calgary Flames
Playing career 1997–2014

Derek Terrence Morris (born August 24, 1978) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played over 1,100 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. He was originally drafted out of the Western Hockey League (WHL) 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Contents

Playing career

Morris played minor hockey in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) with the Red Deer Chiefs and was awarded the Brian Benning Trophy as the league's top defenceman in 1995. [1] He went on to play major junior with the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League (WHL). After his rookie WHL season, in which he scored 52 points in 67 games, Morris was drafted 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, a somewhat surprising pick as Morris had been projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.[ citation needed ] He returned to play a second season with the Pats, improving to 18 goals and 75 points before turning pro.

Following Morris's 1996–97 WHL season with the Pats, he was assigned to the Calgary's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Saint John Flames for the final seven games of the regular season, as well as five post-season games. In 1997–98, he scored 9 goals and 29 points in his NHL rookie season with the Flames, earning NHL All-Rookie Team honours. He continued to improve to 34, then 38 points in his second and third seasons with the Flames before an injury-shortened season in 2000–01 kept him to 28 points in 51 games.

Morris with the Bruins. Derek Morris.jpg
Morris with the Bruins.

In 2001–02, Morris was again sidelined after sustaining a left wrist injury. During the season, he was unintentionally involved in a tragic incident in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on March 16, 2002, when an Espen Knutsen slap shot deflected off him and into the stands, striking 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil in the temple. She died from the impact two days later, [2] prompting the NHL to implement protective netting at the ends of the rinks at the start of the following season. Morris completed the season with 34 points in 61 games.

After five seasons with Calgary, reaching the 30-point mark four times, Morris was traded to the Colorado Avalanche. [3] He made an immediate impact with the Avalanche in his first season, tallying a career-high 11 goals, 37 assists and 48 points in 2002–03.

The following season, Morris was traded for the second time in as many campaigns, this time to the Phoenix Coyotes. [4] He completed the 2003–04 season playing in 14 games and recording 2 assists with the Coyotes after being traded. He finished with a combined 32 points. In his first full season with the Coyotes in 2005–06, Morris tallied 28 points in 53 games, then recorded back-to-back 25-point seasons the following two campaigns.

On March 4, 2009, Morris was again dealt at the trade deadline, this time to the New York Rangers. [5] He did not re-sign with the Rangers in the off-season, instead signing a one-year contract with the Boston Bruins worth $3.3 million on July 24, 2009. [6]

On March 3, 2010, Morris was traded back to the Coyotes for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. [7] After the season, Morris signed a four-year, $11 million contract extension with the Coyotes. [8] With Phoenix, Morris went deep into the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. His highlight of the playoffs was a shot from centre ice in Game 1 of the Conference finals that beat Los Angeles Kings netminder Jonathan Quick. However, the Coyotes lost the series in five games.

Though he never officially announced his retirement, Morris has not been active since the 2013–14 season.

International play

Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2004 Czech Republic

Morris has represented Canada on three occasions at the World Championships. After appearances in 1999 and 2001, he won his first gold medal with Canada at the 2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He contributed five assists in the gold-medal effort.

Personal life

Morris has three sons: Traiten, Presley and Asher. He coached for his son Presley's team, The Jr. Coyotes 02 AA, and also for eldest son Traiten's team, The Jr. Coyotes 00 AA. Morris settled in north Scottsdale, Arizona. In the summers, he and his family return to Alberta.

Morris is currently an assistant high school coach with Chaparral High.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season TeamLeagueGP G A Pts PIM GPGAPtsPIM
1994–95Red Deer Vipers AAA AMHL 316354174—————
1995–96 Regina Pats WHL 6784452701117826
1996–97 Regina PatsWHL6718577518050339
1996–97 Saint John Flames AHL 7033750337
1997–98 Calgary Flames NHL 829202988—————
1998–99 Calgary FlamesNHL717273473—————
1999–2000 Calgary FlamesNHL789293880—————
2000–01 Saint John FlamesAHL31232—————
2000–01 Calgary FlamesNHL515232856—————
2001–02 Calgary FlamesNHL614303488—————
2002–03 Colorado Avalanche NHL751137486870336
2003–04 Colorado AvalancheNHL696222847—————
2003–04 Phoenix Coyotes NHL140442—————
2005–06 Phoenix CoyotesNHL536212754—————
2006–07 Phoenix CoyotesNHL8261925115—————
2007–08 Phoenix CoyotesNHL828172583—————
2008–09 Phoenix CoyotesNHL57571224—————
2008–09 New York Rangers NHL180881670220
2009–10 Boston Bruins NHL583222526—————
2009–10Phoenix CoyotesNHL1813411713411
2010–11 Phoenix CoyotesNHL775111658—————
2011–12 Phoenix CoyotesNHL592911381624624
2012–13 Phoenix CoyotesNHL390111136—————
2013–14 Phoenix CoyotesNHL635121741—————
NHL totals1,107923324241,004373121541

International

YearTeamEventResultGPGAPtsPIM
1999 Canada WC 4th100446
2001 CanadaWC5th71128
2004 CanadaWCGold medal icon.svg905535
Senior totals261101149

Awards and honours

AwardYear
AMHL
Brian Benning Trophy (Top Defenceman)1995
WHL
East First All-Star Team 1997
CHL Second All-Star Team1997
NHL
All-Rookie Team 1998

Transactions

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Tanguay</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Alex Joseph Jean Tanguay is a Canadian former professional ice hockey winger who played for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL) and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in 2004. An offensive player, he is best known for his passing and playmaking ability. Tanguay currently serves as an assistant coach for the Detroit Red Wings.

The 2002–03 NHL season was the 86th regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup winners were the New Jersey Devils, who won the best of seven series 4–3 against the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver Giants</span> Western Hockey League team in Langley, British Columbia

The Vancouver Giants are a major junior ice hockey team playing in the Western Hockey League (WHL). Inaugurated in 2001–02, the Giants have won one Ed Chynoweth Cup in 2006 and one Memorial Cup in 2007. Their home rink was the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, British Columbia, an arena previously used by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Vancouver Canucks. Effective with the 2016–17 season, the team relocated to the Langley Events Centre in the Township of Langley, in the eastern part of Metro Vancouver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Stuart</span> Ice hockey player

Bradley Stuart is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in over 1,000 career games in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jordan Leopold</span> American ice hockey player (born 1980)

Jordan Douglas Leopold is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1999, though never making an appearance with the team. In his NHL career, Leopold played for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippe Sauvé</span> American ice hockey player

Philippe Sauvé is an American former professional ice hockey goaltender who last played with the Hamburg Freezers of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga. Sauvé played in the National Hockey League for the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes and the Boston Bruins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stéphane Yelle</span> Ice hockey player

Stéphane A. Yelle is a Canadian former professional ice hockey centre who played in the National Hockey League with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Boston Bruins and the Carolina Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brad Isbister</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Brad Isbister is a Canadian former professional ice hockey left winger who played 541 regular season games in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fredrik Sjöström</span> Swedish ice hockey player

Fredrik Per Oscar Sjöström is a Swedish former professional ice hockey winger, currently the general manager of Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Drafted by the National Hockey League (NHL)'s Phoenix Coyotes in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Sjöström played over 500 regular season NHL and Stanley Cup playoff games with the Coyotes, New York Rangers, Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Stempniak</span> American ice hockey player

Lee Edward Stempniak is an American former professional ice hockey forward who played in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, Phoenix Coyotes, Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers, Winnipeg Jets, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins and Carolina Hurricanes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lawrence Nycholat</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Lawrence D. Nycholat is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League with the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals, Ottawa Senators, Vancouver Canucks and the Colorado Avalanche.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 NHL Entry Draft</span> 49th annual meeting of National Hockey League franchises to select newly eligible players

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft was the 48th NHL Entry Draft, held on June 25–26, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, home arena of the Los Angeles Kings. This was the first time Los Angeles hosted the NHL Entry Draft. An unofficial record of eleven American-trained players were selected in the first round, starting with Jack Campbell and ending with Brock Nelson. The record was set in the 2006 and 2007 drafts, where ten U.S.-trained players were selected in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 NHL Entry Draft</span> 49th annual meeting of National Hockey League franchises to select newly eligible players

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft was the 49th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24–25, 2011, at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was the first time the Draft was held in the state of Minnesota since the Minnesota North Stars hosted the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. The top three picks consisted of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins going to the Edmonton Oilers, Gabriel Landeskog going to the Colorado Avalanche, and Jonathan Huberdeau going to the Florida Panthers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Connauton</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Kevin Connauton is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted 83rd overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. Connauton has also played for the Dallas Stars, Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman Horák (ice hockey, born 1991)</span> Czech ice hockey player

Roman Horák is a Czech ice hockey player currently playing for HC Sparta Praha of the Czech Extraliga (ELH). He previously played nine games in the Czech Extraliga with HC České Budějovice before coming to North America to play two WHL seasons with the Chilliwack Bruins. He was selected by the New York Rangers in the fifth round, 127th overall, of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, and joined the Calgary Flames organization via trade in 2011. In 2014, he was traded by the Flames for a brief stint with the Edmonton Oilers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Stone (ice hockey)</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Michael Robert Stone is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Arizona Coyotes and the Calgary Flames. He was selected by the then Phoenix Coyotes in the third round in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duncan Siemens</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Duncan Siemens is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. He was selected in the first round, 11th overall, by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He played briefly with the Avalanche in the National Hockey League (NHL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Rinaldo</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Zachary Rinaldo is a former Canadian professional ice hockey left winger. He has previously played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Arizona Coyotes, Nashville Predators and Calgary Flames. He is known for his rough and physical style of play and for being an enforcer. He is now the Coach of the Pelham Panthers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Petrovic</span> Canadian ice hockey player

Alexander Petrovic is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who is currently playing for the Texas Stars in the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League (NHL). Petrovic was selected by the Florida Panthers in the second round, 36th overall, of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League (WHL).

The 2015–16 Calgary Flames season was the 36th season in Calgary and 44th in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Flames franchise. Coming off an unexpected run to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in 2014–15, and having acquired defenceman Dougie Hamilton and forward Michael Frolik in the off-season, the Flames were expected to again compete for a playoff spot in 2015–16. Instead, the team struggled. Calgary missed the playoffs and spent much of the season languishing near the bottom of the NHL standings. Defenceman Dennis Wideman had a difficult season individually as he became embroiled in controversy after striking linesman Don Henderson after himself suffering a concussion during a game. The NHL suspended Wideman for 20 games for abuse of an official, prompting a pair of appeals from the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA). The second appeal, to a neutral arbitrator, found that the suspension was excessive, and reduced it to ten games, though Wideman had already missed 19 contests when the ruling was made.

References

  1. ↑ "Brian Benning Trophy – Top Defenceman". Alberta Midget Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2012-05-24. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  2. ↑ "Death of a fan". Sports Illustrated . 2002-04-01. Archived from the original on 2009-06-09.
  3. ↑ "Flames deal Morris to Avalanche". CBC. 2002-10-01. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  4. ↑ "Avalanche acquire Salo, Gratton". CBC. 2004-03-09. Retrieved 2009-03-25.
  5. 1 2 "Rangers trade for Antropov, Morris". 2009-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  6. ↑ "Bruins sign Morris". ESPN. 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2009-07-24.
  7. ↑ "Bruins get 2011 draft pick for Morris". ESPN. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
  8. ↑ "Derek Morris - CapFriendly - NHL Salary Caps".
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Calgary Flames' first round draft pick
1996 		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.