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

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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
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