Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman Scott Morrow got his first taste of NHL action last season — playing the final two games of the regular season — but it hasn't been till recently where he's actually gotten to feel like a real NHL player.
Morrow, 22, is the latest defenseman who has been called upon by the Canes due to injuries in the regular lineup and he's been making the most of his time, becoming more and more noticeable every game.
"It’s the first time I've gotten to play more than two games in a row, so I've gotten into a little bit more of a rhythm and it's just been fun to be around the guys and feel like I'm contributing," Morrow told The Hockey News. "It's been fun."
After two callups earlier in the year where he played in limited minutes as the seventh defenseman, the UMass standout finally got the chance to play in a continuous stretch of games as a main piece of the Hurricanes' blueline.
"I mean, last spring was just a blur," Morrow said. "Like, I kind of got thrown in there at the end of the year and didn't really know what was going on and didn't know everybody and nobody knew me as much, so it was tough. And then the first time I was called up this year, both games I played in we went seven D, so it was a bit harder to get a rhythm when you're playing with a different guy.
"But now all the D-men that we have on our team know me a bit more and they're very good about talking to me and taking me under their wing and being positive and embracing me as part of the D-corp. So it's been really good and I can't give enough credit to the guys for helping me out."
Morrow has played in five of the Hurricanes' last six games, averaging nearly 16 minutes a night, and he's continually built his game in each.
In those games, the 2021 second-round pick has points in four, an active three-game point streak and also scored his first career goal as well.
"Super cool moment and I'm just glad it went in," Morrow said on his first goal. "It's a lot of pressure off of my shoulders. Now I don't have to feel like I'm waiting for it to happen. Now that I got my first one, I can play a bit more free."
Carolina Hurricanes Rookie Defenseman Scott Morrow Nets First Career NHL GoalLast night's game was one to remember for Scott Morrow, as the Carolina Hurricanes rookie defenseman registered his first career NHL goal in the team's 5-0 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
A strong offensive game is something Morrow is known for and something he's hopeful to be able to bring more at the NHL level.
"Part of it is just being in a rhythm," Morrow said about getting more comfortable trying to make plays at the NHL level. "Being comfortable with your D partner and knowing that he's got your back and kind of knowing who you're playing with too. Like if you're out there trying to jump up in the rush, you probably want to do it with guys who are looking for you. Luckily, we've got a lot of forwards who are really good at finding the late guy and getting me involved when I want to be up there. So just kind of adapting and learning who I'm playing with and them kind of seeing me and forwards covering for me, my D partner covering for me, and just kind of gelling together and getting some chemistry has been good."
Morrow has had the time to really develop that game at the professional level too as he started the season in the AHL with the Chicago Wolves.
"The coaches down there have done a great job and I have a lot of good players to play with down there," Morrow said. "It's a great environment to get better every day and playing a lot of games, you're going to get confidence naturally."
In 51 games with the Wolves, Morrow had 13 goals and 39 points which had him tied for first in goals and third in total scoring by rookie defensemen.
But even amongst all blueliners, Morrow still ranked fourth in goals and eighth in points.
"I think I started the year producing a good amount, but I think the second half of my year down there, you know, the last 20-25 games, compared to the first 20-25 games, I have been a lot more comfortable and produced more," Morrow said of his time in the AHL. "I think I've taken a lot of steps throughout the year and I definitely have learned a ton down there."
Even beyond the offensive contributions, a big part of the bill for an NHL defenseman is obviously defending. That and being able to transition the puck quickly and efficiently.
In his past five games, Morrow has still managed to control a positive chance share (53.18 CF%) and expected goals percentage (53.79 xGF%) while also outscoring opponents 7-4 at even strength.
He's definitely been sheltered, with a majority of his starts coming in the offensive zone and away from tougher matchups, but he's still holding his own at the NHL level, which is big for a rookie blueliner regardless.
When I asked him what he felt had been the biggest areas of growth for himself since getting this recent stretch of games, Morrow pointed out adjusting to the game speed and puck pressure.
"You just don't have as much time with the puck whether you're breaking it out or having it on your stick in the neutral zone or offensive zone,' Morrow said. "You have to make plays quicker and you can't really get used to it unless you have reps. So just getting some more game reps has been good to speed up my decision making process."
While many are excited for Morrow's potential and want to see him in the lineup sooner rather than later, there's still areas of the game the rookie needs to grow in, especially with his gap control and defending.
"Just being tight to my guy defensively and having tight gaps is the biggest thing," Morrow said on the feedback he's been getting from the coaching staff. "Because at a level like this, in the NHL, anybody can score like that [*snaps*]. If you're not on your guy, bad things can happen. So you know, even being a stick length away isn't always good. You want to be in their kitchen. It's also easier to defend when you don't let them get the puck, rather than when you are a little bit off of them. If they get the puck, then you’ve got to work way harder. So just doing the early work and closing on guys, even without the puck, so that you know they can't make plays."
"Details are so important," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Talent, you're not really teaching that. They're great players, but now it's, 'Can you turn the talent into being smarter? Getting the puck more?' Little things. At the end of the day, it's also just about learning the systems and feeling more comfortable so they can just go out and play."
Saturday's game against the Kings was a good example of the work Morrow still needs to do, but the recent stretch of games is still a good taste of what will eventually be on display night in and night out for the Hurricanes.
"It was really good for him to get some games and not just a game here and there," Brind'Amour said. "Like, putting a few together and showing that we can count on him. It's been good to really see what you've got and really give him a taste of playing regular minutes. It's been a good little run for him."
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