Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Scott Morrow then there were Hershey Bears scoffing.
It was last Saturday night at the Giant Center, when Morrow’s Chicago Wolves took the defending Calder Cup champion Bears to double overtime.
First came Morrow, a 21-year-old rookie defenseman, chasing the Bears as he took the puck upfield, held the blue line, secured it with his backhand, then ran past Hershey before driving to the net and forcing a layup. goalkeeper. Clay Stevenson making a hard left-pad.
Later, when Hershey was frustrated, the Wolves broke free with a 2-on-1 opportunity. Ryan Suzuki rushed to the Hershey’s while Morrow pretended to be available to get food. Suzuki connected on that delivery, and Morrow redirected the puck past Stevenson for a 3-2 Chicago victory. The Wolves got their first win of the season, and Morrow had his first pro goal.
The summer before his freshman season at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Morrow was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round at No. 40 in the 2021 NHL Draft, a pick that may be starting to look like a steal. Morrow scored 94 points in 109 games for Mass, and after the Minutemen fell to the University of Denver in the NCAA regional semifinals, Morrow did the opposite and signed a contract with Carolina.
After Morrow made his NHL debut on April 12 in St. Louis, Carolina’s head coach Rod Brind’Amour gave him 23:11 of ice time in the Hurricanes’ regular-season finale in Columbus four nights later. The organization’s blue line underwent major changes in the offseason with Shayne Gostisbehere again Sean Walker enter as free agents. It is clear that the right decision is to start Morrow with the Wolves, where he will improve and play high quality minutes.
Wolves coach Cam Abbott put Morrow on the right side of being paired with a third-year specialist Ronan Seeleywho has the touch needed to play with Morrow but can be a reliable safety when the rookie chooses to join the run or pinch or make a play that carries at least a calculated risk. It’s those play-or-not decisions that often confound and frustrate young guards breaking into the AHL. Someone who likes, say, Charlotte’s Jake Bean he successfully navigated those decisions as a rookie and has become an NHL regular. For some, though, that struggle over when — and when — to push a game can be the difference between reaching and staying in the NHL.
“You have to do it, but you can’t force it,” Morrow said when those offensive opportunities presented themselves. “You have to let the game come to you.”
In a sense, there’s less pressure on Morrow now that he’s in the pro game. UMass needed Morrow to produce points and offense. Another pressure for college and junior players also comes from the need to stand out for future NHL relievers. But the pro game is different, more integrated and balanced. If Morrow relies on a safe pick in one of those risk-reward decisions, another opportunity will present itself later.
“You just have to trust your instincts,” Morrow continued. “The main thing is not to get stuck in the middle. If you have [opening]you must go.”
But the pro game is already a perfect fit for Morrow’s elite skill set. His Chicago teammates are able to keep up with him, read him and play off him, something that wasn’t always possible at the college level. Morrow also came to Chicago with an understanding of what he would face in the AHL. his father, Steveplayed 69 games with Hershey between 1991-93, with his uncle Scott spent parts of seven AHL seasons with Springfield, Saint John, Hershey and Providence in the 1990s.
Wolves have had an easy start to their schedule. After their season opener on Oct. 12, they took a week off the schedule before this past weekend’s two-game trip to Hershey. They will have another week between games at Rockford on November 2 and Milwaukee on November 9. But the schedule will go on. It always is. And Morrow’s father and uncle emphasized the need to adapt to the AHL’s increased schedule and the rigors of travel by prioritizing nutrition and recovery.
Morrow played a few preseason games with the Hurricanes before going to Chicago. He left the management with something to think about. His first job with Chicago will add to that.
I hope I did well in the last two games I got,” said Morrow. “I wanted to show that I can be trusted in all situations, play offensively, play defensively. I thought I was very effective in games in making good plays and being honest, especially with the puck in my possession. There are no negative or defensive changes.
“I wanted to prove that I can be trusted if something happens, and they need me there.”
In the American Hockey League for two decades, TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams and currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. He was the recipient of the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league’s top scorer in 2016.
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