Position:
Right Defence Height: 6-0 Weight:
200 Shoots: Right Last Team: Calgary League: NHL Birthdate: August 24, 1978 Home: Edmonton, Alberta
Derek Morris
Regular
Season
Playoffs
Year
Team
GP
G
A
PTS
+/-Â
PIM
GP
G
A
PTS
PIM
95-96
Regina
67
8
44
52
--
70
11
1
7
8
26
96-97
Regina
67
18
57
75
+10
180
5
0
3
3
9
96-97
Saint J
7
0
3
3
-1
7
5
0
3
3
--
97-98
Calgary
82
9
20
29
1
88
--
--
--
--
--
98-99
Calgary
71
7
27
34
+4
73
--
--
--
--
--
99-00
Calgary
78
9
29
38
+2
80
--
--
--
--
--
00-01
Calgary
51
5
23
28
-15
56
--
--
--
--
--
MISCELLANEOUS
Derek Morris was drafted by the Calgary Flames in the first round, 13th overall in 1996. The pick caught much of the hockey world by surprise as he was only rated 85th on the North American skater Central Scouting list. Morris fell through the cracks for most teams because of home sickness in junior hockey of all things. Up to June 1996, Morris had only played 67 WHL hockey games, because he got homesick and returned to Sylvan Lake forgoing his first WHL season. Morris is a couragious and generous athlete supporting many charities as he battles his own health issues in Epilepsy.
SCOUTING REPORT
Derek Morris is the total package, though his package is still a little rough around the edges. He skates well, has a booming shot from the point and won't shy away from either fighting nor physical play. He's a heads up defenceman that reads the play well and puts the puck on the tape of his forwards stick when leaving the zone. The largest demon left to battle in his game is inconsistency, as Morris still tends to make glaring mistakes in trying to do too much in his own zone.
PROJECTION
Derek Morris is one of the best up and coming young defenceman in the National Hockey League, as seen in his invitation to Canada's pre-Olympic camp in Calgary in September 2001. He projects to be one of the league's top two way defenceman, with the ability to hold down the fort in his own zone, and put up points in the opposition's territory. To reach these levels Morris will have to work on his consistency and physical fitness.
NOTES2001 Highlights: Came up only six points short of his career best 34 points set in 1998-99 despite missing 31 games with a contract impasse. ... Was invited to join team Canada at their pre-Olympic camp in Calgary in September. Started "Derrick's Barracks" after signing his contract, a sponsorship that puts kids in a box suite for every home game.
Background: Though very rare for young defencemen, Derek Morris made the jump from the Western Hockey League straight to the NHL in 1997-98. He missed out on a nomination for the Calder Trophy in his first season, but did secure a spot on the all-rookie team.
