The Capitals have signed former Stars forward Brendan Morrison. According to the Washington Post, the deal is worth $1.5 million for one year.
In 81 games last season with the Ducks and Stars Morrison had 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists).
EN Says: This is an odd signing. Bad even.
The Capitals have some obvious issues on defense and failed to address them at all this offseason. They did make a solid signing with former Flyers forward Mike Knuble. And in all fairness, they did need to find a way to replace Sergei Fedorov on the second line and signing Morrison is an attempt at that, but they needed to bring in someone on defense. With Knuble and Morrison under wraps, Washington has no cap space to address its blue line.
Hopefully for Washington's sake, some prospects like Karl Alzner are ready for the NHL.
Getting back to Morrison, he's over the hill. His play and his production has steadily declined since the early part of this decade when he centered an elite line with Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi in Vancouver. And he was given every opportunity to produce in Anaheim last season while being teamed up with the likes of Teemu Selanne, Chris Kunitz and Bobby Ryan. He just didn't do it.
Maybe joining a high-flying team like Washington will give Morrison's career a shot in the arm, but on paper, this is not the signing the Capitals needed.
(Photo: Harry How/Getty Images)
Posted
Jul 10 2009, 06:37 PM
by
Seth Rorabaugh