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Friday, September 10, 1999
Morris is the man
THIRD-YEAR BLUELINER READY TO SHINE
A longshot to even make the Calgary Flames roster.
Yesterday, he patrolled the blueline with smooth efficiency, moving the puck with speed and skill, throwing his body into checks with the poise of a veteran.
Derek Morris has arrived. You can see it this season already in the way he carries himself, on and off the ice.
Shy and reclusive his first seasons, this year he is the first to say hello, to ask about your family or holidays.
On the ice, he has the attitude -- a fierce competitiveness.
At just 20, Morris is now a veteran, complete with something new -- expectations.
The second best Flames first round draft, the young defenceman is emerging as a real force.
He's the Young Gun with real pop.
If Morris fulfills his own expectations, this Flames team's chances of qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in four years will be greatly enhanced.
"I just want to prove to them (coaches) that I am the kind of guy they can go to in tight situations," says Morris.
"The first two years, you are feeling it out and though you want to be out there you're still a little bit nervous. Now, there's no question I want to be out there in the key situations and play as much as I can."
Morris has had a year to watch the offensive mastery of Phil Housley, to learn from the competitive drive of defence partner Steve Smith.
He's ready to put that learning into action.
"You're honoured to have anyone think of you as a potential star but you take pride simply in going out there every night and being the best you can," says Morris of his constant 'Star in Waiting' tag in the media.
"Wanting to score that big goal is the key I want to achieve this year. If that makes you a superstar, then fine.
"At times last year, I had that confidence. But this year, I've got to go out and have a big year. The first two years you have excuses, but now I'm looked on as a veteran by some guys. You want to do well for them as well."
There's little doubt Morris has one more year to audition for the role held by Housley. No one doubts that very soon he will inherit that leadership role.
But for these Flames, there is increasingly less chance of having that extra year to develop. The players know the pressures on the franchise, both on and off the ice.
"We have to make the playoffs," says Morris.
"We can't keep using this 'Young Guns' tag as an excuse. We are still young but we can't afford to expect to not make the playoffs.
"We can compete with anyone in this league, we did that at times last season. Now we're all a year older and I think we'll all be more consistent.
"We were disappointed last season we got that close and missed out. It was hard to swallow that we could have made it into the playoffs.
"Still, we were proud of how we battled back from being a long way of contending for a playoff spot. Still, the last thing you're left feeling is the disappointment."
Indeed, the talk and the play is much different than 1997 when he first skated onto the ice as a No. 13 overall draft pick with no expectations.
"He's got a big upside and he's going to be one of the ones we count on now," said assistant coach Al MacNeil.
"He's a third year guy who hasn't missed a best since he came to that first camp when no one thought he'd make the team.
"What a great pick -- our guys weren't even hesitant to pick him right away."
In two short seasons, we've already seen signs the Derek Morris selection may one day rival that 1981 pick as Calgary's best-ever first-round pick.
And that wasn't too bad a selection either.
Some guy named Al MacInnis.
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