Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Brenden Morrow
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Morrow's skills don't even hit the dart board in any consistent way anymore. Sadly, the end is approaching --this may well be his last year and we suspect there will be more than a couple of healthy scratches along the way. He's run up three straight seasons of just 25 or 26 points and is at least a step or two behind the play. Still, the Bolts are hoping he can bring veteran leadership to their young squad -- just don't count on him for fantasy value, even in the deepest of leagues.
Morrow's hard-nosed approach early in his career has resulted in a rapid decline of his skills, as he managed just 26 points in 57 games for the Stars last year. He scored just six goals at even strength all year and while one only has to go back a season prior to see Morrow pot 30 goals, he's expected to see third-line minutes following the offseason additions of Derek Roy, Jaromir Jagr and Ray Whitney.
Morrow set a career high in goals scored with 33 tallies, including nine on the power play. His near point-per-game scoring rate back in 2007-08 is a thing of the past, as he has just 49 assists over the past two seasons, and he's cut way back on the PIMs (and fighting in particular) in recent years. He's still one of the better power forwards in the NHL however, and should be a lock for 25-plus goals, 50 points and 70 PIMs.
Morrow looked very much like a player coming back from major knee surgery for much of the season, failing to show the speed and finish in front of the net that he had shown the past several seasons. A non-factor at even strength (11G, 16A) on the season, Morrow struggled to rekindle the chemistry with center Mike Ribeiro. His 69 PIMs were fifth on the team, and he's no longer the pugilist with Steve Ott and Krys Barch as lineup regulars. There's 70-point potential given his last two healthy seasons before this latest campaign.
Limited to just 18 games due to a knee surgery, Morrow was playing well (5-10-15) on the heels of a fantastic postseason run from the summer prior. A return at some point during the playoffs was expected had Dallas advanced, and the knee injury doesn't figure to be a limiting factor when camp begins. He's an elite power forward in today's NHL and forms a potent duo with center Mike Ribeiro.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a better captain in the NHL. Morrow leads by example every night, racking up points and PIMs along the way. His 32 goals and 42 assists were both career highs, and he plays well alongside playmaker Mike Ribeiro. Bump him up a bit if your league counts PIMs, as he's a dying breed in the NHL: a true power forward.
Morrow was limited to 40 games due to a freak wrist injury, but continued to produce when healthy. There's a 70 point season in him if he plays 80 games, and some PIM upside to boot.
He'll skate alongside Eric Lindros, but could see a drop in production from a career-high 65 points if Lindros gets injured at some point. One of the elite power forwards in the new NHL, and Dallas will be looking to sign him to a contract extension before his contract runs out following the season.
Coming off career high in goals and assists, Morrow will continue to provide an excellent second line option for Dallas. Extra points in those leagues that count PIMs in a positive manner.