Brendan Morrison went into last season feeling recovered from a serious knee injury. He was convinced he could help the Anaheim Ducks make another Stanley Cup run.
Instead, the first three months turned into a humbling experience for the veteran center, who signed a one-year contract with the Capitals on Friday.
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“I think initially the opportunity was there in Anaheim and I just couldn’t take advantage of it,” said Morrison. “I could barely get up and down the ice. And when you don’t perform after a few games they’re going to move on to the next guy.”
By late February, Morrison was averaging just 13 minutes, 51 seconds per game with the Ducks. He had played close to 20 per game in October. By March, the Dallas Stars had claimed him on waivers.
So why have the Caps pinned their second-line center hopes on a player who has endured two down years in a row? Because they think a full offseason of training will distance Morrison, who turns 34 next month, from his April 2008 ACL surgery. Indeed, Morrison scored six goals with three assists in just 19 games with Dallas.
“The last couple of seasons haven’t been very productive for myself,” Morrison said. “So I’ve got to get my game in order and get back on track and I think this is the perfect spot to do that.”
