Blues Sign Brenden Morrow, 1 Year - $1.5M

[F Keenan]

Per Rutheford on twitter.

[JPonder94]

I'm not a fan. This just takes away playing time and an NHL spot from worthy players. At this point in their careers, Cracknell, Porter and Reaves are more effective than Morrow.

I said it when we had Brewer and Jackman and I'll say it again; "veteran leadership" is important, but it's extremely overrated with this franchise. Plus, the Backes', Steens, and such are becoming veterans themselves at this point.

[kodos]

He had 14 points in 15 games last year. When he's not hurt, the guy is still pretty good.

[dmiles2186]

Like I posted in the other thread, I'll be interested to see his role. You can never have enough depth. Injuries are bound to happen so having options like this is a good thing. The deal is a cheap one, it's a guy who has been productive in the past, knows Hitch, Army, Hull, and has been a Captain in the league.

Plus, you add a guy like this, it just makes the young guys, and those guys on the fringe of the roster work harder to prove themselves and prove they belong. A signing like this can breed competition.

[sseagle]

Awesome... now we can roll 16 forwards, 4 defensemen and the two goalies...

and we might be hitting the cap... so no relief when this doesnt work without moving someone...


STUPID

[cprice12]

I like this...a lot. I was hoping they could fit him under the cap when I heard the rumor.
Like Koos said... when he is healthy, he can be productive. And if he isn't, he'll be a healthy scratch. He's probably not going to play every game anyway...he may need days off so he isn't spent come playoff time.

And I don't think you can ever have enough of the right kind of veteran leadership...especially with this team and the lack of playoff success we've had the past two years. I think Morrow is the right kind of veteran leadership for this team.

He's 34...it's not like he's 38 or older...and in 2010-2011 he scored 33 goals. So he's not that far removed from that.

And on a side note...I am loving the fact Stillman is willing to spend money. However, if you had told me early last year that we would be spending to the cap this year, I would have guessed we'd have signed or traded for an all-star sniper. But when spending to the cap, that also means that if we acquire anyone at the deadline to improve the club, we'll have to have equal or more money going the other way...which may be interesting.

[AlsWoodenStick]

I'm ok with it, but I'd like to see how he's used. If he's healthy and a good clubhouse and "Hitch system" guy then this could look pretty good come playoff time. Not a bad depth signing at all IMO.

[STLADOGG]

I like it, I felt we needed one more forward(figured Rattie or another young guy would step up), but this is good.
It blows my mind that we are spending to the cap. Stillman

[ViPeRx007]

I keep half expecting a trade to relieve some of the payroll, but maybe not. I wasn't a fan of this move in the other thread but I guess there's no choice but to conform. I just hope he has something left in the tank. I know he's not ancient, but he's a tough player who has been beat up a lot over the years. I suppose competition isn't bad and it's a fairly minimal investment. I'll trust the powers that be on this one and see what happens.

[APOD]

I'm on the fence on this one, wonder who is going to be moved down? I like Morrow and think he could bring good things when he is healthy, but will he stay healthy?

[dmiles2186]

I'm on the fence on this one, wonder who is going to be moved down? I like Morrow and think he could bring good things when he is healthy, but will he stay healthy?

For me, a question of health isn't really a big deal. If he's not healthy, then you plug in Porter, Reaves, Cracknell, Jaskin, Rattie....take your pick.

And likewise, should someone get a primary roster spot over Morrow and that guy gets hurt, then you just plug Morrow into his spot. Gives Hitch some flexibility.

[dmiles2186]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/2 ... den-morrow

Bolded the last line, Lebrun just kinda flings that out there with no quotes or sources or anything. Do we really have to trade anyone? Press box duty, sure, but trade?

Unless it's one of the guys, like a Porter or a Reaves that can find a steady 4th line role elsewhere.

Brenden Morrow’s decision to choose St. Louis over a handful of suitors should surprise no one, given his ties with the coach and general manager from their Dallas days.

Morrow visited the Blues last Thursday to speak with GM Doug Armstrong, coach Ken Hitchcock and other team staff to get a sense of where he would fit in.

From the get-go of free agency this summer, the Blues were interested in Morrow, but they also were hamstrung by cap/roster issues.

"We had had conversations in July," Armstrong told ESPN.com Monday. "We had to get Alex Pietrangelo signed, and didn’t know how much money would be available after that. We told Brenden if he signed elsewhere, we would understand. But we were interested."

At $1.5 million for one year, it’s a nice bargain for the Blues.

It’s going to mean a motivated Morrow, who took a massive pay cut from the $4.1 million he made last season.

"The most dangerous animal is a wounded animal," Armstrong said. "I thought he played really well in Pittsburgh until he got hurt last season. I spoke to people in Pittsburgh about him."

As Morrow kept hanging out as a UFA, Armstrong believed he just needed to circle back. He couldn’t stomach the thought of a rival team netting him.

"I kept thinking, 'Do we want to face him or do we want him with us?' " Armstrong said.

Now the Blues have to make room for Morrow by trading away a forward. Look for that to happen sooner rather than later.

[STLADOGG]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/2 ... den-morrow

Bolded the last line, Lebrun just kinda flings that out there with no quotes or sources or anything. Do we really have to trade anyone? Press box duty, sure, but trade?

Unless it's one of the guys, like a Porter or a Reaves that can find a steady 4th line role elsewhere.

Brenden Morrow’s decision to choose St. Louis over a handful of suitors should surprise no one, given his ties with the coach and general manager from their Dallas days.

Morrow visited the Blues last Thursday to speak with GM Doug Armstrong, coach Ken Hitchcock and other team staff to get a sense of where he would fit in.

From the get-go of free agency this summer, the Blues were interested in Morrow, but they also were hamstrung by cap/roster issues.

"We had had conversations in July," Armstrong told ESPN.com Monday. "We had to get Alex Pietrangelo signed, and didn’t know how much money would be available after that. We told Brenden if he signed elsewhere, we would understand. But we were interested."

At $1.5 million for one year, it’s a nice bargain for the Blues.

It’s going to mean a motivated Morrow, who took a massive pay cut from the $4.1 million he made last season.

"The most dangerous animal is a wounded animal," Armstrong said. "I thought he played really well in Pittsburgh until he got hurt last season. I spoke to people in Pittsburgh about him."

As Morrow kept hanging out as a UFA, Armstrong believed he just needed to circle back. He couldn’t stomach the thought of a rival team netting him.

"I kept thinking, 'Do we want to face him or do we want him with us?' " Armstrong said.

Now the Blues have to make room for Morrow by trading away a forward. Look for that to happen sooner rather than later.

I read that as well, we will see what happens.

[APOD]

I'm on the fence on this one, wonder who is going to be moved down? I like Morrow and think he could bring good things when he is healthy, but will he stay healthy?

For me, a question of health isn't really a big deal. If he's not healthy, then you plug in Porter, Reaves, Cracknell, Jaskin, Rattie....take your pick.

And likewise, should someone get a primary roster spot over Morrow and that guy gets hurt, then you just plug Morrow into his spot. Gives Hitch some flexibility.

If we move a one-way they have to clear waviers first, so I could see us trading away someone that we will probally regret trading and really get nothing good in return for. Now if Morrow turns out to be the 4mil player we signed for only 1.5mil then thats fantastic, but if he gets side lined then we are out 2 players. Yes, we can always add the filler that we have in Chicago, just saying this deal could go either way.

My guess is we put porter or cracknell on waviers and Im willing to bet whoever it is will be claimed.

[APOD]

http://espn.go.com/blog/nhl/post/_/id/2 ... den-morrow

Bolded the last line, Lebrun just kinda flings that out there with no quotes or sources or anything. Do we really have to trade anyone? Press box duty, sure, but trade?

Unless it's one of the guys, like a that can find a steady 4th line role elsewhere.

Brenden Morrow’s decision to choose St. Louis over a handful of suitors should surprise no one, given his ties with the coach and general manager from their Dallas days.

Morrow visited the Blues last Thursday to speak with GM Doug Armstrong, coach Ken Hitchcock and other team staff to get a sense of where he would fit in.

From the get-go of free agency this summer, the Blues were interested in Morrow, but they also were hamstrung by cap/roster issues.

"We had had conversations in July," Armstrong told ESPN.com Monday. "We had to get Alex Pietrangelo signed, and didn’t know how much money would be available after that. We told Brenden if he signed elsewhere, we would understand. But we were interested."

At $1.5 million for one year, it’s a nice bargain for the Blues.

It’s going to mean a motivated Morrow, who took a massive pay cut from the $4.1 million he made last season.

"The most dangerous animal is a wounded animal," Armstrong said. "I thought he played really well in Pittsburgh until he got hurt last season. I spoke to people in Pittsburgh about him."

As Morrow kept hanging out as a UFA, Armstrong believed he just needed to circle back. He couldn’t stomach the thought of a rival team netting him.

"I kept thinking, 'Do we want to face him or do we want him with us?' " Armstrong said.

Now the Blues have to make room for Morrow by trading away a forward. Look for that to happen sooner rather than later.

I read that as well, we will see what happens.

We dont have to trade anyone, but are we willing to chance losing Cracknell, Porter or Reaves on waviers. I dont see them getting what we think they are worth in a trade so do we trade a bigger name? Saboka, Lapierre, Oshie J/K

Idk this trade kinda has me confused and interested about what we are going to see in the next few weeks.

[glen a richter]

I don't like this signing at all. If they're looking for a veteran locker room presence (like when they first got Arnott and Langebrunner) I'd think the need for that has long since passed now that the kids aren't actually kids anymore. If they're looking for depth, you honestly mean that the guys they signed in the off season specifically for depth (LaPierre, Roy, Bolduc) plus Porter, Cracknell, Reaves, Jaskin, Rattie, Sobotka, Grachev, half the freaking farm team, they couldn't piece together an effective fourth line? Morrow probably won't be getting any detail on lines 1 through 3. He was signed for 4th line depth because Hitch wasn't impressed with the pre season play of enough guys who were already in-house. The only part of this I don't hate is that it's only a 1 year deal and they may be able to move him at the deadline for a pick. In fact, I hate this signing so much, I fully expect Morrow to go out there, score 50 goals, including the Cup clincher, and force me to eat crow.

[gaijin]

Could be the next Bill Geurin. Who knows?

[Oaklandblue]

Why would we have to step someone down? That I don't follow.

If I had to pick, it'd be Cracknell. Look, when our best O line is the CPR line, THAT SAYS TOO MUCH. Morrow is worth his weight in gold, saying that right now. This one-year contract is going to lead to a much bigger contract if he plays big, mark my words. Also, expect Stewart, if he continues being the way he is, to earn an A.

I see NOTHING to complain about if we send Cracks down. Screw the intangibles, the front office has made their mission clear: It's about the CUP. Army has led us this far, I trust him a thousand percent with any moves they're doing. We're ramping up for BIGG things this year. Hell, Screw the CPR line if our worst line ends up something like: Morrow, Jaskin, Stewart...talk about playing with POWER O.O.

The team we kept praying for? This might be it.

To whoever gets sent down, hope to see ya in Chicago!!

[WaukeeBlues]

I think this is a fantastic signing, I'm kind of confused by the debbie-downer sense here.

Worst case scenario we lose Cracknell or Porter through waivers because of this signing. (I would prefer Cracknell). OH GOD NO!!! WHATEVER WILL WE DO!?!?!

Give me a break. This signing further just stacks this team, gives us a guy who's recently shown he can still contribute and one more option when the inevitable injuries happen. One year, low money, I'm failing to see a downside to this.

And if the kids are good enough to be in the lineup, they'll play. I disagree he's "taking a roster spot" from anyone.