If you haven't heard the big news out of Raleigh on Tuesday, the Carolina Hurricanes signed defenseman Scott Morrow to a three-year entry-level contract. The move comes just days after the end of Morrow's junior season at the University of Massachusetts. The signing sent shockwaves through the fan base as the anticipation of the move finally became a reality.
Coming out of the Minnesota high school hockey ranks, Scott Morrow was selected 40th overall by the Hurricanes in the 2021 Entry Draft. Instead of signing immediately with the Canes, Morrow fulfilled his commitment to UMass, joining the team for the 2021-22 season. He'd play three seasons at the university, recording 30 goals and 94 points in 109 games. His season came to a bitter end last Thursday in a 2-1 double-overtime loss to Denver during the Northeast Regional Semifinal of the 2024 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament.
During his three seasons of college hockey, Morrow was consistently considered one of the Hurricanes' top prospects. At the trade deadline, his name was floated around in trade discussions, especially with Pittsburgh in a potential deal with Jake Guentzel. When it became clear that Morrow wasn't going to be moved to Pittsburgh, it was met with shock, and maybe some anger by Penguins fans.
The arrival of Scott Morrow brings about some complications with his contract and the current state of the defense. By signing this late in the season, it's understood that he's burning the first year of his entry-level deal, regardless of whether he plays or not. He also can't be sent to the AHL, so Morrow will likely be with the team through their playoff run.
There is no guarantee that he'll get any action, though he could sneak into a game late in the regular season if the Hurricanes find themselves locked into a spot and looking to give some of their regulars a rest. He also could be the first guy, or second behind Tony DeAngelo, in if someone does go down with an injury during the playoff run.
Along with the short-term ramifications of the move, this could be big for the Hurricanes' plans this offseason. Of the seven defensemen on the roster, four are pending free agents, with Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce, Jalen Chatfield, and Tony DeAngelo set to hit the open market. Morrow's arrival is particularly interesting for the first two names on that list, who are destined to earn raises this offseason.
Obviously, the hope is that Scott Morrow will make an immediate impact with the team, if not this season, then next. Morrow projects as a top-end defenseman who can be reliable on both ends of the ice. I'd imagine he'll likely get a unit on the power play, too. If Morrow pans out, he has the potential to be a major addition to a defensive group that has historically been the strongest part of the team under Rod Brind'Amour.
I don't want to get anyone's hopes up about Scott Morrow getting on the ice for game action this season or during the postseason. However, if it were to happen, the excitement would be almost unparalleled. We've seen college guys come in and make immediate impacts at this time of the year throughout the league. For the Caniacs, the desire is for Morrow to be the next one.