The Los Angeles Kings have signed free agent forward Brad Morrison to a three-year entry-level contract. Morrison was originally a draft pick of the New York Rangers, but became an unrestricted free agent last June when he failed to sign with the club.
Back in 2015 when he was taken in the fourth round, Morrison was just an average offensive player in the junior ranks with a lot of speed and questionable upside for the NHL. Now, after an incredible playoffs with the Lethbridge Hurricanes that saw him register 37 points in 16 games the Kings may believe he’s something more.
It’s not the first time that Morrison has generated interest around the NHL. He attended Calgary Flames development camp last summer but didn’t earn a contract, instead going back to dominate in the WHL. The scouting report on the relatively small Morrison was never that he was unwilling or afraid to go to the tougher areas of the ice, or work hard to retrieve pucks and create opportunities, just that some had doubts he would be able to do it at the next level on a regular basis.
Now he’ll get that chance as he starts his professional career with the Kings next season. He’ll likely head to the Ontario Reign and try to prove that his doubters were wrong about his NHL upside. The Kings have been very clearly trying to add more skill into their organization, and Morrison is just the latest signing to bring that in spades.
nice signing by the kings….
77 points in 48 games. Teams better have been falling all over each other to get this dude. Don’t care if he’s small. He’s obviously a very skilled prospect.