| Derek Morris | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Morris with thePhoenix Coyotes in 2010 | |||
| Born | (1978-08-24)August 24, 1978 (age 47) | ||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||
| Weight | 221 lb (100 kg; 15 st 11 lb) | ||
| Position | Defence | ||
| Shot | Right | ||
| Played for | Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Phoenix Coyotes New York Rangers Boston Bruins | ||
| National team |  Canada | ||
| NHL draft | 13th overall,1996 Calgary Flames | ||
| Playing career | 1997–2014 | ||
Derek Terrence Morris (born August 24, 1978) is aCanadian former professionalice hockeydefenceman who played over 1,100 games in theNational Hockey League (NHL) for theCalgary Flames,Colorado Avalanche,Phoenix Coyotes,Boston Bruins andNew York Rangers. He was originally drafted out of theWestern Hockey League (WHL) 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the1996 NHL Entry Draft.
Morris playedminor hockey in theAlberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL) with the Red Deer Chiefs and was awarded the Brian Benning Trophy as the league's top defenceman in 1995.[1] He went on to playmajor junior with theRegina Pats of theWestern Hockey League (WHL). After his rookie WHL season, in which he scored 52 points in 67 games, Morris was drafted 13th overall by theCalgary Flames in the1996 NHL Entry Draft, a somewhat surprising pick as Morris had been projected to be a third- or fourth-round pick.[citation needed] He returned to play a second season with the Pats, improving to 18 goals and 75 points before turning pro.
Following Morris's1996–97 WHL season with the Pats, he was assigned to the Calgary'sAmerican Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, theSaint John Flames for the final seven games of the regular season, as well as five post-season games. In1997–98, he scored 9 goals and 29 points in his NHL rookie season with the Flames, earningNHL All-Rookie Team honours. He continued to improve to 34, then 38 points in his second and third seasons with the Flames before an injury-shortened season in2000–01 kept him to 28 points in 51 games.
In2001–02, Morris was again sidelined after sustaining a left wrist injury. During the season, he was unintentionally involved in a tragic incident in a game against theColumbus Blue Jackets on March 16, 2002, when anEspen Knutsen slap shot deflected off him and into the stands, striking 13-year-oldBrittanie Cecil in the temple. She died from the impact two days later,[2] prompting the NHL to implement protective netting at the ends of the rinks at the start of the following season. Morris completed the season with 34 points in 61 games.
After five seasons with Calgary, reaching the 30-point mark four times, Morris was traded to theColorado Avalanche.[3] He made an immediate impact with the Avalanche in his first season, tallying a career-high 11 goals, 37 assists and 48 points in2002–03.
The following season, Morris was traded for the second time in as many campaigns, this time to thePhoenix Coyotes.[4] He completed the2003–04 season playing in 14 games and recording 2 assists with the Coyotes after being traded. He finished with a combined 32 points. In his first full season with the Coyotes in2005–06, Morris tallied 28 points in 53 games, then recorded back-to-back 25-point seasons the following two campaigns.
On March 4, 2009, Morris was again dealt at the trade deadline, this time to theNew York Rangers.[5] He did not re-sign with the Rangers in the off-season, instead signing a one-year contract with theBoston Bruins worth $3.3 million on July 24, 2009.[6]
On March 3, 2010, Morris was traded back to the Coyotes for a conditional fourth-round pick in the2011 NHL Entry Draft.[7] After the season, Morris signed a four-year, $11 million contract extension with the Coyotes.[8] With Phoenix, Morris went deep into the2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. His highlight of the playoffs was a shot from centre ice in Game 1 of theConference finals that beatLos Angeles Kings netminderJonathan Quick. However, the Coyotes lost the series in five games.
Though he never officially announced his retirement, Morris has not been active since the2013–14 season. He did have a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins in August 2015, but it fell through.
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men'sice hockey | ||
| Representing Canada | ||
| World Championships | ||
 | 2004 Czech Republic | |
Morris has representedCanada on three occasions at theWorld Championships. After appearances in1999 and2001, he won his first gold medal with Canada at the2004 World Championships in the Czech Republic. He contributed five assists in the gold-medal effort.
Morris has three sons: Traiten, Presley and Asher. He coached for his son Presley's team, The Jr. Coyotes 02 AA, and also for eldest son Traiten's team, The Jr. Coyotes 00 AA. Morris settled in North Scottsdale, Arizona. In the summers, he and his family return to Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
Morris is currently an assistant high school coach withChaparral High.
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 1994–95 | Red Deer Chiefs AAA | AMHL | 31 | 6 | 35 | 41 | 74 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1995–96 | Regina Pats | WHL | 67 | 8 | 44 | 52 | 70 | 11 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 26 | ||
| 1996–97 | Regina Pats | WHL | 67 | 18 | 57 | 75 | 180 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | ||
| 1996–97 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | ||
| 1997–98 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 82 | 9 | 20 | 29 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998–99 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 71 | 7 | 27 | 34 | 73 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1999–2000 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 78 | 9 | 29 | 38 | 80 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Saint John Flames | AHL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000–01 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 51 | 5 | 23 | 28 | 56 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2001–02 | Calgary Flames | NHL | 61 | 4 | 30 | 34 | 88 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2002–03 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 75 | 11 | 37 | 48 | 68 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 | ||
| 2003–04 | Colorado Avalanche | NHL | 69 | 6 | 22 | 28 | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2003–04 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 14 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2005–06 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 53 | 6 | 21 | 27 | 54 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2006–07 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 82 | 6 | 19 | 25 | 115 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2007–08 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 82 | 8 | 17 | 25 | 83 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 57 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2008–09 | New York Rangers | NHL | 18 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2009–10 | Boston Bruins | NHL | 58 | 3 | 22 | 25 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2009–10 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 18 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 11 | ||
| 2010–11 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 77 | 5 | 11 | 16 | 58 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2011–12 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 59 | 2 | 9 | 11 | 38 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 24 | ||
| 2012–13 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 39 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 36 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2013–14 | Phoenix Coyotes | NHL | 63 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 41 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 1,107 | 92 | 332 | 424 | 1,004 | 37 | 3 | 12 | 15 | 41 | ||||
| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Canada | WC | 4th | 10 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | |
| 2001 | Canada | WC | 5th | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | |
| 2004 | Canada | WC |  | 9 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 35 | |
| Senior totals | 26 | 1 | 10 | 11 | 49 | ||||
| Award | Year | |
|---|---|---|
| AMHL | ||
| Brian Benning Trophy (Top Defenceman) | 1995 | |
| WHL | ||
| East First All-Star Team | 1997 | |
| CHL Second All-Star Team | 1997 | |
| NHL | ||
| All-Rookie Team | 1998 | |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Calgary Flames' first round draft pick 1996 | Succeeded by |