Derek Morris Agrees to Return to Phoenix

by Kevin Schultz

Filed under: Coyotes, NHL Free Agency

The Phoenix Coyotes have retained one of their free agent defenders Thursday afternoon. After losing Zbynek Michalek to the Pittsburgh Penguins earlier today, the Coyotes have re-signed unrestricted defender Derek Morris to a four-year deal worth $11 million. The deal averages out to a cap hit of $2.75 million per year.

Morris spent five seasons in the desert from 2003-09 before being the centerpiece to a deadline day deal in March 2009 that sent him to the New York Rangers. After signing in Boston last year the Coyotes re-acquired the offensive defenseman this past deadline day for a conditional draft pick. Now, it certainly looks as if the 31-year-old has found a home in Phoenix.

Share

Last season, Morris had 29 points in 76 games split between Phoenix and Boston. Surprisingly, if he spent the whole year in Phoenix that would have put him third in scoring among Coyotes defenders behind Ed Jovanovski and Keith Yandle. The Coyotes relied heavily on scoring from their defenders and Morris will certainly help in that aspect, especially on the power play.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Brendon Nash John Negrin Jake Newton Jyri Niemi