Tampa Bay Lightning agree to one-year, $1.55 million deal with Brenden Morrow
The Tampa Bay Lightning agreed to a one-year, $1.55 million contract with free agent forward Brenden Morrow on Sunday, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com. The deal gives Tampa Bay an experienced veteran as it looks to make a run in the Eastern Conference next season.
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Morrow, 35, has bounced around the league since his days as a key player for the Dallas Stars. Last season, he played a minor role with the St. Louis Blues, filling the sort of veteran leadership role that Tampa Bay likely hopes he’ll fill next season.
In 71 games with the Blues, Morrow recorded 13 goals and 25 points. It’s the 12th time in his 13-year career that he’s recorded at least 25 points in a season.
Never a major scorer, Morrow still managed to be a respectable offensive player for Dallas during his prime. His defensive work was generally his calling card, but he still managed seven seasons of 20-plus goals with the Stars, including two 30-goal seasons.
Since leaving the Stars via a midseason trade in the middle of the 2012-13 season, Morrow has bounced around the league. He finished that year with the Pittsburgh Penguins after the trade, then spent last season with the Blues before making his next move.
In Tampa Bay, Morrow will give the Lightning depth behind their impressive group of forwards, which includes Steven Stamkos, Ryan Callahan, Nikita Kucherov and Valtteri Filppula. It’s also worth noting that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman runs the Canadian national team, which featured Morrow during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Now the two are reunited as Yzerman looks to bring the championship back to Florida.