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Calgary Flames: NHL Draft Second Round Targets

By Devon Burke

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; A general view of the podium on stage before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Cameron Morrison:

Team: Youngstown Phantoms, USHL

Height: 6 foot 2

Weight: 207 pounds

Point Totals: 34 goals and 32 assists in 60 games

Scouting report: “A big, strong all-around player who thinks the game at a high level and executes plays with purpose and drive. Accelerates well and has no issues getting around the ice with haste; transition game will need some tweaks. Very good vision and puck skills, and has the size to make a difference driving to the net and causing havoc for the opposition’s defence. Defensively sound, using his size to his advantage along the boards and getting his stick in place to deflect passes out of harm’s way. Moving forward, Morrison will have every opportunity to develop into a smart power forward who can play in all situations and make it difficult on the opposition.” (EP)

Another player Calgary should target is Cameron Morrison. Morrison was born in East York Ontario and played last season in the USHL for the Youngstown Phantoms. At 6 foot 2 and 207 pounds, Morrison has good size and smarts but scouts knock his skating and stamina. Morrison was quite successful last year in the USHL, winning rookie of the year and impressing most scouts with his all-around solid play.

Morrison has a high hockey IQ and boast good puck skills, as well as a penchant for scoring clutch goals. His hockey-sense should make him a safe bet to make the NHL as a bottom-six forward, although he does have top-six potential. If you believe Morrison will become faster after you can develop him and train his body some more, then he is absolutely a player worth targeting. Yet today’s game is all about speed, and if Morrison doesn’t get faster, he won’t amount to much more then a fourth liner.

Calgary should take this risk however, as they lack size on the wings, and Morrison does possess high hockey-IQ, and could develop into a nice power-forward for the club. I don’t believe his skating will hold him back as he prepares to join the University of Notre Dame next season.  Since he will play in the NCAA next year, he likely is a long-term development-type player despite having NHL size. Calgary should look at taking Morrison with one of their later second round picks, as he could be one of the fallers in this year’s draft. Although taking him with the 35th overall pick wouldn’t be a bad idea either as they would ensure the young man doesn’t get drafted elsewhere.

Next: Frederic Allard

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