Brendan Morrison Signs with the Anaheim Ducks

Today it was announced that the Anaheim Ducks had signed Brendan Morrison to a one year contract. The contract is thought to be worth $2.75 million.

Brendan Morrison is a solid veteran with excellent foot speed,” said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager, Brian Burke, on the team's website. “He’s an intelligent hockey player and is a tremendous addition to our top six forward group.”

Morrison has quite a scoring touch the Ducks will find handy, scoring 50-plus points in six of his last seven seasons. The center also will add stability to the Ducks second line, while young centers in the system, such as Bobby Ryan, have one more season to develop before making the jump to the second line.

Last season with the Vancouver Canucks, Morrison was plagued by a serious knee injury, but he looks to be healthy come training camp.

In college, Morrison was a three-time Hobey Baker finalist, winning the award in 1996-97 as the top collegiate hockey player.

Some Ducks fans have begun to think this signing means the end of the Teemu Selanne era. Personally, I think not. If the Ducks were looking to replace Teemu, they would have signed a winger, not a center. This acquisition is merely trying to get back the type of player lost when the Ducks traded away Andy McDonald to St. Louis. Morrison is a speedy center with good puck movement.

The Ducks next move will probably make room for this signing and Selanne if he chooses to return. This means that defenseman, Mathieu Schneider, is probably without a doubt on the chopping block.

 Original Article and Image: Courtesy of the Anaheim Ducks website