There is no denying that the Flyers roster lacked physicality, toughness, grit, and sandpaper before Samuel Morin was converted to wing. This was made evident following the unusual 2020 playoffs where the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Islanders were definitely more physical than the Flyers. At times some Flyers players were pushed off the puck, and they failed to establish a forecheck. Hitting takes a toll on players, especially in a seven game series. Regardless of what some fans may think the physicality aspect of the sport is still important, hence the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning meeting in the 2020 Stanley Cup Finals.
“I think this was an idea that AV and Ian Laperrière had,” Chuck Fletcher said after moving Morin to wing at training camp, “I think certainly having a little bit more size and physicality up front is an area we felt we needed to address. You’re looking for players to bring that element and play. Sam is a big man. He can skate. He can shoot the puck. Obviously he understands the game defensively which is a big part of the game as well when you are playing in a bottom six role. AV approached Sam and Lappy’s had several conversations with him. Sam was open to it. He hasn’t played a lot of hockey. He wants to do whatever he can to play. I think this is an opportunity for him to get ice time and be with our club. He was excited about it. Certainly Sam can speak to that part. Watching him out here, he’s worked really hard. It’s amazing what a good skater he is. We think he can really have a positive impact on our team and certainly be a disrupter on the ice.”
A towering 6’7 Morin said at training camp, “I feel good. I can’t say I am where I was before all those injuries because it would be a lie. I need to play. I need some ice time. I need to practice. I need to play. I need to play for sure. Just having the training camp is going to be great for me. Even right now, we’re having some scrimmages and I feel every day I’m getting a little bit better. I got a couple goals today so I was happy about that. I’m just enjoying my time here. It’s so fun to be back with the boys. My body is not the way it was before obviously with two ACLs. I’m working hard off the ice with good warm-ups to be ready. I’m just doing everything I can control and I don’t think about anything else.”
He continued, “I think I was the only one in town in October. I think AV was saying that I was working really, really hard to be back. He asked for me for a meeting. He just told me straight up if I could play left wing. He told me about the lack of physicality in the playoffs, especially against the Islanders. The guys were kind of getting pushed around, even against Montreal. They kind of needed a guy to answer that. Obviously in the past, I did it. I think I was pretty good at it. Those big guys playing physical and even fighting. It’s something that I’m willing to do. If I want to make the NHL, if I want to make it, I need to play physical and fight. If you look at the roster right now, I don’t think there’s a lot of guys that would do it, especially here. I’m the only one. I’m ready to go. I’m ready to do this.”
What is weird is Morin goes to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and now he’s playing the Left-Handed defense position again. He played some defense on Thursday in the lone pre-season game for the Phantoms, and tonight he played LHD position, as well. Morin also played defense on the Penalty Kill, as well. Actually he is listed as a Defenseman on the Phantoms roster. Why am I writing this?
Morin was committed to playing the left wing position, now he is back to playing defense. All fine and dandy, but the Flyers have to keep him in one position. In his lone game on the wing for the Flyers he played a little over five minutes, and played solid hockey for a player that is unfamiliar with that position. It is a disservice to Morin to move him from an unfamiliar position on the wing back to defense. Learning a new position is hard, especially when he hasn’t done it since he was younger.
“I was a forward a couple years in minor hockey, but I switched to defense pretty quick. When AV asked me about it, I was a little bit shocked. After talking to my agent and the coaches about it, I kind of figured out it was something that I need to try in this situation right now. When AV asked me, it was a few months ago. I didn’t know if we were going to have an American League or even if they were going to play, so I needed to have a plan because I’m fighting for my career right now. I’m fighting for another job. Obviously I did all this because I wanted to keep playing hockey. I am really excited honestly. Just to have a shot. Just to be here. Just to be at camp right now. If you look at last year at the same time, I was on crutches. I was doing some rehab. I was not in a good spot mentally and physically. Now, I’m back on track. I got to work hard and I’m going to enjoy it. I’m just really happy to be back with boys and not be in the rehab room. It’s so much more fun to play hockey again.”– Samuel Morin
The move to wing was for playing time, so now what? If the Flyers call Morin up are they calling him up as a winger or as a defenseman? Scott Gordon is a great coach, and this is not a dig at him, but the Flyers organization as a whole have to make a decision if Morin should stay a defenseman, or actually convert him to wing. Morin should know as it’s his career on the line.
At the end of the day Morin made a move to save his NHL career, not just with the Flyers. He needed playing time, but he should be assured what position he will play for the duration of his career.
