Morris leaves Calgary

[MatthewFlames]

CALGARY (CP): GM Matthew Kershaw sang the praises of Derek Morris today as he dealt the long-serving defenceman to the Pittsburgh Penguins. "Derek has been here since the founding of the league, one of the original members of the Calgary Flames franchise in the HFNHL" said Kershaw "but we have to address some fundamental issues, one of which is the waiver draft next season and our excess of quality defenceman, and the other is the lack of depth at the forward position in the future."

Morris is moved with promising 1st round draft pick Luc Bourdon and forward Josef Balej to Pittsburgh.

In return, Calgary receives the rights to left wingers Wojtek Wolski and Adam Berti, Centre RJ Umberger and Goalie Jani Hurme.

"We also needed to address our back-up goalie position and I feel that we have done so with the addition of Jani Hurme."

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[Brent Burns Beard]

PIT is pleased to welcome all three players to our organization. We identified our biggest need was a strong foundation dman and Derek Morris fills that need. We did give up a lot of future forward strength, but felt we were dealing from a position of strength. When we aquired Chris Mason last week, it made Hurme available and he is the only asset we are losing from this years team. Goalies are a very valuable commodity in this league and we fielded weekly offers for this goalie, with his favourable contract and ratings.

We are also very pleased to add two NHL Canuck properties , especially promising 1st rounde selection, Luc Bourdon.

Josef Balej will be assigned to the minor league affifliate.

R

 

[MatthewFlames]

PIT is pleased to welcome all three players to our organization. We identified our biggest need was a strong foundation dman and Derek Morris fills that need. We did give up a lot of future forward strength, but felt we were dealing from a position of strength.
R

Hey Robb.. position of strength... isn't that the four day conversation we had on a drive about what, six or seven years ago, from Calgary to Toronto in the days after the Pavel Bure to Florida trade?

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Hey Robb.. position of strength... isn't that the four day conversation we had on a drive about what, six or seven years ago, from Calgary to Toronto in the days after the Pavel Bure to Florida trade?

that was a great trip bud ....

Canucks won that trade, just as I said they would ;-)

R

 

[MatthewFlames]

Yes Yes. I admit it. They did.

 

[Donga]

Being a panthers fan, never like the Bure trade. However, I will say this... It did help us get to the cup final only to be swept by the Avs

 

[Brent Burns Beard]

Being a panthers fan, never like the Bure trade. However, I will say this... It did help us get to the cup final only to be swept by the Avs

????


you sure about that ?

i swear the cup run was well before the Bure trade. i am certain Jovanovski was on the team that went to the final.

no ?

 

[Donga]

dammit your rite. I always get my years mixed up. It was about the same time... the guy i should really thank for the cup drive was Martin "I can't do anything except in Pittsburgh" Straka.

Still, I hated the trade. Jova was my fav player even though he was rookie. Although, I did like anyone that played physical like Gino Odjick, Jeff Bukeboom, Marty McSorley, etc...