The Jeremy Morin saga in Chicago took a new turn on Tuesday, as the club sent the winger to AHL Rockford on a conditioning assignment.
Morin, the 45th overall pick at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, has struggled to break into the ‘Hawks lineup for five years now and, per a recent report from the Sun-Times, has asked the club to either play him or trade him.
The 23-year-old has been a repeat healthy scratch this season, appearing in just 15 games. In the club’s defense, Morin hasn’t shown a ton in the opportunities he’s received -- zero points, 15 PIM and 28 shots on goal -- though he’s often been deployed as a bottom-six forward, probably not his ideal role given his past offensive exploits (he’s the IceHogs’ all-time leading goalscorer.)
The ‘Hawks do avoid putting Morin on waivers with this conditioning stint, which probably keeps them losing an asset -- Morin only makes $800,000 annually and is under contract through 2016, so it’s safe to assume some team would take a flier.
It’s also worth noting the conditioning assignment can only last a maximum of 14 days, so GM Stan Bowman has two weeks to decide Morin’s fate.
UPDATE: From the Tribune...Source says four or five teams have called #Blackhawks to inquire about trading for Jeremy Morin.
— Chris Kuc (@ChrisKuc) December 9, 2014