Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison ( born August 15 , 1975 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . He has previously played in the NHL for the New Jersey Devils , Vancouver Canucks , Anaheim Ducks , Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals . Morrison was selected 39th overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Devils after a season in the British Columbia Junior Hockey League ( BCJHL ) ; he had won rookie of the year honours for the Interior Conference as a member of the Penticton Panthers . Following his draft , he joined the college hockey ranks with the Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . During his four - year college career , he was named the NCAA Tournament MVP while leading the Wolverines to a national championship in 1996 and won the Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA ' s player of the year in 1997 . Turning professional in 1997 – 98 , Morrison was named to the American Hockey League ( AHL ) All - Rookie Team as a member of the Albany River Rats . He played his rookie season in the NHL the following season with the New Jersey Devils before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in March 2000 . He played seven full seasons with the Canucks , which included a club record 534 consecutive regular season games played . As a member of the team ' s West Coast Express line ( with Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi ) , Morrison enjoyed the most successful years of his career , posting three consecutive 60 - point seasons . During the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , he played one season with Linköpings HC of the Swedish Elite League . Beginning in 2008 , he played stints with the Anaheim Ducks , Dallas Stars and Washington Capitals before joining the Calgary Flames in 2010 . Internationally , Morrison has competed for Team Canada in three World Championships , winning gold in 2004 and silver in 2005 . Playing career . Amateur career ( 1992 – 97 ) . Morrison played one season with the Penticton Panthers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League ( BCJHL ) in 1992 – 93 , recording 94 points ( 35 goals and 59 assists ) over 56 games . He ranked second in team scoring , behind Marcel Sakac , and was awarded the Bruce Allison Memorial Trophy as the Interior Conference ' s rookie of the year . In the off - season , Morrison was selected by the New Jersey Devils 39th overall in the 2nd round of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft . Upon being drafted , he joined the Michigan Wolverines of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association ( CCHA ) . He had also been approached by the Denver Pioneers and the Maine Black Bears to join their school teams , but ultimately chose Michigan . Registering 48 points ( 20 goals and 28 assists ) over 38 games as a freshman , Morrison was named the CCHA Rookie of the Year for the 1993 – 94 season . He played on a line with fellow freshman Jason Botterill ; the two played together throughout their college career . In the 1994 playoffs , he helped the Wolverines to a CCHA championship . Playing in his sophomore year ( 1994 – 95 ) , Morrison improved to 76 points ( 23 goals and 43 assists ) over 39 games and received his first of three consecutive CCHA First Team All - Star selections . With 72 points over 45 games in 1995 – 96 , Morrison received his first of back - to - back CCHA Player of the Year awards . He added 15 points in 7 post - season games to capture his second CCHA championship with the Wolverines . Advancing to the 1996 NCAA Tournament , Michigan advanced to the final against the Colorado College Tigers . Morrison scored the championship - winning goal 3 minutes and 35 seconds into overtime to win the game 3 – 2 . It was the Wolverines ' first national title in 32 years . Michigan ' s championship - winning team that year included five future NHL players – Morrison , Botterill , Blake Sloan , John Madden , Marty Turco , and Bill Muckalt . In addition to receiving NCAA Tournament MVP honours , Morrison was named to the NCAA West Regional and NCAA Tournament All - American Teams . Morrison was named team captain in his senior year . He totalled college personal bests that season of 31 goals , 57 assists and 88 points over 43 games , culminating in a Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA ' s most outstanding player ; Morrison had been a finalist for the award the previous two years . The Wolverines repeated as CCHA champions , but lost to the Boston University Terriers in the NCAA semifinal . Morrison completed his four - year college career as the Wolverines ' all - time points leader with 284 , surpassing Denny Felsner . His points total also ranked seventh all - time among NCAA players . New Jersey Devils ( 1997 – 2000 ) . Prior to the Devils ' training camp , Morrison was signed by the team to a multi - year contract on September 9 , 1997 . He was seen as an unlikely candidate to secure a roster spot with the Devils ; ahead of Morrison on the depth chart were numerous centres , including Doug Gilmour , Bobby Holik and Petr Sykora . As such , he played the majority of the 1997 – 98 season in the American Hockey League ( AHL ) with the Devils ' minor league affiliate , the Albany River Rats . He scored 35 goals and 84 points over 72 games in the AHL , ranking first in team scoring and eighth in the league overall . He finished second among league rookies in scoring , eight points behind Daniel Briere of the Springfield Falcons , and was named to the AHL All - Rookie Team . His AHL season included a five - goal game against the Hartford Wolfpack on April 1 , 1998 ; two of his goals came short handed into an empty net , as part of a 5 – 2 Albany win . The feat was one goal shy of the AHL ' s single - game record . Morrison also made his NHL debut during the 1997 – 98 season . He was called up to the Devils in December 1997 as a replacement for winger John MacLean , who had been informally suspended by general manager Lou Lamoriello after requesting to be traded . Playing in his first NHL game on December 4 , 1997 , Morrison scored against goaltender Tom Barrasso in a 4 – 0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins . He received a second call - up in April 1998 . Competing in 11 NHL games , he finished the season with 5 goals and 4 assists . The following season , he secured a full - time roster spot with the Devils . With Doug Gilmour having left the team as a free agent in the 1998 off - season , Morrison was expected to help fill the void at centre . His 46 points ( 13 goals and 33 assists ) over 76 games finished second among league rookies behind Milan Hejduk of the Colorado Avalanche . He ranked fifth in Calder Memorial Trophy voting as the league ' s rookie of the year with one first - place ballot ( the award was given to the Avalanche ' s Chris Drury ) . Becoming a restricted free agent in the off - season , Morrison was given a one - year qualifying offer with a reported value of approximately US $ 500 , 000 . With the Devils unwilling to increase their offer , he left in September 1999 for Třebíč , Czech Republic , where fellow Devils restricted free agent Patrik Elias was also holding out . While overseas , Morrison and Elias played for Czech teams SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč and HC Pardubice as they waited for contract negotiations to resume . Morrison was pointless in two games with Trebic and recorded seven points in five games with Pardubice . On October 24 , 1999 , Morrison and Elias agreed to new contracts with the Devils . After recording 26 points over 44 games with the Devils , he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks on March 14 , 2000 . Morrison was dealt alongside centre Denis Pederson in exchange for winger Alexander Mogilny . Both Morrison and Pederson were struggling offensively and were unhappy with their roles on the team . Vancouver Canucks ( 2000 – 08 ) . Morrison finished the 1999 – 2000 season with 9 points in 12 games with the Canucks for a combined total of 35 points in 56 games . In the off - season , he re - signed with the Canucks . Playing in his first full season with the Canucks in 2000 – 01 , Morrison improved to 54 points ( 16 goals and 38 assists ) over 82 games . He helped the team reach the post - season for the first time since 1996 , as Vancouver secured the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference . Facing the Colorado Avalanche in the first round , the Canucks were swept in four games . Morrison scored his first NHL playoff goal during the series and finished with three points in four games . The 2001 – 02 campaign marked the beginning of what was widely considered to be the most effective line combination in the NHL for several years . During a game on January 9 , 2002 , Morrison replaced Andrew Cassels as the centreman on the team ' s first line with wingers Markus Naslund and Todd Bertuzzi . He went on to record his three best statistical seasons in the NHL while playing with the two wingers . The latter two finished second and third in NHL scoring in 2001 – 02 , while Morrison tallied 23 goals and 67 points over 82 games . Morrison ' s playmaking ability complemented his wingers ' goal - scoring prowess . Together , they were known for playing a fast and entertaining style ; as a result , head coach Marc Crawford implemented a highly offensive coaching strategy . The trio were dubbed the " West Coast Express " , named after Vancouver ' s commuter rail service of the same name . Despite finishing as the NHL ' s top - scoring team , the Canucks entering the 2002 playoffs as the eighth seed in the West for the second consecutive season . Facing the Detroit Red Wings in the opening round , they were eliminated in six games . Morrison notched two assists during the series . After initially failing to come to terms on a new contract with the Canucks in the off - season , Morrison filed for arbitration . He won his hearing and was awarded a two - year , US $ 4 . 6 million contract on August 3 , 2002 , more than doubling his previous year ' s salary of US $ 775 , 000 . The following season , Morrison recorded career - highs with 25 goals 46 assists and 71 points in 82 games . He ranked 26th in NHL point - scoring , while Näslund and Bertuzzi finished second and fifth , respectively . He helped the Canucks come within a point of the Northwest Division title , entering the 2003 playoffs as the fourth seed in the West . After eliminating the St . Louis Blues in the opening round , they were defeated by the Minnesota Wild in a seven - game second round series . Morrison had a career - high 4 goals , 7 assists and 11 points over 14 post - season games . In 2003 – 04 , Morrison registered 22 goals and 60 points over 82 games as all members of the Canucks ' top line experienced declines in offensive production . Bertuzzi was replaced on Morrison ' s wing after he was suspended indefinitely by the league for sucker punching Steve Moore in a game against the Avalanche in March 2004 ; he was replaced on the Canucks ' top line by Matt Cooke . Nonetheless , the Canucks won their first ever Northwest Division title and went into the 2004 playoffs as the West ' s third seed . Facing elimination in game six of the opening round against the Calgary Flames , Morrison scored there minutes into the contest ' s third overtime session to force a seventh game . Having skated from the corner boards with the puck , Morrison stickhandled across the net and scored past Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff . The Canucks were then eliminated in game seven ; Morrison finished the playoff season with five points . Becoming a restricted free agent in the off - season , he filed for salary arbitration against the Canucks for the second time in two years . Both sides managed to avoid their hearing by agreeing to a one - year deal on July 27 , 2004 . In lieu of the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , Morrison went overseas to play in the Swedish Elite League , signing with Linköpings HC on September 15 , 2004 . With 44 points ( 16 goals and 29 assists ) over 45 games , he ranked second in team scoring ( behind Kristian Huselius ) and sixth in league scoring . After finishing with the second - best regular season in the SEL , Linköping was eliminated in the first round by Södertälje . With NHL play set to resume the next season , Morrison re - signed with the Canucks at US $ 9 . 6 million over three years . Morrison suffered a torn labrum in his hip in December 2005 , but chose to play through the injury . He finished the season with 19 goals and 56 points over 82 games in 2005 – 06 , as the Canucks failed to qualify for the playoffs . Head coach Marc Crawford recalled that by the end of the season , the line of Morrison , Bertuzzi and Naslund had been surpassed as the top unit by Daniel and Henrik Sedin . In the off - season , Morrison underwent surgery for his hip injury and missed two months of workout and conditioning while recovering . Also in the summer , Bertuzzi was traded to the Florida Panthers , marking the end of the West Coast Express line . Morrison ' s hip continued to hinder his play in 2006 – 07 , contributing to a slow start early in the season . Later in the campaign , he set a Canucks record for consecutive regular season games played ( colloquially known as an " ironman streak " ) ; he had not mised a contest since arriving to the team from New Jersey . Playing against the Los Angeles Kings on February 22 , 2007 , he surpassed Trevor Linden ' s old club record of 482 consecutive games played ( his overall streak was at 491 games , including eight contests played with the Devils prior to his trade ) . Three days later , he became the league ' s active ironman when Avalanche defenceman Karlis Skrastins was forced to miss a game with a knee injury . Skrastins had played in 495 consecutive games , while Morrison had 492 at the time . Offensively , he finished the year with his sixth consecutive 50 - point season in the NHL with 20 goals and 31 assists over 82 games . The Canucks returned to the post - season and advanced to the second round , where they were eliminated by the Anaheim Ducks . Morrison recorded 4 points in 12 playoff games . Morrison began the 2007 – 08 season with a minor wrist injury suffered during a game during the pre - season ; he chose to play through the injury for months . He extended his ironman streak to 542 games before opting for wrist surgery on December 12 , 2007 . The streak , which had begun on February 27 , 2000 with the Devils , was the eleventh longest in NHL history , 404 games short of Doug Jarvis ' NHL record . Morrison was succeeded as the league ' s active ironman by Flames defenceman Cory Sarich , who had played in 419 consecutive games at the time of Morrison ' s injury . After undergoing wrist surgery in December 2007 , Morrison returned to the Canucks lineup in February 2008 , having missed 38 games . The following month , Morrison tore the ACL in his right knee during a game on March 28 , forcing him to miss the remaining four contests of the regular season . He underwent knee surgery 10 days later . Limited to 39 games due to his injuries , Morrison recorded 9 goals and 25 points in 2007 – 08 . The Canucks finished out of the playoffs for the second time in three seasons . Becoming an unrestricted free agent in the off - season , Morrison ended his career with the Canucks ninth overall on the team ' s all - time scoring list with 393 points in 543 games . Post - Vancouver ( 2008 – present ) . Morrison signed with the Anaheim Ducks to a one - year , US $ 2 . 75 million contract on July 7 , 2008 . He had received interest from as many as nine NHL teams , including the Canucks , who offered a one - year , US $ 1 . 9 million deal prior to Morrison ' s free agency . Morrison scored his first goal as a Duck on November 7 , in a 5 – 2 loss to the Dallas Stars . While it was hoped he could be a replacement for Andy McDonald as the team ' s second - line centre , Morrison struggled in his short tenure with the Ducks . He was relegated to the fourth line and made a healthy scratch at various points in the season . It was proposed by the media that he was not yet playing at full capacity on account of his off - season knee surgery . With 22 points in 62 games , he was waived by the Ducks leading up to the trade deadline on March 3 , 2009 . He was claimed the following day by the Dallas Stars . He scored his first goal with the Stars on March 12 , the game - winner in a 3 – 2 contest against the Carolina Hurricanes . Morrison ' s 2008 – 09 total of 31 points between the Ducks and Stars was the lowest output of his career ( not including the previous season ' s injury - shortened campaign and his 11 - game 1997 – 98 season ) . In the off - season , he was signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Washington Capitals to a one - year , US $ 1 . 5 million contract on July 10 , 2009 . He registered his first goal as a Capital in the team ' s home opener , a 6 – 4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 3 , 2009 . In the final two months of the season , Morrison missed six games due to a leg injury . He finished the campaign with 42 points in 74 games with the Capitals , his highest total in three years . Returning in time for the 2010 playoffs , he registered one assists in five games as the top - seeded Capitals were eliminated by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round . Becoming an unrestricted free agent for the third consecutive year in July 2010 , Morrison did not initially receive any offers . As a result , he accepted a tryout with the Vancouver Canucks and attended the team ' s training camp in Penticton , British Columbia . At the conclusion of the pre - season , the Canucks offered Morrison a two - way contract , which he turned down . The following day , on October 4 , 2010 , Morrison was signed by the Calgary Flames to a one - year , one - way contract worth US $ 725 , 000 . The Flames had signed Morrison in lieu of numerous injuries at the centre position on their roster . He scored his first goal as a Flame on October 16 , in a 5 – 3 win against the Edmonton Oilers . After recording 43 points in 66 games , Morrison suffered a season - ending injury in March 2011 . He hurt his left knee in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks when opposing defenceman Niklas Hjalmarsson pinned him against the end - boards . At the time of the injury , Morrison was leading the Flames with a plus - minus rating of + 13 while centring the team ' s top line with Jarome Iginla and Alex Tanguay . On July 15 , 2011 , Morrison came to terms with the Flames on a one - year deal worth $ 1 . 25 million US . International play . Morrison debuted with the Canadian national team at the 2000 IIHF World Championship in St . Petersburg , Russia . He was joined on the team by four other Canucks – Todd Bertuzzi , Adrian Aucoin , Ed Jovanovski and Peter Schaefer . Scoring a goal and three assists over seven games , he helped Canada reach the bronze medal game , where they were defeated 2 – 1 by Finland . Morrison ranked sixth in team point - scoring and tied for first with Aucoin with a plus - minus rating of + 7 . Four years later , Morrison was selected again to the Canadian team for the 2004 IIHF World Championship in Prague and Ostrava , Czech Republic . He was one of two Canucks players on the roster with Matt Cooke . In the gold medal game , Morrison registered an assist , helping Canada to a 5 – 3 win over Sweden . With seven points in nine games , Morrison ranked third in team scoring , behind Dany Heatley and Daniel Briere . Morrison made his second consecutive tournament appearance at the 2005 IIHF World Championship in Vienna and Innsbruck , Austria . He was named to the team alongside Canucks teammate Ed Jovanovski . Due to the 2004 – 05 NHL lockout , all NHL players were available to participate as there was no timing conflict with the Stanley Cup playoffs . Reaching the gold medal game for the second consecutive year , Canada was shut out by the Czech national team 3 – 0 . Morrison ranked third on the team in goal - scoring with four ; he had no assists . Several months later , Morrison was invited to Team Canada ' s Olympic Orientation Camp in August 2005 – a part of the selection process for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , Italy . He was a late addition , replacing Mario Lemieux , who chose not to attend due to commitments with his club team , the Pittsburgh Penguins . Morrison was not chosen to the final roster . Personal life . Morrison was born in Pitt Meadows , British Columbia , to Ron and Deborah Morrison . He has a sister named Jennifer . His parents had moved to Pitt Meadows from Windsor , Ontario , in the 1970s . Ron coached his son on minor hockey teams , before Morrison moved away from home at age 17 to play junior hockey in Penticton , British Columbia . Morrison and his wife , Erin , have one son , Brayden , and three daughters , Makenna , Kailyn , and Taylor . During his career with the Vancouver Canucks , Morrison resided year - round with his family in Coquitlam , British Columbia . He spent a year living with his family in Newport Beach , California , during his stint with the Anaheim Ducks .