Frustrating Season Continues For Morin
ALLENTOWN - After appearing in all but two of his first 152 games as a professional hockey player in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, defenseman Sam Morin has hit a rough string of unfortunate events that have him limited to a total of just 17 games (15 AHL and 2 NHL) in his third pro season.
"I got three different injuries in like f—ing, I don't know a month?" a frustrated Morin told Inside AHL Hockey after last Wednesday's game against Wilkes-Barre, apologizing for swearing.
It's clear that Morin has tried his best to not let his tough luck with injuries this season frustrate him, but who could blame him? Especially after leaving last Saturday's 2018 AHL Outdoor Classic in the third period - his fourth trip to the injured list this season.
"You never want to get hurt, but it's part of hockey. It's a new experience," Morin said last week, adding, "Yeah, I've had a lot bad luck this year honestly."
After making the NHL roster out of training camp, it seemed the frustration began from the start of the season for Morin - who sat as a healthy scratch for four Flyers' games before being reassigned to the Phantoms in early October.
He played it off at the time, but perhaps Morin was genuine in not being too upset about being demoted since it would allow him a chance to play.
It's becoming easier to see now - after multiple stints on the injured list - that frustration is setting in.
"The other day I'm back and I'm happy," Morin said of returning from his third injury last week. "When you miss that many games, you realize how much you love hockey. I worked really hard to get back in shape. I just want to play hockey."
Just playing hockey has been tough for Morin in 2017-18, as there have been not only several injuries but also several re-injuries of those previous issues from earlier in the season. It has caused Morin to play a game, miss a few, play another game, miss a few more and continue on in an unfortunate cycle.
"I think my first game was great. I'm really happy the way I played [last] Saturday," Morin said of his latest return to the lineup in a game against Hershey on January 13th - a week before the outdoor game. "[Wednesday] was a bit more hard, but you know what I settled down and the more the game was going the more confident I was playing."
"I think it's going to come with time. I've worked really hard, I need to get back on track."
Hopefully the latest move back to the injured list for Morin isn't a lengthy absence, and he can continue to get back on track and help the Phantoms down the stretch.
A refresher, timeline style, for those unaware of Morin's frustrating 2017-18 season to date:
Training Camp & Preseason: Morin appeared to make the Phildelphia Flyers NHL roster out of training camp, but was a healthy scratch during the team's four-game road trip to begin the season before being reassigned to Lehigh Valley on October 11th. After missing the Phantoms opener and a road game to start their regular season, Morin steps in and plays all three games of a three-in-three weekend on October 13, 14 and 15.
October 29: With injuries and a suspension to Radko Gudas hitting the Flyers blue line hard, Morin is called up to Philadelphia. Or is he? It's later discovered that Morin himself has, what at the time was called, a minor nagging injury that nullified his recall. Instead Will O'Neill is called up to the Flyers and makes his NHL debut.
November 5: While on the road with the Flyers in St. Louis, GM Ron Hextall issues an update that Morin is still a couple weeks away from returning to action.
November 11: Despite being termed "weeks" away, Morin takes the warmup skate in Hershey and is later scratched for the game. After the game, Phantoms' head coach Scott Gordon confirmed to Inside AHL Hockey that Morin would be returning the following Wednesday in Belleville.
November 15: After a five-game injury absence, Morin returns for the Phantoms' road trip in Canada - appearing in games on Wednesday in Belleville and Friday in Laval.
November 22: Morin is recalled by Philadelphia and plays in back-to-back Flyers' games against the New York Islanders before being reassigned to Lehigh Valley on November 27th.
November 29: Morin returns to Lehigh Valley after missing three AHL games while on his NHL recall, and although he finishes his first game back with the Phantoms - it's his also his only game back before missing another five games with an undisclosed injury.
December 12: Morin returns for the first of a two-game set against Charlotte, but again this is a one-game deal for the big defensemen. Initially when he didn't play the following night, it was thought Morin was being eased back in. Nope, a full month layoff for #3 - missing 11 more games with his third injury absence of the season.
January 13: Morin returns in the middle game of a three-in-three against Hershey. Head coach Scott Gordon confirmed to Inside AHL Hockey that Morin appearing in just one of the three games on the weekend was due to taking a more cautious approach in his third return from injury this season. Gordon also said that he was expecting Morin to be back in the lineup for the team's next game Wednesday in Wilkes-Barre.
January 17: Morin makes his first consecutive Phantoms' games appearance since early November. He talks with Inside AHL Hockey (video at the bottom of this article) about dealing with three separate injuries in a month's time, and trying not to be frustrated about it.
January 20: The 2018 AHL Outdoor Classic at HersheyPark Stadium - Morin's third straight game. And just when it looks like he's finally getting back on track, Morin leaves the game with seven minutes left in the third period - breaking his stick in frustration of his fourth trip to the injured list on the season.
