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Travis Morin - #27
Position: C
Shoots: Left
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: January 9, 1984
Age: 23 Years
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Brooklyn Park,
Minnesota, USA
Drafted: Washington Capitals,
9th round, 263rd overall, 2004
Contract Status:
Two-year, entry-level contract
$510,000 (2007-08); $535,000 (2008-09)
(Signed March 16, 2007)
Salary: $510,000 (2007-08)
Caps Corner Analysis:
When scouts flocked to the Minnesota State University - Mankato in 2003 to take a look at David Backes, Washington Capitals scouts took note of relatively unheralded freshman center Travis Morin, who displayed a scoring touch in his own right.
The Capitals remembered him on draft day in 2004, selecting Morin with their ninth rounder. Washington, which selected a staggering 13 players in 2004, believed Morin might improve gradually, while the rules regarding team rights to college players gave the Capitals four solid years to reach a decision. This was no small consideration, given that the team would have otherwise needed to make decisions on as many as 13 players within the two years allotted for players in junior hockey.
A native of the Minneapolis, Minnesota suburb of Brooklyn Park, Travis Morin skated at the Washington Capitals rookie camp in Summer 2006, and there was some thought that he might forego his senior year of eligibility at MSU - Mankato to turn pro. Yet after deliberating, the Capitals advised Morin to return to the Mavericks, who lost three players to NHL contracts over the offseason, notably David Backes. The Capitals are in the enviable position of having a stocked cupboard of talent in the minors, and are continually running up against the NHL's 50-contract limit.
Out of his elder teammates' shadows, Morin's production topped 17-22-39 in 38 games in 2006-07, earning a second-team All-WCHA selection. He finished his four-year college career with 58-75-133 numbers in 151 games and held the MSU - Mankato co-captaincy.
Along with fellow 2004 Capitals draft selection and WCHA alum Andrew Gordon, Morin's signing hints at a resurgence in the Capitals' ability to find diamonds in the rough in the NHL entry draft: Gordon was a seventh- and Morin a ninth-round selection.
Skills
Morin is a skilled player, strong on the puck, a good puck distributor who is lauded for playing a two-way game. Morin plays a physical game, but still needs to fill out his frame. The Capitals are said to be planning to put him on a strength training regimen over the summer to put on weight and improve his skating, which is only average. Morin also has a good shot and a hard release, and impresses coaches with his strong work ethic. Morin rarely gives up on a play and wins battles along the boards.
Projection
Morin will almost certainly play one or more years of minor pro hockey before he gets his shot at the NHL, though whether the Capitals assign him to the AHL or ECHL for 2007-08 remains to be seen. He will attend the Capitals' 2007 summer prospect camp.
Contract Particulars
The Capitals signed Travis Morin to a standard two-year, two-way, entry-level contract for a 23-year-old player on March 16, 2007. He will make $510,000 in 2007-08 and $535,000 in 2008-09. He also signed an amateur tryout contract with the South Carolina Stingrays, Washington's ECHL affiliate, and played seven games for South Carolina in its bid to qualify for the 2006-07 playoffs.
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NHL Salary
(Career) |
|
Team |
Year |
Salary |
US$ Increase |
% Change |
|
WAS |
2007-08 |
$510,000 |
-- |
-- |
|
WAS |
2008-09 |
$535,000 |
$25,000 |
105% |
Career statistics: HockeyDB.com
Updated: May 31, 2007
Brian Marshall
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