Morris for Ward:

while Morris getting $3.3m seems high, getting him to sign for only one year is a very good thing and I think they had to pay a bit more to compensate for the lack of security a one year deal provides. 

Ward was a good leader in the clubhouse, etc., his on ice skills had diminished significantly to a point where not only was an upgrade was needed but that his value would never get any better to trade then this year.   Morris is younger and more athletic - adding him in with Wideman, Stuart & Hunwick the B's are have youth, strength and aggressive on the blue line in bunches now.  Ference and Chara are savvy enough to compensate for Ward's departure.

Kessel for a 1 yr deal next & the big picture:

Morris is not a sure thing defender, so getting a 1 year deal is key based on his persoanl risk, this deal also keeps cap space open for next year.  My thinking now is that the B's will work with Kessel on a 1yr deal as well.  The way things are going in the market for him, I don't think he'll settle for a multi year deal below his percieved level, though he may do that for a 1 yr deal. 

If they can satisfy Kessel with a 1yr deal, then going into next off-season they'll have around $14-6m coming of the cap with Savard (and possibly Kessel) becoming UFA's, Wheeler, Lucic, Stuart & Rask becoming RFA's and a few others coming off the books.

That's a big list of players to evaluate and resign so having cap space and flexibility going into the next off season, while continuing to improve your team for the upcoming season is a very strong move in my book.

Specific to Kessel, if you can get him for one more year then you have a better opportunity to evaluate him and also more time to see how Wheeler & Lucic develop as goal scorers to where Kessel is more or less valuable to the team.