Draft Profiles 2k21: Scott Morrow has the size to get scouts salivating, but is that enough?

Analysis:

HEY. Don’t you scroll down yet. Don’t you dare scroll down yet and say he’s the guy. I know you already saw the physical dimensions and got excited. We’re not even close to done with this profile. You should read this.

Drafting players is a gamble the likes of which most of us agree is risky. It’s necessary and somewhat required to remain a successful, stable NHL franchise, but it still has a real element of chance. We place the value we do on Junior leagues like those in the CHL or the USHL or the NCAA because of the track record of “NHLers have been produced from here.” So imagine the kind of hype someone would have to be getting if they were getting possibly projected to get drafted out of High School. Prep High School, but still...High School!

Morrow has been garnering the attention that he has because quite simply the young man is an impressive skater for someone his size; an agile, speedy player able to move around the ice with impunity due to his very obvious NHL-Ready size and strength, and he’s able to use a powerful ability to create dangerous passing opportunities for his forwards in tight by being able to charge the net. In his own end, he can be quite a pain to get around due to his acceleration, and in general, when left to shut down lanes, he looks every bit as big as he is. When Morrow is on his game, he looks absolutely destined for professional success.

But the thing about Morrow you need to know is that he’s...Raw. While Morrow is unquestionably big and intimidating, his defense is a little spotty at times; he’s an aggressive points-getter defenseman, and so sometimes he will make pinches that seem ill-timed or decided in transition, or he’ll make a first pass to get out of the zone that is so poorly timed that it is practically destined for a turnover, or in trying to get the puck out of his own end, he can sometimes flub the puck in a truly bizarre way that could end up being a high-danger chance. Further, while his shot’s alright, it’s not exactly one that’s built to Attempting to make him a big stay at home guy is not going to pay dividends because that’s just not the way he plays; he’s a big offense-first kind of player and will need to be paired accordingly.

Further, while he’s unquestionably that size and that successful...he’s also playing against high schoolers. Talented high schoolers, no doubt, but still high schoolers. He’s going to be playing for UMass this fall after they managed to flip him from UND, and that will be veeeeeery telling how his first couple years of school will go; they aren’t all going through puberty in Hockey East, and mistakes that you make on the ice in high school get capitalized upon harshly in college when you often have to play several good teams a month.

By all accounts, Morrow could and probably should be a second round selection, probably even third, given that he could probably spend the next four years at college trying to solidify his game. However, few players come along with Morrow’s kind of nearly complete size and skating skill these days, and there’s a non-zero chance that a general manager decides that beefing up their defense corps is just what they need, and picks him in the first round.

Personally, I would keep my distance. The Bruins are going to need help within the next two to three years. Taking chances at the draft are expected, but some chances just aren’t worth the risk.

After all, Size ain’t everything. Even on the back-end.

Next week, we’re gonna look at some goaltenders and further interesting prospects, because the organization could use a couple now that they’re set to graduate a couple of them. And then! We can do an even more “early offseason” exercise in wondering who could really get picked up 1st overall.

Rankings:

32nd by EliteProspects’ Consolidated Rankings

52nd by EliteProspects

65th by FC Hockey

36th by TSN (Bob McKenzie)

59th by McKeen’s Hockey

39th by NHL Central Scouting among North American Skaters

22nd by DobberProspects

23rd by SMAHT SCOUTING