Hoping to get right back up

Morrisonn now more upbeat

By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 10/1/2003

PROVIDENCE -- It's the moment every player dreads. It's not as bad as being released outright, but it's upsetting to be told that you haven't been good enough to stick around.

That's the assessment defenseman Shaone Morrisonn had to absorb when he was assigned to Providence Sept. 22. Morrisonn, 20 years old, is a highly touted prospect, which is why the Bruins made him their first pick, No. 19 overall, in the 2001 draft. But a less-than-stellar training camp led general manager Mike O'Connell and his staff to send Morrisonn to the minors.

"He needed to get ready," said O'Connell. "We didn't think he came in in the necessary shape. If he wants to play in the NHL, he has to make the sacrifices. There are a lot of guys in the offseason who work hard and build themselves up and he didn't have a great summer that way."

The GM said neither Morrisonn's conditioning nor his strength were what they should have been.

"We still think he's a fine prospect and we think he's going to play in the National Hockey League, but it's going to be his decision whether he wants to make the commitment," O'Connell said.

Morrisonn admitted to being peeved when he was told the news though he has accepted it and will put his nose to the grindstone. He was in the lineup last night against the New Jersey Devils for an exhibition game at Dunkin' Donuts Center here and was hoping to make the kind of impression he's failed to make so far.

"I was mentally tired for about two days," said Morrisonn. "It was kind of stressful but I'm back in the groove of things and comfortable and happy they called me up for [last night]."

Morrisonn played 60 games with the Baby B's in his first pro season last year and 11 NHL contests during five recalls. He said he knows that Providence is close, geographically, to Boston, but the jump to the NHL has seemed far away.

"Of course I was disappointed, but what can you do?" he said. "That is the decision they made and I just have to work hard down here. They gave me a shot to play [last night], so hopefully I'll show them something good."

With Jonathan Girard out for the season because of injuries suffered in a car accident, Don Sweeney in Dallas, and Bryan Berard in contract limbo (restricted free agent Nick Boynton agreed to a two-year deal last night), Morrisonn knew there would be jobs on defense available.

"My goal was to come in and make the team," he said. "I didn't really know what particular role they wanted me to play. I was kind of questioning what I should be doing out there. I probably had an all right camp. It was up and down but they made a decision and it's over with now. I just have to take it from now and try to work my way back up there."

Morrisonn was sent to Providence with a clear sense of what is expected of him. He said he was told what he needs to improve on and he's prepared to do what it takes.

"I just have to work hard," he said. "That's the decision they made and you just have to live with it and prove them wrong. The whole organization is going to tell you what they think and that's kind of a good thing because you leave there knowing what you've got to do to get back up there."

The Bruins' front office wants Morrisonn to improve in a myriad of areas. By logging a ton of ice time at the minor-league level, he'll be able to develop by playing in all situations. Morrisonn ticked off several examples of where his play can improve.

"Things like just playing with more confidence," he said. "Taking charge and trying to be the guy to go and lead the power play down here and penalty kill and do all the roles. There were a whole bunch of things but I heard what they said and that's what I'm going to be doing."

O'Connell said Morrisonn's assignment to the AHL wasn't so much a wake-up call as it was a reward to other players for their performances.

"We just did it because the other guys have played better," said O'Connell. "There are opportunities here for guys to play. [Jeff] Jillson has stepped up and [Zdenek] Kutlak has stepped up and [Milan] Jurcina has stepped up. They all obviously trained hard and they've outplayed him so we'll see how that goes.

"It's early in the season and we'll see how it plays out, but Shaone has to make the necessary adjustments to his game and to his commitment and if he does that, he should be fine."