The known: The Bruins became younger and more offensive-minded on defense after replacing 36-year-old Aaron Ward (traded to Carolina Friday) with 30-year-old Derek Morris (signed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract).
“We feel we’ve added a No. 2 defenseman to our mix,’’ general manager Peter Chiarelli said during a conference call yesterday. “We feel that we’ve improved and upgraded.’’
The unknown: Whether the Bruins’ blue line is significantly better as a result.
“Morris has gone backwards,’’ one Eastern Conference executive wrote in an e-mail. “No longer a top-four D. His mobility for a 6-foot guy is surprisingly average at best. Offensively, his game isn’t what it once was and he has trouble defending the rush. Shocked at what they paid him. For close to the money, [Francois] Beauchemin is a way better player. They were better with Ward for my money.’’
Morris, Calgary’s first-round pick in 1996, is joining his fifth organization. Most recently, Morris was traded by Phoenix to the Rangers March 4 for Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, and Dmitri Kalinin.
The Bruins contacted Morris upon the opening of free agency July 1. They indicated their interest while informing Morris that they had to clear cap space. Earlier this month, Morris traveled to Boston to meet with Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien. Once the Bruins traded Ward and initiated the buyout of Patrick Eaves (the forward cleared waivers yesterday), they finalized their offer to Morris.
“We’d been talking for a little while,’’ said Morris. “Nothing really heated up until the last little bit. It was kind of the way I was leaning to start with. Once I heard of the opportunity to play there, it was a no-brainer.’’
Morris recorded eight assists in 18 games and added two helpers in seven playoff games with the Rangers last season.
In 75 games between Phoenix and New York in 2008-09, Morris had five goals and 15 assists while averaging 20:53 of ice time. It was the lowest point total of Morris’s career.
“I think we’ve seen the tip of the iceberg with Derek the last couple years,’’ Chiarelli said. “He does have a very good skill set. He really makes a nice first pass. He’s got a tremendous shot and a really good offensive skill set. The thing we really liked was his compete level.’’
The Bruins are counting on the 221-pound Morris to be a top-four defenseman and power-play quarterback. Morris has a history of taking on big workloads. In every season except his rookie year in 1997-98, Morris has logged 20 minutes or more of ice time per game. Morris appeared in 82 games each in 2006-07 and 2007-08. Morris’s most recent serious injury took place in 2005-06, when he missed 23 games because of a sprained ankle.
In contrast, Ward, because of his in-your-face style, had made 65 appearances in each of his last two seasons.
“He’s been very durable over the years,’’ Chiarelli said of Morris. “He’s got a nice, thick body. He uses it very well when he plays.’’
Last season, Morris blocked 128 shots. Ward, who excelled at stepping in front of pucks in shooting lanes, recorded 124 blocked shots.
Morris’s offensive production, however, has declined in each year since 2002-03, when he scored 11 goals and 37 assists in 75 games for Colorado.
But where Morris’s game might have suffered the most recently has been his mobility.
“That’s my biggest problem with Morris,’’ wrote the East executive. “He doesn’t have great speed to get back and get the puck.’’
The Bruins have approximately $1.3 million remaining in cap space. Chiarelli said he is done dealing for now.
