Jeremy Morin and Getting A Fair Shake

Oct 11, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks left wing Jeremy Morin (11) with the puck during the first period against the Buffalo Sabres at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

It’s only three games into the season, but Jeremy Morin finds himself on Coach Q’s bad side. And that has led to little to no ice time for the promising, young forward.

Entering each year, it feels as though Morin’s name is thrown around as a youngster that can break out for the Hawks and be an impact player. He certainly has proved his potential in the minors.  The 23-year-old has been up and down between Rockford and Chicago ever since he arrived here. But entering the 2014-2015 season, Morin looked poised to be a fit on the 3rd/4th line.

Not even three games in, Morin has been stapled to the bench late in games in favor of more ice time for players like Daniel Carcillo. No offense to Carcillo, but Morin has more upside, better offensive skill, isn’t boneheaded and overall gives the Hawks a better chance to win.

All of that being said, Morin has logged 5:32, 8:57 and 5:48 of ice time in the three games, respectfully. Carcillo has found himself close to 10 minutes of ice time in the last two games.

Morin hasn’t been a favorite of Coach Q and it seems that any chance Q has to sit Morin in favor of the “enforcer” Carcillo, he takes it.

Looking at Morin, he resembles a little of Marian Hossa and Brandon Saad. He’s fast, forechecks well, has good vision with the puck and puts the puck on the net. The only potential knock to Morin’s game is in the defensive area but isn’t as bad as Carcillo or even Brandon Bollig (when he was here).

In order for Morin to achieve more ice time, it looks as though he has to have perfect shifts. That type of pressure helps nobody, especially not a young forward. It doesn’t help when Morin isn’t get a ton of ice time on the 4th line anyway and Coach Q decides to make him play less.

Morin is a guy that could lessen the burden on some of the bigger stars on the team, without a huge drop in talent. He should at least be given the chance to play regular minutes on the 4th line. It makes no sense to dress him and only play him 5 minutes every game. If Q isn’t going to use him, at least have somebody on the bench that Q will use and that isn’t a bonehead.

Practically playing a man short during the regular season is going to rear its ugly head in the playoffs when guys are tired and worn out. It would be nice to have a guy that could play at a high level while giving those guys rest when they need it. Morin is that player and should get a fair shot at being that player.

There are times where Coach Q gets in his own way, and stops this team from being better than they already are. This is the perfect example. It happened with Nick Leddy, it’s happening with Morin. Q doesn’t like something about these guys, and he finds a way to limit their playing time. Morin, if given enough of a sample size and ice time to make an impact, can surely be a guy that Q can turn to. But, as with Leddy, one mistake can land these guys right back on the bench.

Jeremy Morin is a player that can make the Hawks better and come playoff time, could help them win another Stanley Cup. He’s that talented. Too bad it seems like the Hawks will never get to tap in to that talent.