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Morin represents an intriguing case for 2020-21, as he is set to transition from defense to left wing. With a short training camp and a condensed schedule ahead, it seems unlikely the 25-year-old will make the Opening Night roster. He's seen the last three years of his career ravaged by injuries, but a move to forward could reinvigorate the 11th overall pick from 2013. Morin probably won't see much more than fourth-line duties this year -- it's more likely he ends up spending the majority of the campaign in the minors.
The Flyers blue line will have a couple new faces in 2019-20, which makes it hard to predict where Morin will fit into the picture. Complicating matters, of course, is the fact that he'll be returning from an ACL injury that kept him out for most of last season. He played just five games with the big club and two with AHL Lehigh Valley in 2018-19, failing to tally a single point at either level. Fantasy owners that are still intrigued by Morin's first-round pedigree should plan on taking a wait-and-see approach with him during the first few weeks of the upcoming campaign.
Morin just signed a three-year deal to stay with the Flyers organization, but the ACL tear he suffered during the AHL playoffs is expected to keep him out until February. The 23-year-old played in two NHL games last season, and while he didn't post a point, he recorded a plus-1 rating, four PIM, seven hits and a block. He's no stranger to PIM, as he racked up 129 in 74 games with AHL Lehigh Valley in 2016-17.
Morin has terrific pedigree as the 2013 draft's No. 11 overall pick and terrific size at 6-foot-6, but that doesn't mean most fantasy owners will find him useful as he emerges into the NHL in 2017-18. His stats in the AHL last season serve as a pretty solid guideline -- the 22-year-old is coming off a 74-game season that saw him tally just three goals and 13 assists, but 129 PIM. Indeed, it'll be in PIM and hits where Morin will make his fantasy bacon while likely serving on the second or third pairing for the Flyers.
After he was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Morin has shown promising growth in the last year, as evidenced by his 31 points in 54 games in the QMJHL. He's not just a scorer -- Morin tallied 121 PIM and a respectable plus-12 rating, indicating he can impose his will on his opponents. Just remember that defensemen take longer to mature than other positions, especially ones who play with his type of physicality. The expectation is that Morin will be promoted to the AHL level this upcoming season.
The Flyers liked Morin so much they made him their first-round draft pick this year, ahead of some other highly-touted defensive prospects. The 6-foot-6 defender still needs some refining before he's ready to play in front of the Flyers' net. And being just 18, he'll likely spend some time maturing his skills in the AHL.
