Defenceman and left wing Samuel Morin has been re-signed by the Philadelphia Flyers to a one-year contract worth $750,000.
Big Sam is staying in Philly!
We have inked defenseman @sammorin55 to a one-year contract extension. https://t.co/NfjRaCrk2G
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) July 26, 2021
Samuel Morin Re-Signs with Flyers
Samuel Morin remains with the team that drafted him for at least one more season with his one-year contract extension. Morin was a first-round pick by the Flyers in 2013 being selected 11th overall. The Quebec native played four seasons in the QMJHL with the Rimouski Oceanic, where he played 246 total games. Morin was certainly a stay-at-home defenceman though. He registered just 87 points in his junior career. At 6’6, the Flyers were likely banking on Morin being a bruising threat on their blue line, but he made the shift to a left-winger before the 2021 season.
Through six professional seasons, Morin has spent the majority in the AHL with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. He has, however, had to deal with two separate knee injuries so far in his career. In fact, he has only played a total of 29 NHL games, scoring one goal. The good news: 20 of those games were played in 2020-21, with Morin’s lone goal being a game-winner scored last year.
What This Means for the Flyers
The Flyers have certainly had a busy start to the offseason. General manager Chuck Fletcher has shaken things up following a disappointing 2020-21 season. In a series of moves over the past two weeks, the Flyers traded away Jakub Voracek, Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg and Nolan Patrick. In return, Philadelphia has received Cam Atkinson, Rasmus Ristolainen and Ryan Ellis.
And the offseason moves are far from over. The team still needs to sign restricted free-agent goalie Carter Hart, plus find him a backup. Fellow defenceman Travis Sanheim is also in need of a new deal as a restricted free agent.
By signing Morin, Fletcher checks off another offseason box. A one-year deal for a good price is a low-risk, high reward bet that the 26-year-old is finally ready to be an NHL regular. Coming from a defensive background, he could make use of himself on a penalty-killing unit as a fourth-line forward.
It’s not easy to transition from a defenceman to a forward, but it seems like Morin’s starting to find himself in the lineup more often. With one season on the wing under his belt, Morin could be poised for a career year if he stays on his current trajectory.
