Second City Hockey’s 2020-21 preseason Blackhawks Top 25 Under 25 series ranks the organization’s top 25 players under the age of 25 by Oct. 1, 2020. The rankings are determined by a composite score from three SCH writers and community member, L_B_R. Each participant used their own metric of current ability and production against future projection to rank each player. All four ballots will be released after the series is completed.
Morrison was a second-round pick (40th overall) of the Avalanche in the 2016 NHL Draft, and opted to spend the past four seasons at Notre Dame. The 22-year-old winger developed a reputation for crucial goals in clutch moments, earning the nickname “Big Game Cam” while with the Irish.
CAM MORRISON IS THE HERO OF NOTRE DAME! #NCAAHockey pic.twitter.com/x8zTTDEE0O
— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 30, 2019
In his senior season at Notre Dame, Morrison scored 13 goals with 14 assists in 37 games and then became an unrestricted free agent after deciding not to sign with the Avalanche. He joined the Blackhawks organization soon after, signing a two-year entry-level contract worth $1.85 million ($925,000 AAV) in August.
Morrison has ample size and decent hands with decent north-south skating ability. Several scouting reports referenced a lack of agility as one of the knocks on Morrison, who projects as a bottom-six power forward should he reach the NHL level.
What’s next
Count Morrison among the plethora of players that could compete for available roster spots in the Blackhawks’ bottom six. As a former second-round pick, there’s an outside possibility that Morrison realizes the potential that moved him up on draft boards in 2016 and leads to him breaking training camp with the parent club. It’s more likely, though, his next hockey season is mostly with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL where he’ll be counted on to play on the second or third line.