CA’s All-Time Greatest Canucks Team: Brendan Morrison

Banner by Matthew Henderson

Courtesy: Hockey Reference

The Canucks rivalry with the Flames has existed for decades, and more fuel was added in 2004, when the Canucks and Flames faced off in their first series since the 1994 Conference Quarterfinals, which ended OK for the Canucks. The Canucks were on the brink of elimination, down 3-2 in the series and in triple overtime against the rival Flames. And as you’ll see above, Morrison takes it from there. The Canucks went on to lose in 7 (after Cooke scored that goal at the end and I was one happy 9 year old I’ll tell you that) but Morrison’s goal lives on in Canucks lore, rightfully so.

Though the former Hobey Baker Award winner notched 393 points in 543 games as a Canuck (and probably should’ve been brought back as a fourth-liner for the 2010-11 campaign, frankly), Morrison was under-appreciated on a line that, for a majority of his time in Vancouver, consisted the bruising personality of Todd Bertuzzi and the flashy superstar in Markus Naslund. 

Morrison was acquired in a trade with the New Jersey Devils in 2000 which included Alexander Mogilny, and he immediately made a difference in his first full year, 2000-01. Due to his leadership and his playmaking style, he helped his two line-mates finish second and third in NHL scoring.

Morrison’s influence in the community cannot be forgotten either, as he was a vocal leader within the team, and with Canuck Place and other endeavours throughout the city. Though the team didn’t enjoy much playoff success in his tenure with Vancouver, he is remembered fondly for his time with the team, and he currently sits 12th on the Canucks all-time scoring list.