A trade in the NHL today (April 2) has sent another Prince George born-and-raised player to the Florida Panthers.
Brad Morrison is set to join 2018 Stanley Cup-champion Brett Connolly after the 24-year-old was dealt to the organization from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Vinnie Hinostroza.
This is now the former Prince George Cougar's fourth NHL franchise since being selected by the New York Rangers in the fourth round, 113th overall in the 2015 entry draft.
Morrison played four full seasons with his hometown Cougars and was part of the 2017 BC Division-winning squad, registering 85 goals and 187 points in 260 games.
After being traded to the Vancouver Giants and the Lethbridge Hurricanes in final WHL campaign, he totalled 334 career major junior games with 262 points.
When the Rangers decided not to sign Morrison, the Los Angeles Kings picked him up in May 2018 on a three-year entry-level deal worth $2.23 million, according to CapFriendly, and played a year in the AHL with the Ontario Reign, tallying 20 points in 50 games.
His current contract, before going to Florida today, has a salary cap hit of $743,333 through the 2020-21 season with the Blackhawks, but has been playing with the Rockford IceHogs, Chicago's AHL club.
🚨 GOALLLLLL 🚨
— Rockford IceHogs (@goicehogs) February 14, 2021
Morrison grabs another to make it 2-0 Piggies! pic.twitter.com/h5LbkRin5X
This year, the centre has recorded five points in six games, including three goals, and it's likely that Morrison will report to the Panthers' farm team, the Charlotte Checkers.
Florida is currently 24-9-4 in the shortened 2020-21 NHL season.
Connolly recently scored his 100th career NHL goal with the Cats in a 4-1 win over Detroit on March 30.
The 28-year-old lit the lamp at the 12:25 mark of the first period to give the Panthers a 3-0 cushion, also coming 58 seconds after teammate Carter Verhaeghe made it 2-0.
