While the Pittsburgh Penguins start to look at how their 2011-2012 campaign quickly got off track, two draft picks from the 2011 NHL entry draft continue to make their mark at the CHL level.
Joe Morrow, an offensive-defenseman, was the 23rd overall pick last year for the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 19, Morrow impressed the Penguins coming out of camp and probably would have made the NHL roster had it not been for the supposed depth on the blue line.
Joe Morrow’s biggest asset is his slapshot, an absolute howitzer from the point. If anyone needed an example, all they had to do was watch Game 3 of the conference finals against the Tri-City Americans. Morrow loaded his patented cannon and blasted a shot that shattered the goaltender’s mask.
After tallying a career-high 17 goals and 64 points during the regular season for the Portland Winterhawks, Morrow leads all defensemen in scoring during the WHL playoffs with 13 points. As a result, the Winterhawks are in the WHL finals against the Edmonton Oil Kings, competing for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.
Meanwhile, in the OHL, Pittsburgh’s 2011 second round pick, Scott Harrington, continues his stellar defensive play for the London Knights.
Last year, Harrington posted a -6 rating and one assist as the Knights bowed out of the playoffs in the first round. This year, Harrington has rebounded, posting a +6 rating and 5 points (1 g, 4 a) as the Knights find themselves in the OHL finals against the Niagara Ice Dogs.
Unlike Joe Morrow, Harrington is a defensive-defenseman, seen as a future Rob Scuderi-type player. When the Penguins selected him in the second round, it was seen as somewhat of a reach as Harrington wasn’t listed in the top 50 prospect rankings. His fall in the draft rankings was based on a subpar 2010-2011 season in which Harrington was -14 in 67 games. The Penguins took a chance on Harrington in the second round in hopes that he can become a shutdown defenseman. Unlike Morrow, Harrington has a long road to the NHL.
Both Joe Morrow and Scott Harrington will compete in their respective leagues for a championship. If they both win their championship games, they’ll meet in the CHL playoffs and battle for the Memorial Cup. The Penguins are hoping they’ll eventually meet in Pittsburgh as teammates and possibly a future defensive pairing.
Photo courtesy of Spokesman.com
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