1-on-1 With Binghamton Devils Defenseman Joe Morrow

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BINGHAMTON, NY -- Joe Morrow is the newest member of the Devils organization after signing a one-year, two-way deal worth $700,000 on Oct. 6. The New York Rangers signed Morrow to a professional tryout contract this fall, but released him on Sept. 30.

The left-shot defenseman spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets where he registered seven points in 41 games played.  Morrow most notably starred in the Boston Bruins’ organization from 2013-17 as he was a one of the pieces the Bruins got back in the Tyler Seguin trade in 2013.

The 6-foot, 196-pounder was drafted 23rd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011 before the Penguins traded Morrow to Dallas for then-Stars captain Brendan Morrow and a draft pick.

Morrow, a native of Edmonton, Alberta, has logged 61 points in 158 games in the AHL over his eight-year pro career and he spoke with InsideAHLhockey.com after his second practice with the AHL's Binghamton Devils.

Inside AHL Hockey's Ryan Ames: You start the season in New York’s training camp then you sign with the Devils on Oct. 6, what has these last few weeks been like for you? Binghamton Devils Defenseman Joe Morrow:It’s been a little different. Obviously, not knowing where you’re going to play up until the last second is extremely different from years prior. But I think I found a good opportunity here and a good place to play and be able to be ready whenever the call comes and try to benefit this team that I’m on right now as much as I can.

Ames: I wanted to ask you about (Devils general manager) Ray Shero. He was obviously the one that drafted you when he was with Pittsburgh, was that an important factor with you signing with this team? Morrow: Yeah, I think it’s definitely a positive to have familiarity with a player and also with a member of the staff. For a general manager to know how you play and for you guys to kind of be on the same page, and obviously there was something that peaked his interest a while back that never really left, so with that being said I think there’s a confidence level on both ends that everybody kind of knows what they’re getting and knows that they can bring something to the table that’ll get a positive result.

Ames: Did (Shero) say anything to you as far as what he’s kind of looking to see from you? Morrow: No, I think they just signed me for the reasoning of how I play and they already know that they don’t really expect me to change anything else. They just expect me to bring my skill set back up to where it used to be prior to not playing that many games in the past couple of years. I think that’s kind of where I’m at right now, get that confidence level back then get back to the player I know I can be. I think that’ll come pretty quickly.

Ames: I know you just got to Binghamton this week, but have you talked to Coach Dennehy at all as far as what he’s expecting from you this season? Morrow: I only practiced with the team twice here and I haven’t really gotten to know many people. It’s a brand-new organization and everything, it usually takes a little bit of time but just talking with the coach I think he also needs a couple veteran, kind of leadership-role guys that’ll help bring people along and help mesh the team together. It’s pretty easy coming from an experience standpoint to be able to understand that and to be able to figure out a way to bring a team together. If that’s another attribute that I can bring to the table I’d be glad to help in that aspect too.

Ames: You’ll be one of the more experienced guys entering a pretty young team, will this be the first time you’ve kind of been one of those guys, veteran guys, at the pro hockey level? Morrow Yeah absolutely, at the pro hockey level for sure. I kind of remember back in junior when you got a little bit older the age difference isn’t really that vast and the same here, it’s definitely not that far off. I wouldn’t classify myself as an older guy, I would relate it to the young guys stay the same age. They’re always being brought in, you just keep getting older but you gain more experience and you kind of understand what everything is like down here and what it’s like up at the National Hockey League level. I think it’s pretty exciting to be one of those guys that somebody can come to and ask for advice and kind of push somebody along to be the player that they’re supposed to be and capable to be. Because I know what it takes to get there and what it takes to stay there. I actually really look forward to kind of being that guy.

Ames: Is there anything in terms of your skill set that you’re going to look to improve upon this season? Morrow: I just look forward to being a really dependable defenseman that is very physical and skates well and is just well-rounded. I think the game over the last couple years has catered to smaller defenseman that are more offensive and I think that the cycle is kind of coming back around to teams that need a complete defenseman, somebody that plays really hard in the defensive zone and can also contribute to the offensive side of things but doesn’t completely neglect the actual position that you play. I think that’s really important in developing and down here, I know there’s a lot of guys that are down here that play a really tough game and they play a really hard game. I’m sure they’re looking to hone in on more offensive capabilities and skating and different kind of skill sets. I’m looking for just kind of an overall improvement of everything. Be tougher, be meaner, be a better skater, a better shooter, a better passer just everything. I think that’s what the American Hockey League is very well-known for, it’s the best developmental league in the world and the coaching staff and everybody that you have down here is reflective of that. I look forward to it.