Blackhawks involve Jeremy Morin in trade for fourth time in five years
Jeremy Morin and his suitcase must be well acquainted by now. The 24-year-old right wing was traded Sunday by the Chicago Blackhawks to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for right wing Richard Panik, marking the fourth time in the last five years that the Blackhawks have either traded Morin or traded for Morin.
In June of 2010, the Blackhawks traded Dustin Byfuglien to the now defunct Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for the then-19-year-old Morin, Marty Reasoner, Joey Crabb, and a first-round draft pick (which they used to select Kevin Hayes).
The Blackhawks spent four years developing Morin before trading him last December to the Columbus Blue Jackets for defenseman Tim Erixon.
In June, Chicago re-acquired Morin in an eight-player deal which sent Brandon Saad, prospect Alex Broadhurst and prospect Michael Paliotta to the Blue Jackets for Morin, Marko Dano, Artem Anisimov, Corey Tropp and a fourth-round pick in the 2016 draft.
Morin has not played in the NHL yet this season, but he led the Rockford Ice Hogs (Chicago's AHL affiliate) in scoring with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in 28 games. He played in 54 NHL games over five seasons with the Blackhawks, tallying eight goals and eight assists. Morin will start his Toronto career in the AHL, as the Leafs announced he would report to the Toronto Marlies following the trade.
Panik also has not played a game in the NHL yet this season, an ominous sign that he was not part of new coach Mike Babcock's plan given that Panik played 76 games with the Leafs last season. Panik had 25 points (nine goals, 16 assists) in 33 games with the Marlies this season.
