Derek Morris is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over 15 seasons. He was born on August 24, 1978, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and began his hockey career in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Regina Pats in 1994.
Morris was drafted 13th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut in the 1997-98 season. He played for the Flames for six seasons before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche in 2002. Morris played for the Avalanche for two seasons before being traded to the Phoenix Coyotes in 2004.
Morris played for the Coyotes for five seasons and was named an alternate captain in 2007. He was then traded to the New York Rangers in 2009 but only played for them for one season before being traded back to the Coyotes in 2010. Morris played for the Coyotes for two more seasons before being traded to the Boston Bruins in 2012.
Morris played for the Bruins for one season before signing with the Phoenix Coyotes again in 2013. He played for the Coyotes for one more season before retiring from professional hockey in 2014.
Throughout his NHL career, Morris was known for his offensive skills and his ability to move the puck up the ice. He was also a solid defenseman who could play in all situations, including on the power play and penalty kill.
Morris represented Canada at the international level, winning a gold medal at the 1995 World Junior Championships and a silver medal at the 1999 IIHF World Championships.
Overall, Morris played in 1,154 NHL games, scoring 424 points (103 goals and 321 assists) and accumulating 1,225 penalty minutes. He was a reliable and consistent player throughout his career and was respected by his teammates and opponents alike.
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