Sam Morton’s second career call-up lasted just over a week.
The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Morton has been reassigned to the AHL’s Wranglers. The 26-year-old centre had suited up for three games — recording three shots on net and nine hits, posting a minus-1 rating and winning 66.7 per cent of his faceoffs — before being scratched for Sunday’s 5-2 victory over the Canucks in Vancouver.
Despite his age, Morton is still viewed by many as a prospect because he is in only his second full season of professional hockey. With that in mind, and because he hadn’t been on the NHL roster for long enough to start a new waiver clock, it makes sense that he’ll resume a prominent role with the Wranglers as he awaits his next opportunity.
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Originally signed as a college free agent, Morton’s best big-league performance so far came last Tuesday in Chicago, hours after the Flames had claimed fellow fourth-line centre candidate John Beecher off waivers from Boston.
In fact, head coach Ryan Huska told reporters the following day: “I thought Sam was our best player last night.”
Morton’s demotion leaves the Flames with 13 forwards on the active roster. They continue their five-game road trip Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
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