Sam Morton is, as he puts it, “still picking away” at his master’s degree.
So during breaks in the action at his first NHL training camp, the Calgary Flames forward hopeful is also trying to knock off a couple of credits by completing one class during the fall semester.
The subject matter? The course is ‘Writing in the Workplace.’
Morton, who signed last spring as a college free agent, has apparently not been hampered by the homework. In fact, the left-handed centre has made such a positive impression that some are wondering if Flames bench boss Ryan Huska could be writing his name on the opening-night lineup.
The 25-year-old Morton remains a dark horse to start this season in ‘The Show,’ but he seems to be pushing his way to the top of Calgary’s thin list of pivot prospects. From there, the next step is trying to swipe Kevin Rooney’s spot as fourth-line faceoff man. (Rooney, it should be noted, is also an important piece on the penalty kill.)
“I have been very impressed, in a lot of different ways,” Huska said Wednesday when asked about Morton, who is listed at 6-foot and 185 lb. “I thought he was probably our best player in Penticton, in the games that I saw, and he’s carried that through his practices with us and he’s carried it through the games that he’s played.
“Not really knowing a lot about him, the Wranglers coaches had talked about how impressed they were with him, with his hockey sense and his ability. And I’ve quite liked him because I think he’s a very intelligent player, he’s gritty and he also has a skill set that allows him to play with really good players. When you watch him on the power-play, like he’s been on for the last little bit, he makes plays under sticks. He sees the areas where he can pass pucks to. So you see the sense or the skill side of him, but he’s also a competitor who is positionally sound so it allows him to kill penalties too.
“There’s a lot there that we’ve liked so far, and he has done a good job of having a good day every day. He hasn’t had a bad day yet.”
The Flames’ roster for Wednesday’s pre-season roadie to Abbotsford, B.C., was headlined by all of their most recent first-round picks — Jakob Pelletier (2019), Connor Zary (2020), Matt Coronato (2021), Sam Honzek (2023) and both Zayne Parekh and Matvei Gridin (2024).
Morton was also in the lineup against the Canucks, his third exhibition audition so far. While he doesn’t have that same draft pedigree, while he isn’t being billed as a cornerstone piece, he has generated a bit of a buzz of his own this fall — both among the fan base and, judging by Huska’s high praise, in the coaches’ office.
A self-described “late bloomer,” Morton played parts of six seasons in the NCAA, including four with the Minnesota State Mavericks.
A year ago, he wasn’t so much thinking about the NHL as he was wondering how he’d respond after the long recovery from surgery on a torn ACL. Since he scored 24 goals in his final collegiate campaign, the answer is pretty good.
Some will point to Morton’s age — he turned 25 in late July — as a knock against him, suggesting that you can’t be considered a prospect if you’re already in your mid-20s. Others would argue his maturity can help set him apart, in a good way, from the other up-and-comers.
“I think that’s probably why he hasn’t come in eyes wide open,” Huska said. “He has come in to make people notice him, and to earn a spot on the team.”
He’s off to a good start, although he stressed prior to Wednesday’s flight to Abbotsford that “there is always room for improvement.” He added: “I’d like to grow into a little more confidence and start making some more plays out there, but I think that just starts with work ethic, compete and getting the puck in the first place.”
Asked if his dream of someday skating in the NHL is starting to feel more realistic, Morton’s answer tells you a lot about his even-keel approach.
“Maybe not more realistic, but it makes you hungrier for it,” he replied. “It just makes you feel closer. It makes you feel like it’s just one more step away, you know what I mean? I’m definitely hungry for it. That’s why I just want to do my best each day.”
In addition to chipping away at his Writing in the Workplace assignments, Morton is determined to remain in student mode whenever he’s around the rink. He’s treating every practice, every exhibition outing, as a learning opportunity.
“It’s fun to get pushed by guys with experience and guys who have a lot of NHL games under their belt and see how they operate out there,” said Morton, who logged 19 appearances with the AHL’s Wranglers at the tail-end of last season. “You try to watch what guys are doing well. When guys look good, what are they doing that I think looks good? It could be just winning little battles, moving their feet on first touch, how quickly they release it …
“It’s just those little details that I can maybe try to add to my game, maybe write in my notebook and take home.”
If he keeps this up, he might write his name into the Flames’ lineup, too.