Derek Morris

Derek Morris is a Canadian defenseman on the Phoenix Coyotes.

Morris was drafted by Calgary in 1996, 13th overall. He joined the Flames in 1997, and played with them until 2002, when he signed with Colorado. While playing with the Flames, Morris scored 30 points nearly every season, despite missing significant parts of at least two years with injuries. In Colorado, Morris set career highs with 11 goals and 48 points in 2002-03. In 2004, he was traded to Phoenix, where he was one of the team’s top defensemen. After playing four seasons with the lowly Coyotes, Morris was dealt to the New York Rangers in 2009. He played 18 games with the Rangers, as well as playing in their first round playoff series against Washington. In the 2009 offseason, he was signed by the Boston Bruins. He played just 58 games for the Bruins, however, scoring 3 goals and 25 points before being traded back to Phoenix at the trade deadline. He scored 4 points with the Coyotes and was one of their leading d-men during their brief appearance in the playoffs.

Morris played for Team Canada at the 1999, 2001 and 2004 World Championships, winning gold in 2004.