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Jeremy Morin Struggling for Chicago Blackhawks

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By @seansarcu

Jeremy Morin Chicago Blackhawks

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Dan Carcillo‘s lower-body injury presented a golden chance for Jeremy Morin to prove to Joel Quenneville and the Chicago Blackhawks that he deserved to stick in the lineup permanently, but he hasn’t done much with the opportunity so far.

It’s no secret that Quenneville has never been particularly fond of the Auburn, NY native; stretching back to last season, Morin has always been tethered by a shorter leash than most other Blackhawks rookies or young players. Still, at some point the player has to show something to warrant a look, and Morin hasn’t done that in 2014-15. He hasn’t registered a point in 7 games this season, has often looked lost in his own zone and has repeatedly taken silly, unnecessary penalties. It isn’t right for Quenneville to treat him differently from other young players (quite similar to the Brandon Pirri situation), but that’s not really the point; Morin may not be in an ideal position to succeed at the moment, but he needs to at least show something.

There’s no denying Morin’s ability. He has one of the best wrist shots on the roster, and his natural goalscoring talent is plain as day. He also brings a physical element to the table, something that is largely absent from the games of most other Chicago forwards. Morin has the raw tools to contribute significantly at the NHL level, and he almost certainly will eventually. It just might not occur while he’s a member of the Blackhawks.

Sean Sarcu is a Chicago Blackhawks writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter or add him to your network on Google.

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