New addition Joe Morrow could be a building block

Stars filled hole in their defense with playoffs looming.

Back on Cedar Park — March 24, the Dallas Stars swung a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins that sent their captain, Brenden Morrow, and a third-round draft pick to Pittsburgh for defensive prospect Joe Morrow (no relation) and a fifth-round pick.

The trade was a shock for Joe Morrow, the 20year-old former firstround pick who was playing for the WilkesBarre/Scranton Penguins. But it also was a blessing. He goes from a team that was stocked with depth at his position to a team that can make him a building block for the future.

Morrow, who has four goals, 11 assists and 15 points this season, got the news while getting out of a movie.

“I was with my roommate in a movie theater, and my phone was on silent,” Morrow said. “After the movie was done, I checked my phone and saw I had around 70 text messages. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I thought someone died that I knew. I checked my messages and everyone said that I was traded to Dallas.”

While the Penguins received a big piece to their Stanley Cup puzzle, the Texas Stars filled a hole in their defense as they head toward the Calder Cup playoffs. Morrow brings to the Stars an ability to move the puck from the blue line, on offensive rushes, or to be the quarterback on the power play.

His was one of several moves the Dallas Stars have made that will impact the Texas Stars. On Tuesday, Dallas sent forward Jaromir Jagr to the Boston Bruins for forwards Lane Macdermid and Cody Payne, plus a second-round draft pick. Dallas also dealt forward Derek Roy to Vancouver for Canucks defenseman Kevin Connauton and a second-round pick.

The Stars also moved forward Tomas Vincour to Colorado for defenseman Cameron Gaunce.

All four players have yet to be assigned to their new roles with the franchise.

For his part, Morrow said he is excited to join the Texas Stars in time to be part of a playoff run. As far as the running joke about being moved in a Morrow-for-Morrow deal, his teammates, both with the Stars and Penguins, still haven’t found a clever nickname.

“There’s been a lot of joking with that, and with the guys back in WilkesBarre we were brainstorming some clever jokes about that, but there wasn’t anything.”