Be Prepared to Say Goodbye to Hometown Boy Brendan Morrison on Tuesday

From the Calgary Herald

The Columbus Blue Jackets are expected to make a play Tuesday for unrestricted free agent centre Brendan Morrison, the Vancouver Province has learned.

Although they acquired R.J. Umberger at the NHL entry draft, the Blue Jackets see Morrison as a better playmaking fit to work with big winger Rick Nash and also balance out their top two lines. That projection, coupled with the Vancouver Canucks not offering term or money in an extension, means Morrison will likely end his Canucks career with 393 points in 543 games -- unless there's a change in franchise focus.

Morrison earned $3.2 million US last season, but a March 26 knee injury ended his season and surgery was expected to affect his value on the open market. Morrison has had three surgeries (knee, sports hernia, hip) in the last two years, but that hasn't scared off the Jackets or other expected suitors.

The Jackets are rumoured to be offering a three-year deal at about $8 million and have only $25 million committed to 2008-09 salaries under the new $56.7 million cap ceiling.

"Brendan has been one of the more durable and consistent centres in the league and he's only 32," said his agent Kurt Overhardt.

Vancouver's new general manager Mike Gillis needs to make an impact in free agency on Tuesday to bolster a club that requires an injection of scoring, size, speed and grit in its top-six mix.

With so many of his peers plopping a line in the same pond to attract prize catches -- like unrestricted free agents Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone -- he's offering little to tip off his competitors.

After all, there's already enough stuff being churned out in the daily rumour mill to make any GM's head spin. And when it comes to Gillis, people like to play connect the dots.

Call one agent to check on the contract status of a Canuck and he offers up goaltender Stephen Valiquette of the New York Rangers being Vancouver-bound to replace Curtis Sanford as the backup to Roberto Luongo. This is based on the fact that Valiquette was a client of Gillis, a former prominent player agent.

Gillis has $21.6 million of salary cap space under the league's new $56.7-million ceiling.