One of the more unsettling aspects about the Stars' season this year has been the dropoff both in the health and performance of team captain Brenden Morrow. Last year, the club never really felt the loss of James Neal -- regardless of Neal's struggles in Pittsburgh after the deal -- in large part because Morrow was there to step up and produce the second 30-goal season of his career.
This year, the loss of Neal has been painfully evident, and not just because he's rebounded to have a stellar season for the Penguins. Morrow, who recently turned 33, has been breaking down physically after playing every game last season.
When he has been in the lineup, the captain has been as gritty and tenacious as ever but the results just haven't been there for him. For Morrow to have just 8 goals and to have already missed eight games (and counting) due to injury is a major concern as the Stars fight for a playoff spot.
Unfortunately, the team had no choice the other day but to put Morrow on injured reserve (retroactive to Feb. 2) with his current neck/shoulder problem. The club has recalled Tomas Vincour from the Texas Stars. Morrow always returns to the lineup as soon as humanly possible but I am very concerned about his ability to hold up -- and produce -- during this crucial stretch of the regular season.
Morrow's iffy status has to be on Joe Nieuwendyk's mind as the team plans strategy for the trade deadline. Morrow is such a heart-and-soul player for this hockey team and, quite frankly, I don't think a playoff spot is in the cards unless he can get and stay healthy.
The Stars simply lack the depth to consistently pick up around their captain's absence or clear-cut physical struggles while in the lineup. Vincour is a young player with some promise, but he can't replace what a reasonably healthy Morrow brings to the club.
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