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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 3051396" data-attributes="member: 2012">Morrison looks to increase scoringCanadian Press9/7/2006 4:19:38 PMBURNABY, B.C. (CP) - Centre Brendan Morrison thinks subtracting Todd Bertuzzi from the Vancouver Canucks could result in an addition to his scoring totals this NHL season.For most of the last five years Morrison has been the setup man on the Canucks' high-scoring top line along with wingers Markus Naslund and Bertuzzi.Both Naslund and Bertuzzi wanted the puck as much as possible. That meant Morrison's job was pass first, maybe look for a rebound, then make sure he got back on defence.Bertuzzi's trade to the Florida Panthers this summer means Morrison may find the puck on his stick more often."When you play with those guys, the tendency is just to get them the puck," Morrison said after skating with some of his teammates at a local arena. "Now I might have the puck a little more, get the chance to create a little more and definitely shoot the puck more. That should lead to more production."Naslund said Morrison may get more of a chance to demonstrate the goal-scoring skills he showed at the University of Michigan where he was a Hobey Baker award winner as the top U.S. college hockey player."I think Brendan plays his best when he's forceful and confident," said Naslund. "Maybe it was difficult for him to play with me and Todd who both really want the puck all the time."There wasn't enough puck to go around for all of us. He's definitely going to have a bigger role this year."New Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault hasn't indicated who will replace Bertuzzi on the first line. It could be Jan Bulis, a free-agent signing from the Montreal Canadiens, or grinder Matt Cooke, who filled in while Bertuzzi was suspended for the rest of the 2004 season following his hit-from-behind on Steve Moore.The Canucks won't miss the black cloud Bertuzzi sometimes brought to the dressing room, but there's no denying the talent the big winger showed some nights."Todd was a pretty dynamic player," said Morrison. "When he was at his best he was one of the best guys in the league."I think (this) is an opportunity for not just one or two guys to fill that void but an opportunity for a lot of different guys to step in."Both the Canucks and Morrison struggled last season. Vancouver missed the playoffs, resulting in coach Marc Crawford being fired and 14 players being moved off the roster.Morrison's 19 goals and 37 assists were the least he's had since his first full season in Vancouver in 2000-01. He also had a career-high 84 penalty minutes.Like the rest of the under-performing Canucks, Morrison heard a lot of criticism during the year, but he didn't mention he played the second half of the season on a damaged hip.The Pitt Meadows, B.C., native underwent surgery in May and spent the next six weeks on crutches."It feels good," said the 31-year-old. "I expect to feel it for some time."Skating wise, the last three weeks it's starting to loosen up every time out. I haven't done any contact yet (but) I don't anticipate that being a huge problem."Morrison has been one of the NHL's iron men. He hasn't missed a regular season game in five years. While he plans to keep that streak alive as long as possible, he may consider skipping some practices this year to rest the hip."In the past I've missed only two practices in my entire career," he said. "Maybe at the start of the season, if it's feeling tired or fatigued, then maybe I'll have to miss some time. I don't anticipate it being a problem."</blockquote>

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