Updated: 4:51 p.m.
Jeremy Morin has had a tough go this last year. A concussion sidelined him for more than nine months, and he needed to regain his game in Rockford before he had a chance with the Blackhawks again.
And after a solid few months with the IceHogs, Morin is getting that opportunity.
Morin is in the lineup tonight when the Blackhawks host the Calgary Flames. Morin will replace forward Daniel Carcillo, who is out with an upper-body injury sustained Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild.
The 20-year-old Morin has traveled the long road this season. He suffered his concussion on Jan. 15 against the Chicago Wolves and didnt play a game again until Oct. 14.
I think I was just excited to be back in the swing of things, playing very night, every weekend, said Morin, who just finished serving a three-game suspension with Rockford for an elbowing incident. I had to prove that I could play again before I could get the chance.
Morins done that, with 15 points in 22 gamesincluding nine points in his last nine games -- with the IceHogs. For Morin, it was frustrating missing all that time with an injury that, unfortunately, has no timeline to it. He practiced with the Blackhawks in training camp but could never play in a preseason game.
NHL
Its hard; I never went through something like that before, he said. Going through it, you dont know how much it takes coming back. I didnt struggle in the beginning but it was tougher than I thought coming back. I was just excited to finally be back.
Morin has plenty of skill, with some grit thrown in for good measure. He showed some of that last season, when he played nine games with the Blackhawks.
We see him having a good future, coach Joel Quenneville said. He played well in the minors this year. He has an upside offensively, strength in puck area and a good shot. Coming off the extended injury there, hes earned the opportunity with how hes played and prior to that as well.
Morins gone through the long injury. Now he just wants a chance to see what he can do here again.
Any time you come up here want to play as hard as you can and prove you can play at this level, he said. Thats what Ill try to do.