Flames Trade Brendan Morrison for Brian Connelly

Jay Feaster continues to barter the deals and the Flames look like the early horse out of the gate this year closing a deal with Montreal and now Chicago.

I was a fan of Morrison last season. Pay for play I thought he was value. Despite this, I fully endorse this trade. Morrison was the odd man out of the Flames forward ranks, often getting scratched and the injection of yet another young player into the Flames D ranks bodes well.

More on Brian Connelly of the Chicago Blackhawks after the jump and a little future speculation on Feaster's potential additional trade moves coming up to the deadline.

Connelly is an undrafted 25 year old player who has 3 AHL seasons under his belt on the Blackhawks Rockford Ice Hogs. Size wise he is a little on the small side at 5' 11" and 185 lbs and he has yet to play his first NHL game.

Connelly is another player who is known for speed over the old Darryl Sutter size and grit. A pattern that Feaster is clearly revealing. He is categorized as an offensive defenseman and in an ideal world he would slot as a bottom pairing D man with the potential for some PP time on the 2nd unit.

Hard to knock this trade at all for Feaster as he moves a 36 year old Vet on the down swing, one that certainly would not have been resigned, for a younger player with potential upside and the Flames continue the youth injection.

At the very least Connelly will fill a void on the Heat with the exit of T. J. Brodie.

Brodie looks NHL ready to me and I doubt he will be sent down again.

Connelly is also a player on the upswing that was held back in Chicago due to their depth. This article describes him to be emerging as one of the AHL's best defenseman. That may be a zealous Blackhawk blogger but it also may be an indication that this player may be a fair result from a 3rd / 4th round draft pick, which for Morrison is excellent value.

Connelly Fact Sheet