Morgan Geekie, Seattle Kraken (photo by Dinur Blum, via Flickr).
Morgan Geekie has played in a very sheltered role under the watchful eye of Seattle Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol this season. His average of 9:22 time on ice is the second-lowest on the team; just slightly more than, what was supposed to be, Seattle’s rookie sensation, Shane Wright (more on the misuse of Shane Wright here.)
Not too long ago, Geekie was considered one of the Seattle Kraken’s possible breakout candidates following an impressive start with the franchise. However, as the seasons changed, so has Geekie’s favor with the coaching staff.
The 24-year-old fourth-line center is down three minutes per game from last season. Even his linemates, Daniel Sprong and Ryan Donato get, on average, almost two more minutes of ice time per game.
Despite seeing less ice time, Geekie has provided the team with much-needed depth on the fourth line. He is a durable player who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty when the time calls for it. Perhaps the most puzzling part of the narrative is that the better he performs, the less ice time he sees.
So, what gives? Why has Morgan Geekie found himself in such an unfortunate situation? Why does he deserve more opportunity with the Seattle Kraken?
In 2017, then-Carolina Hurricanes General Manager Ron Francis drafted Geekie in the third round. He made his NHL debut just two seasons later, in 2019-20, posting 4 points in 2 regular season games.
With the changes brought about by Covid-19, he spent the next season on Carolina’s taxi squad but appeared in 36 games for the Canes.
Geekie became a very solid choice as Carolina’s fourth-line center-man. Despite the chaos of the pandemic, he continued to develop in areas where there were previous deficiencies. His skating improved, and, at the time, many thought if his development continued to trend in the direction it was going, Geekie would be another solid scoring option for coach Rod Brind’Amour.
It was a surprise to some that Geekie was chosen from Carolina by the Kraken during the expansion draft. Many believed Nino Niederreiter would be the one making his way to the Pacific Northwest, which would open a spot for Geekie in the Canes lineup as their third-line center.
However, that wasn’t the case. When he had the chance, Francis chose Geekie again.
I was overjoyed when I heard Morgan Geekie had been chosen to be a part of the Seattle Kraken. His 22 points in 73 games aren’t horrible for a 23-year-old fourth-line center playing for a team with absolutely no direction.
Geekie had a completely different experience playing under a coach like Brind’Amour. In Carolina, he was allowed to make mistakes and play through inconsistencies while he developed.
When Geekie was cold, someone else on the team was hot, and vice versa. That’s why he thrived so much with the Hurricanes. Brind’Amour had a roster that maximized the strengths of Geekie and other similar players.
Hakstol, on the other hand, seems to have a different opinion. Fair enough, considering he spends a lot more time with this team than fans do. And throughout his NHL career, Geekie struggles with being a very hot and cold player.
Nevertheless, from what I have observed, Hakstol is the kind of coach that does not know how to work with players who yo-yo back and forth with their production. He demands consistency from his players, and when he doesn’t get it, takes action.
That’s why players like Morgan Geekie, Daniel Sprong, and Shane Wright get less ice time. That kind of coaching worked several decades ago but isn’t 1987 anymore.
As the game gets younger and faster, coaches need patience.
Do you think the Seattle Kraken need to give Morgan Geekie more playing time? Let us know in the comments section below.