It may be late in the Penguins' season, but like the team itself, things are finally starting to come together for Aleksey Morozov.
The 27-year-old right wing has missed the past two games with a sore back, but the injury isn't considered serious. And when he returns, it will be to a three-game goal streak and points in eight of his last 11 games (5 goals, 5 assists, 10 points).
The timing for the Penguins' turnaround probably couldn't be worse in terms of finishing last in the NHL standings and having the best chance of drafting first overall. But for Morozov, whose contract is up at the end of the year, his personal turnaround couldn't come at a better time.
"Sure I want to be back," Morozov said. "My contract is up and I'd like to sign a new contract, maybe a long-term deal and stay here as long as possible and try to win the Stanley Cup."
General manager Craig Patrick wouldn't divulge whether Morozov (13 goals, 25 assists, 67 games) generated interest from other NHL teams before the March 9 trade deadline. At least one rumor had him going to the Vancouver Canucks.
But if offers were made, they weren't good enough to satisfy Patrick.
Morozov was injured with a broken wrist at least year's trade deadline when the Penguins shipped most of their veteran and high-priced players off for prospects and picks. In fact, on the day that they traded Alexei Kovalev, Morozov learned that he would have season-ending surgery.
Perhaps the injury was one reason he survived the purge because at his salary of $1.1 million last year and $1.5 million this year. He certainly fell into the right price category for a move. This year, he is one of only six players on the roster including Mario Lemieux making $1 million or more.
When he returned to action this season, he was one of the Penguins' more experienced players and someone who the rebuilding team would count on to score.
When Lemieux became injured and the Penguins traded Martin Straka to the Los Angeles Kings in November, the pressure for Morozov to produce became even greater.
Instead, he fell into a prolonged scoring drought -- an amazing 33 games without a goal - producing just 13 assists between Nov. 14 and Jan. 31.
"That was the worst part of my career," he said. "I do everything that I can but the puck just doesn't go in. But right now I'm happy. Finally the puck is going in."
Morozov was a first-round draft pick of the Penguins (24th overall) in 1995, and this is his seventh year in the league. Although he had his best season in 2001-02 with 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points in 72 games, Patrick believes that Morozov still hasn't reached his full potential.
"I think he's capable of being a 30, 35-goal scorer. Maybe even more, who knows?" he said. "This certainly hasn't been his best year, but we know the skill level he has."
The Penguins must make Morozov a qualifying offer of a 10 percent raise on his current salary by June 30 or he becomes an unrestricted free agent. Olczyk said that contract issues are up to Patrick, and that every player would be re-evaluated at the end of the season.
But he added, "There's no question (Morozov) has a place on this team. When you think you've seen a player and he's hit his max, then you have to make a decision. But I still think there's room for improvement. And that's not a slight to him at all. Some players it takes a little bit longer."
