"Morgan set several career highs last season and we're happy to re-sign him," said Kraken General Manager Ron Francis. "He took an important step forward last year and we're looking forward to him continuing his growth with the Kraken."
Geekie, who turned 24 last Wednesday, returns to the forward group as a versatile, offensively-skilled player capable of playing center or wing and coming off a career year in points. He scored seven goals (some highlight-reel material) and added 13 assists in 71 games. His 97 shots on goal represent 50 percent more than his final season with the Carolina Hurricanes.
Geekie plays an end-to-end game that catches the eye of fans. Whether he is joining the offensive rush, releasing a one-timer when he earned power play time or even getting checked by an opponent, his work ethic and desire to be moving the puck for his teammates is evident. His last name, of course, provided instant fan-favorite materials once fans got the chance to see the 6-foot-3, 192-pound forward's movements on the ice.
During the season, Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol more than once referred to Geekie's elite playmaking ability and urged the young forward to keep pursuing the concept that good defense (forechecking the offensive zone and backchecking when the opponent has the puck in the Kraken end) leads to offensive opportunities.
Kraken fans who attended open practices at Kraken Community Iceplex during the inaugural season likely noticed Geekie staying on the ice later than most of his teammates. He might have been taking extra faceoffs and almost always would collect a bunch of pucks to work on his shot.
"For me, the main thing is I was always taught 'practice is for everybody,' " said Geekie in a year-end interview standing in the Kraken locker room at the Iceplex in early May. "You're not going to cover every base in practice. There are specific things I look to work on [in extra time]. I watch the game from the night before to decide what I personally need to work on."
For instance, Geekie referenced a stretch of the season "struggling to get the puck in the net." He stayed late during practices and morning skates to take shots from the locations on the ice where he most ended up during game play. The repetition helped him both with the physical act of shooting and "seeing the puck in the net more mental than physical."
At season's end, Geekie was invited to play for Team Canada, at the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships in Finland. He scored a goal and added an assist in 10 games as part of the silver-medalist squad that lost to the host country in overtime in the championship game.
In early July, Geekie and his family watched his younger brother, Conor, get drafted 11th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the NHL Draft. This week, he celebrates a birthday and new NHL contract. But his workouts continue through. He will be focusing on improving his shot among other objectives.
"My shot is always a work in progress," he said. "This summer, I will work on getting it off as fast as I can. I think I have a good release and I can manipulate it a bit [his shot per location, spin, speed-think how pitchers send baseballs and softballs to home plate]. Timing is something I've got to work on this offseason."
