CHICAGO -- Jeremy Morin has earned a place in the Chicago Blackhawks' lineup.
He’s now out to earn more ice time.
Morin has averaged a team-low 6:46 of ice time through three games and has been limited to less than six minutes in two of those games. He played 5:48 against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday and was given just two shifts and 58 seconds in the third period.
“I think you earn your ice time,” Morin said after the team’s morning skate on Saturday. “That’s what I have to do. I have to go out there every game and earn my ice time. Obviously everyone wants to play a bigger part.”
Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said cutting Morin’s minutes against the Flames wasn’t about Morin’s play.
“Just the way the game was going,” Quenneville said. “Got behind there, playing with the top guys more. Schedule’s letting us do that more early in the year. [Daniel Carcillo, Ben Smith, Marcus Kruger] had a couple good shifts in there. That was more of the reason. But he’s been fine.”
Morin said Quenneville has been communicating with him about his minutes and where he needs to improve his game. Morin has played mostly on the fourth line in the first three games. He has zero points and has had a 65.22 Corsi percentage in 5-on-5 situations.
“He’s really good at letting me know and talking to me even after the game and on the bench,” Morin said of Quenneville. “Showing me clips and just trying to learn. I’m trying to get better out here. I know I have some things I can improve on. I’m looking to play some good hockey the next couple of games.
“I think it’s always important talking and knowing where you’re at and knowing what you’re doing wrong, so you can improve. I think that’s what I’m trying to do – improve my game. Feedback is good for me.”
Being in the Blackhawks’ lineup every game to start a season is something new to Morin. This is the first season where he was with the Blackhawks out of training camp. He isn’t satisfied with that, though.
“I think that’s the goal to be here every night and produce,” Morin said. “The first step is being in the lineup and the next step is produce and just playing good hockey. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing. I’m looking forward to the challenge of step my game up a little bit.”