Morrisonn Now a Known Name

Shaone Morrisonn, 23, has been the Capitals' "most consistent defenseman" for about the past 25 games, Coach Glen Hanlon said. (By Mitchell Layton -- Getty Images)

Washington Capitals defenseman Shaone Morrisonn would like to make one thing clear: His first name is pronounced "Shawn," not "Shane" or any of the other half-dozen ways he has heard it over the public-address system.

Fans -- and PA announcers -- ought to get familiar with the name, because Morrisonn is proving he's got the skills not only to play in the NHL, but to stay in it.

"I'm very impressed with the way Mo is progressing," veteran goaltender Olie Kolzig said. "He's been terrific. He's very poised with the puck and physical. Other than goaltender, defense is the toughest position. And it seems he's made the jump."

Although the 23-year-old had appeared in just 44 NHL games entering the season, he has quietly become the Capitals' most consistent player on the blueline, Coach Glen Hanlon said yesterday.

Morrisonn's statistics would seem to back up Hanlon's assessment. He's tied for the team lead in plus-minus with a rating of plus-3, and hasn't had a minus game in 14 straight contests. That's an accomplishment in the "new" NHL, and even more admirable considering his team had allowed a league-worst 3.94 goals per game as of yesterday.

"I'm getting more confidence every day" Morrisonn said. "For me it's all about having the confidence and playing assertive."

Morrisonn is the first to admit he's got plenty left to learn, but his ahead-of-schedule steadiness in the defensive zone, heady decisions with the puck and contributions on special teams have the coaching staff hoping he'll develop into one of the league's better two-way defensemen.

"From about Game 10 on, so the past 25 games, he's been our most consistent defenseman," Hanlon said after his team's hour-long skate at Bowie Ice Arena, the Capitals' temporary practice home while repairs are completed at Piney Orchard. "We knew his skills were there, we wanted to see him compete night in and night out. And he's done that."

Morrisonn was one of the prospects whom the Capitals acquired during the flurry of salary-dump trades in 2004, coming from Boston in the deal that sent Sergei Gonchar to the Bruins. Although Morrisonn's one-year contract expires at season's end, it would appear he has played his way into the core group of Capitals that management will want to sign to a multiyear deals.

Morrisonn wants to be here, too.

"We have a new NHL team," Morrisonn said. "I think the second half, things are going to start coming together. I want to be one of the guys who step up. I love it here. I love the fans, the town, the coaches and the guys. Everybody gets along. I want to be on a team like this."

The only thing that gnaws at Morrisonn as much as hearing his first name butchered is the fact that he hasn't scored as a Capital. He has seven assists and is averaging 19 minutes 12 seconds of ice time per game.

"It would be nice to get one," Morrisonn said. "My job is to be defensive, especially when you are going against the top lines. You don't want to get caught. But I would like to be more offensive and incorporate that into my game."

As far as the odd spelling of his name, he jokingly blamed his parents, who are fans of Gaelic names, he said.

"My sisters names are J-u-h-l-i and the other one . . . I don't even know how to spell it. I just call her Jackie," Morrisonn said with a laugh. "It's something I've been dealing with my whole life."