Ken Morrow says he's "the luckiest guy in hockey" as pro scout with the NY Islanders

Every April and May, we see highlights of the New York Islanders dynasty. One memorable moment after the other flashed across our phones and television screens. The names of those players are etched in our minds just as they are on the Stanley Cup, but none have remained such an integral part of the Islanders organization more than defenseman turned director of pro scouting Ken Morrow.

Morrow talked about his career highlights and longtime role with the organization with Peter Schwartz on the Double Chili Podcast this week. The defenseman who won Olympic Gold at Lake Placid before four Stanley Cups with the Islanders on Long Island is set to be inducted into the New York Hockey Hall of Fame on Jul. 13th alongside fellow Islanders Hall-of-Famers Ed Westfall and Denis Potvin, among others.

After his playing career ended, it was General Manager Bill Torrey who gave Morrow his chance at scouting after three years in coaching, which included time in the minor leagues and being an assistant coach alongside Al Arbour during the 1991-92 season. Torrey then asked Morrow to take a role in pro scouting, and he jumped at the opportunity.

"It wasn't something I thought about; I think, like a lot of players, when my career came to an end, it was kind of sudden; I wasn't expecting it, said Morrow. "To be able to stay in hockey for as long as I have, not only lucky but so fortunate to be in one organization for over 40 years."

He was the team's first full-time pro scout and the rest is a history rooted on Long Island with the team. He's been traveling, watching games, scouting players, and looking for ways to improve the roster ever since.

"I might be the luckiest guy in hockey having been with the Islanders for so long."

A lot has changed since Morrow first became a scout. He's been doing it long enough to have started writing his reports on paper to now filing everything through a computer system. The same information available to him is available to scouts of the other 31 teams, so finding that "diamond in the rough" is harder than it's ever been but even more rewarding when it does happen.

"There aren't many guys that slip through the cracks anymore," notes Morrow. "All you can do as a scout is make sure you're seeing your games, putting in your reports, and when you get your chance to give your opinion on guys, you can't just be a "yes" man or "no" man, you have to give your opinion."

"You're still looking for those surprise guys and when you do find one, it's very fulfilling as a scout."