Derek Morris came to the Calgary Flames by way of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft. The defenceman from Edmonton was selected 13th overall by the Flames in the first round and would make his NHL debut in 1997.
Morris would have the rookie campaign the Flames were hoping for when they drafted him, playing in all 82 regular reason games, scoring nine times and dishing out 20 assists. The 29 point season was good enough to land him on the All Rookie Team and he would finish 5th in the Calder Memorial Trophy voting at the season’s end.