Dave Isaac

@davegisaac

TORONTO – Defenseman Samuel Morin talked like he couldn't believe it.

He was still in his gear and jersey a few minutes after Team Canada lost a 2-1, overtime exhibition to Russia Friday night. The Canadian made the final cut before the World Junior Championship gets started this week.

"I just played in Toronto at Air Canada Centre," Morin said, as if he had to convince himself it just happened. "It was amazing."

The Flyers' first-round pick in 2013, selected 11th overall, will be at the ACC again soon (as long as Canada makes the quarterfinals) because Toronto is one of the host cities for the tournament. Next year, Morin could be in the same arena a couple times in an orange and black jersey.

After all, "he probably put himself as close as he could" to making the NHL roster, according to general manager Ron Hextall. Instead Morin was sent back to juniors.

"Well, he looked NHL ready and exhibition games are different," coach Craig Berube said, "but is he NHL ready 30, 40 games into the season? That's what you've got to ask yourself. The right decision was made."

"I'm young. It was explained to me I was cut because I was young," the 19 year old added. "They want to be patient with me and that's OK. I think when I'm 25 years old I'm gonna be one of the best D-men in the league. I think I'll say, 'OK, I understand now.'"

The Lac-Beauport, Quebec, native gets it.

He sees the bigger picture that more development could lead to a longer, more prosperous career. He doesn't want to be a flash in the pan.

"I'm always progressing," Morin said, "and I think it's good for me to go to juniors and don't be like…to give an example a guy like (Buffalo Sabres 2008 first-round pick, defenseman Tyler) Myers. A guy like this they were ready for him in the NHL and he had a good first year. It's the second year that's tough. That's what they explained to me. I understand it."

It's the crux of Hextall's vision to bring players along when they're ready, although his plan to keep young players in the minors for a while, "gets overplayed a little bit."

"I want to explain I'm not opposed to young players playing," Hextall said. "I just want them to take a big chunk of the pie instead of being an extra piece or a 10-minute piece or an 8-minute piece or a seventh defenseman."

It also helps for a player to see how things work in other levels of hockey. He wants his prospects to get the feel for the differences between the inconveniences of minor-league hockey and the luxuries of the NHL.

"First of all, see the bus, not the shrimp cocktail," Hextall said. "That's valuable. Very valuable."

This year, Morin has seen both.

After Flyers camp he returned to his junior team, Rimouski Oceanic, and in his fourth game back he broke his jaw after blocking a slapshot. He returned to Philadelphia for a while to rehab from the ensuing surgery and still has to wear a plastic jaw protector.

"I hate that. Like in junior I can't scare those guys anymore," the 6-foot-7, 225-pound behemoth said. "I cannot fight. I think on January 1 I'm going to take it off. I can't wait. It's so annoying."

While he was in Philly, the Flyers suggested that Morin hang around veteran blueliner Mark Streit, the youngster's mentor in the preseason. Morin says there were valuable lessons he took back to Rimouski, while Streit can't help be impressed with the future of the Flyers' defense.

"His size and the way he moves…usually tall guys are not that mobile," Streit said. "He's got that skating mobility. He's got confidence with the puck. He likes to make plays and he likes to skate. He's a physical guy. He's got all the ingredients for a great defenseman."

The two could end up being teammates next year. As long as his progression stays on track, Morin is pinning next year as his goal to make the NHL.

"I would say this year too I wanted to make it. I was ready. I was in good shape," Morin said. "Even my first camp I was ready and I wanted to do it. I think I did pretty well in that camp, but every training camp I went in I want to make it. If I don't make it, it's OK. I think the Phantoms (the Flyers' AHL affiliate) is a great place to go, the Lehigh Valley. I know I'm gonna play (for the Flyers) one day."

Reach Dave Isaac at disaac@courierpostonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @davegisaac.