Putting Family First: Morgan Geekie Finds New Perspective as a Father

Morgan Geekie: A new team, a new house and a new baby.

For Strathclair, Manitoba's Morgan Geekie, the past three months have been a bit of a whirlwind. 

The eldest of the three Geekie brothers welcomed his first child, Gabby, into the world in late-April. It just so happened to be amid his first round playoff series with the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche. 

He left his squad for one game, while supporting his high school sweetheart Emma in childbirth. 

The Kraken eventually beat the Avalanche in seven games, punching their ticket to the second round. But in being eliminated by the Dallas Stars, Geekie's postseason came to an earlier end than he had hoped for. And in turn, as did his time with Seattle.

Joining the club from Carolina via the expansion draft, Geekie's contract expired at the end of the 2022-23 season, meaning he was free to sign wherever he so chose as free agency opened on July 1.

And he did just that.

Opting to sign a two-year, $4 million pact with the Boston Bruins on the first day of free agency, the American history buff is set to open a new chapter in what is already becoming a lengthy novel.

"I'm a big fan of old America," Geekie told The Hockey News. "Boston is a really old city with some serious history to it. Everyone that I've played with that lives there or went to school there say it's awesome. We're really excited to get down there. It's an Original Six franchise and not a lot of people get to say that they played for one of those." 

But after grabbing a few things from their western Manitoba hometown, Morgan, Emma, Gabby and the family pooch made their way due west to Calgary, where Morgan's younger brother Noah is situated.

"My brother is out here, so that was one of the reasons," the 2017 third round pick said. 

"I know a lot of guys here and the skates are good. We just seemed a little too far from Strath. We could be driving three hours, or find somewhere to live in Winnipeg and be far from home. Or still be far from home and have our own spot in Calgary. So, we just settled on this place."

Training at Edge School with the likes of Manitoba Moose defencemen Tyrel Bauer and Ashton Sautner, as well as Winnipegger Taro Hirose and a couple former Kraken teammates, Geekie has been able to work on his game, despite a number of other ongoing projects. 

"Just the training, it's actually a great place to work out and skate," he said. "We've got a good crew there. It's awesome. It's a good size and we have a bunch of fun out there."

With dad at the rink, Emma and Gabby have been able to slowly visualize life in Calgary. 

"We're in the process of building a house, so, this'll probably be home base for a little while at least," Geekie said.

"We have a meeting tomorrow to go over some drawings and some renderings and stuff. So we're just very fresh into it and just trying to get everything sorted out."

And as to who gets to do the interior decorating? Geekie says it isn't even a question.

"We're still in the spot where you're kind of doing everything all at once," he laughed. "But hopefully we can get through this part and get to the fun stuff. Emma definitely is the one who likes picking all the finishes and choosing all the layouts and stuff like that; I'm pretty easy going. So, it's been a fun process. Kind of like a rollercoaster, but, yeah, it's good."

That feeling will likely soon change, as the Geekie family will be packing up shop once again. This time, they'll be Massachusetts-bound. 

"We're super stoked," he said. "I don't know a ton of guys going down there, so it'll be a little bit of a fresh start. I haven't been down there yet, but everyone's been great. I had some guys reaching out to me right after I signed, so I'm really looking forward to it."

2022-23 was a career season for Geekie. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound forward put up nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points in 69 games in a bottom-six role. With the uncertain futures of veterans Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, opportunity should present itself with the Bruins.

"We're really excited. We're in a good spot and it'll be lots of fun."

And the kicker? It's a two-year deal with the Bruins for Geekie. So some solidarity in relation to his family's home base will certainly go a long way for the first-time dad.

"There's something nice to just know for a summer that you don't really have to get up and move anywhere," he laughed. "I haven't really had the ability to have two years the last few contracts that I've had. Especially just with family and everything now to get into a little bit of security, 

"So yeah, that's something I really wanted. My agent and I were lucky enough to get that and super excited that it's in Boston to begin with. It's in a good spot for two years, so I definitely can't complain."

Last season, the Bruins set an NHL record with 65 wins in their 82 games played. Although unlikely to match that pace this year, the team is expected to be another postseason shoo-in. 

Not only will Geekie look to add to Boston's on-ice success, he will be learning the ropes of parenthood as he goes about life on his new team.

"The big one is you just realize what's really important," he said. "Before, when you come home from the rink, you have the ability to dwell on a lot of things and get caught up in it, bring stuff from the rink home. But, now with a family and a daughter it's really hard to bring that stuff home because what's going on at the rink really doesn't matter.

"They're just happy to see me and I'm happy to see them. So, it kind of just puts things in perspective and, you know, putting family first. There's a little less going on, but we're more busy, if that makes sense?"

In early-August the Geekies will celebrate their second wedding anniversary.

"I definitely cherish it every day," he said. "Honestly, I don't really know how much has really changed between us." 

Two years in Carolina, two more in Seattle, a marriage, a child, a dog, and now a new house build and a new contract... it appears as though change isn't quite as hard for some as it is for others. 

But for now, Geekie's most important changes are the ones involving dirty diapers.