Meet the New Jersey Devils: Etienne Morin – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The NHL is just days away from the 2026 NHL Draft, which will take place on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, in Buffalo. After that, on July 1, free agency opens, and any player without a contract is free to sign with another team. That being said, there has been a lot of movement before the big events of the offseason, and the New Jersey Devils have now thrown themselves into the mix.

On June 23, the Devils traded Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to the Calgary Flames. In exchange, the Devils received defenseman Etienne Morin, a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2028 first-round pick.

Considering there have been rumors circulating in the past about Nemec asking for a trade with the Devils, this isn’t entirely surprising. It’s still a tough blow to the Devils’ blue line, though. However, the Devils found a solid hope in Morin. Let’s learn more about the young defender.

Morin Had Great Junior Experience in the QMJHL

In the 2021-22 season, Morin played in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Moncton Wildcats, starting his professional hockey career early. In his first season with the team, he played in 64 games and recorded 33 points, solid for a starting defenseman.

In his second season with the Wildcats, Morin became even more influential. He played in 67 games and recorded 72 points, setting a career high in the QMJHL. As a defender, this is an amazing point performance.

Following his strong performance in 2022-23, Morin achieved the dream of every young hockey player; was drafted into the NHL. The Flames selected him in the second round with their 16th pick, 48th overall. Despite being drafted by the Flames, Morin remained in the QMJHL for two more seasons, where he played 58 games in the 2023-24 season and recorded 49 points. He was also appointed as one of the team captains. This season also marked his exposure to the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Calgary Wranglers. He only played one game, but it was still experience in the top league, which is great.

In his final season in the QMJHL, Morin played in 62 games and recorded 58 points. He continued with the “A” on his jersey.

Morin Moved Up To AHL Full Time

In the 2025–26 season, Morin played in the Flames’ AHL and ECHL circuits full time, marking his first season not playing in the QMJHL. He played seven games with Rapid City Rush and scored one goal and recorded two assists. Morin spent most of his time with the Wranglers, playing in 42 games and recording seven points.

This was a quick departure from the points Morin was putting up in the QMJHL, but that is a testament to the level of play one can get in the QMJHL compared to the AHL. The league is intense, as all these players are trying to get a chance to show their skills and make it to the NHL. In addition, Morin is a defender, so he needs to focus more on stopping goals than scoring them. If he can get that chance to score, great.

Morin’s Chances of Contact with Devils

According to his Elite Prospects page, Morin is a physical defender who isn’t afraid to throw his whole body. He is also a good shooter and has a good shot from the area, often getting strong and creative ideas out of it.

Morin has yet to play in an NHL game, so he will remain with the Devils’ AHL team, the Utica Comets, as long as he makes it through the offseason. Trades have been heated lately, so it’s unclear whether the Devils could use Morin to make another high-profile move.

Morin has strong defensive skills and is a talented, young player the Devils can use to build a strong defensive core in Utica. Only time will tell what Morin’s future in New Jersey looks like.