Meet the Newest New Jersey Devil: Etienne Morin

The NHL is just a few days away from the 2026 NHL Draft, which will be held on Friday, June 26, and Saturday, June 27, in Buffalo. Following that, on July 1, free agency opens up, and any player who doesn’t have a contract is free to sign with another team. That being said, there have been some big moves before the major offseason milestones, 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 2nd-round pick, a 2027 1st-round pick, and a 2028 1st-round pick.

Considering there were rumors circulating previously regarding Nemec requesting a trade out of the Devils, this isn’t entirely a surprise. It is still a tough blow to the Devils’ blue line, though. However, the Devils did pick up a strong prospect in Morin. Let’s learn a little more about the young defenseman.

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, kicking off his professional hockey career early. In his first season with the team, he played in 64 games and recorded 33 points, which is strong for a defenseman starting out. 

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

Following his strong performance in 2022-23, Morin achieved the dream of every young hockey player; he was drafted into the NHL. The Flames selected him in the second round with their 16th pick, 48th overall. Despite being selected 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 named one of the alternate captains for the team. This season also marked his debut in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Calgary Wranglers. He only played in one game, but it was still an experience in a higher league, which is great. 

In his last season in the QMJHL, Morin played 62 games and recorded 58 points. He continued to keep the “A” on his jersey as well. 

Morin Moved Up to the AHL Full-Time

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