Calgary Flames select Étienne Morin No. 48 overall in 2023 NHL Draft

The Calgary Flames have selected Moncton Wildcats defenseman Étienne Morin Morin with the No. 48 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old left-shot defenseman registered 21 goals and 51 assists for 72 points in 67 games during the 2022-23 campaign. He tied for first among Wildcats skaters for points and ranked first among QMJHL defenseman in the goals department; his 72 points was good for third league-wide. He added an additional two goals and 15 assists for 17 points in 12 games during the QMJHL Playoffs.

Morin represented Canada at the IIHF U-18 World Junior Championships, registering one assist in three games. The Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec product also got to showcase his talents at the Kubota Top Prospects game against the best prospects in the Canadian Hockey League.

“He’s a kid who deserves what he gets because he’s a hard worker, and he’s a great teammate. He works hard in practice, he’s very mature in his approach, and he shows up looking to improve. He doesn’t deflect anything towards others. He takes it on his own shoulders. He’s like that in school. He’s a good student. He’s a guy who doubles down in everything he does,” said Wildcats head coach Daniel Lacroix.

Morin uses a toolkit that’s comprised of excellent edgework, vision and a heatseeker of a shot that he uses to plot a goal in the back of the net or generate rebounds for net front players. He quarterbacked the Wildcats’ powerplay to a league-wide 10th-best record of 22.3%.

“More than a few heads were turned when NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr called Morin his top defenseman for the draft,” Daily Faceoff’s prospect expert Steven Ellis said. “The skilled, two-way defender is still a work in progress, but his offensive flashes and improved defensive play make him an intriguing prospect.”