5 Questions in 5 Minutes with New Jersey Devils Prospect Ethan Edwards

Selected 120th overall (Rd. 4) in the 2020 NHL Draft by the New Jersey Devils, defenseman Ethan Edwards completed his freshman campaign with the University of Michigan Wolverines alongside another Devils draft pick that you all know (Luke Hughes). While he may not have the skill set of his teammate (who does really?), Edwards had himself a fine campaign, often making decisive plays at both ends of the ice and finished with 11 points (3g-8a) over 36 games.

While fellow blueliners Owen Power and Hughes were off campus to represent their countries it was Edwards who stepped up in their absence to play those heavy minutes as a part of the Wolverines’ no. 1 pair. Hughes was unable to attend the Devils’ recent Development Camp due to his schedule with Team USA, but Edwards was there – as was 2022 Devils draft pick Seamus Casey who will join Hughes and Edwards in Ann Arbor, Michigan this upcoming season; recent Michigan graduate Garrett Van Wyhe was also in attendance.

Pucks & Pitchforks spoke with Edwards during Development Camp, asking him five questions in five minutes – and here’s how it went.

Pucks & Pitchforks: What has this experience been like for you during your first Development Camp at the Devils’ facilities?

Ethan Edwards: It’s really cool. Obviously, we haven’t been able to really do it the past couple of years. It’s been a great experience and great to (finally) meet everyone in the organization. I was drafted the first covid year so I wasn’t able to make it here prior to this.

P&P: How would you say your development is progressing?

EE: It’s been great. Michigan is an awesome spot for me as I get ready to enter my sophomore year and I’ll have a bigger role on the team. I’m just trying to continue to develop and hopefully wear the red and black one day.

P&P: What kind of insight can you give us into Luke Hughes’ freshman year?

EE: He is quite the player. Throughout our freshman year, we’ve gotten pretty close. And at times, yeah, we’ve discussed or joked about being teammates at the next level. Right now, we’re really just focused on trying to win a National Championship at Michigan. Hopefully, we get that done next year.

P&P: The Wolverines were stacked last season, do you at all think of it as a bit of a missed opportunity?

EE: For sure. Losing in the first game of the Frozen Four was definitely not the plan. We expected to win; having those expectations – I think we handled it really well as a team. I thought we rose to the occasion, unfortunately, Denver was a great team and we ran into them. The rest you know. We did a lot of winning at Michigan and while I’m not disappointed in the year, it would’ve been nice to get that ring on the finger.

P&P: You did great and had a much bigger role with the Wolverines when the National Team players left. Are you pleased with the way you handled the extra work and was it hard at all to adjust when they returned?

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EE: That was definitely a great opportunity for me and I think I rose to the occasion really well. I’m hoping to carry that into my sophomore season and have another good year. World Juniors and Olympics were a good time for me. But having those guys back in the lineup was good for the team. That’s the way I look at it, they gave us the best opportunity to win.