Zack MacEwen Bio
Zack MacEwen (born July 8, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who plays as a forward for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 227 pounds, MacEwen is recognized for his physical presence, versatility, and willingness to play a hard-nosed, fourth-line role. He first joined the NHL in 2019 after developing through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the American Hockey League.
Over the course of his career, MacEwen has suited up for the Vancouver Canucks, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, and Ottawa Senators before arriving in New Jersey. He signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract with Ottawa in 2023 and was later traded to the Devils in October 2025. Known for his willingness to drop the gloves and his steady penalty-killing work, MacEwen has carved out a long career as a trusted depth forward in the league.
Early Life and Background
Zack MacEwen was born on July 8, 1996, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was raised in nearby Stratford, Prince Edward Island, by his parents, Craig and Juliana MacEwen. His family operated a berry farm, and MacEwen grew up in a household connected to both the land and the local community.
MacEwen is of Scottish descent through his paternal great-grandmother, a heritage that has shaped parts of his family identity. He grew up playing youth hockey on Prince Edward Island, where he developed a reputation for a hard-working, physical style of play. His size and skating ability made him a noticeable prospect as he moved through minor hockey.
He played his minor hockey in the Amherst area of Nova Scotia, where his combination of size and skill attracted the attention of major junior scouts. His upbringing in Stratford, along with the values of hard work learned on the family farm, helped lay the foundation for the disciplined style he would later bring to professional hockey.
Path to Hockey
MacEwen’s path to the professional ranks began in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The Moncton Wildcats noticed him while he was playing in Amherst, and he joined the team during the 2014–15 QMJHL season, briefly filling in for skaters who were away at the World Junior Championship. After going unselected in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he returned to Moncton for the 2015–16 season and produced 10 goals and 30 assists in 66 games.
On August 12, 2016, the Wildcats traded MacEwen to the Gatineau Olympiques in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2017 QMJHL Entry Draft. The move came because Moncton could only carry three 20-year-old players and could not retain him. His time with Gatineau allowed him to continue refining his two-way game and physical edge, setting the stage for his transition to professional hockey.
He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Vancouver Canucks on March 3, 2017, marking his official entry into the NHL organization. Shortly after, on April 10, 2017, he signed an amateur tryout agreement with the Canucks’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Utica Comets, beginning his professional development path.
Zack MacEwen Career
Early Career (2017–2019)
MacEwen opened his professional career with the Utica Comets during the 2017–18 AHL season. He scored his first career AHL goal on October 29, 2017, against the Charlotte Checkers and finished the year with 33 points in 66 games. His strong rookie campaign earned him the Ian Anderson Award as the Comets’ Most Improved rookie.
He began the 2018–19 season in the AHL but was recalled by Vancouver on February 10, 2019, after a four-point game against the Rochester Americans. He made his NHL debut on February 11, 2019, against the San Jose Sharks and recorded his first NHL point, an assist, in that game. After four appearances with the Canucks, he was reassigned to Utica to continue his development.
Vancouver Canucks Era (2019–2021)
After starting the 2019–20 season with the Comets, MacEwen was recalled to the NHL on November 13, 2019. He scored his first NHL goal on December 3, 2019, in a 5–2 victory over the Ottawa Senators. By the time the COVID-19 pandemic paused the season, he had recorded five goals, six points, and 20 penalty minutes in 17 games for Vancouver.
He joined the Canucks for the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs, appearing in six games as Vancouver upset the defending champion St. Louis Blues in the first round before falling to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. On October 6, 2020, MacEwen signed a two-year contract extension with an average annual value of $825,000. The 2020–21 pandemic-shortened season was challenging, as he dealt with injuries, a team COVID-19 outbreak, and a one-game suspension for kneeing Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse. He appeared in 34 of 56 games, recording two points.
Philadelphia Flyers Era (2021–2023)
On October 12, 2021, the Canucks placed MacEwen on waivers to make room for Alex Chiasson. The Philadelphia Flyers claimed him the next day after losing forward Kevin Hayes to injury. After obtaining his U.S. work visa, MacEwen joined the Flyers on October 20 and skated on the fourth line alongside Nate Thompson and former QMJHL teammate Nicolas Aubé-Kubel. In 75 games, he recorded three goals and a career-high nine points.
As a restricted free agent, MacEwen re-signed with Philadelphia on a one-year, $925,000 contract on August 2, 2022. Under new head coach John Tortorella, he played effectively on the fourth line with Nicolas Deslauriers and Patrick Brown. On January 29, 2023, he suffered a broken jaw in a fight with Minnesota Wild forward Marcus Foligno and was expected to miss five weeks.
Los Angeles Kings and Ottawa Senators Era (2023–2025)
On March 3, 2023, the Flyers traded MacEwen to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Brendan Lemieux and a fifth-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He debuted with Los Angeles in a 4–2 win over the Washington Capitals and registered his first Kings point on March 20 in an 8–2 victory over the Calgary Flames. He finished the 2022–23 season with four goals and 10 points across 57 combined games, plus one playoff appearance against the Edmonton Oilers.
On July 6, 2023, MacEwen signed a three-year, $2.325 million contract with the Ottawa Senators as a free agent. After making the team out of training camp, he was placed on waivers due to salary cap reasons and assigned to Ottawa’s AHL affiliate, the Belleville Senators. He was recalled in November 2023, scored his first Senators goal on December 31, 2023, against the Buffalo Sabres, and split the remainder of the year between Ottawa and Belleville.
He began the 2024–25 season with Ottawa and recorded a two-goal game in an 8–7 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on October 14, 2024. After 19 games with the Senators, he was placed on waivers on November 24, cleared, and assigned to Belleville. Following additional recalls in January 2025, MacEwen took an indefinite leave of absence from the organization for personal reasons on January 21. He finished the year with 21 games for Ottawa and 23 games for Belleville.
New Jersey Devils Era (2025–Present)
On October 3, 2025, ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season, MacEwen was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid. He joined a Devils organization looking to add physicality and depth to its forward group. The move gave MacEwen a fresh start with a contender in the Metropolitan Division.
Driving Style and Strengths
MacEwen is best known for his physical, straight-line style of play. He uses his 6-foot-3 frame to win board battles, finish checks, and protect pucks along the walls. He is also a willing fighter and penalty killer, often logging important defensive minutes on the fourth line. Coaches have trusted him in a variety of roles, from energy forward to shutdown specialist.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of MacEwen’s career are his first NHL goal against Ottawa in 2019, his six-game appearance in the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs with Vancouver, and his two-goal performance in an 8–7 overtime win over the Kings in October 2024. His trade to the New Jersey Devils in October 2025 marked another major chapter in his journey through the league.
Zack MacEwen Career Wins
Zack MacEwen’s career has been defined more by his role as a physical, defensive forward than by goal-scoring totals. Across his time in the NHL with the Canucks, Flyers, Kings, Senators, and now Devils, he has produced modest but consistent offensive numbers while contributing in other areas of the game. His value has come from energy, penalty killing, and toughness rather than headline statistics.
NHL Highlights
MacEwen recorded his first NHL point on February 11, 2019, an assist in his debut against the San Jose Sharks, and scored his first NHL goal on December 3, 2019, against the Ottawa Senators. He set a career-high nine points during the 2021–22 season with the Philadelphia Flyers and matched it the following year before being traded. In the 2022–23 season, split between the Flyers and Kings, he set a new career high with 10 points.
Other Wins and Performances
In the AHL, MacEwen posted 33 points in 66 games during his rookie season with the Utica Comets in 2017–18, earning the Ian Anderson Award as the team’s Most Improved rookie. He has continued to produce at the AHL level during his assignments to the Belleville Senators, including seven goals and 16 points in 23 games during the 2024–25 season.
Zack MacEwen Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
MacEwen was raised in Stratford, Prince Edward Island, by his parents, Craig and Juliana MacEwen. The family operated a berry farm, an upbringing that MacEwen has credited with shaping his strong work ethic. He is of Scottish descent through his paternal great-grandmother, a heritage that has remained an important part of his family identity.
His father, Craig MacEwen, was an important figure in his life and hockey development. On May 6, 2020, it was announced that his father had passed away, a moment MacEwen has acknowledged as one of the most difficult of his life. The loss came during his early NHL years with the Vancouver Canucks.
Personal Life
MacEwen grew up surrounded by family in Stratford, where the berry farm was a central part of daily life. His parents, Craig and Juliana, supported his hockey journey from minor hockey through the QMJHL and into the professional ranks. He has often spoken about the influence of his family and Prince Edward Island community on his career and character.
2025 Season Performance
MacEwen opened the 2024–25 season with the Ottawa Senators and quickly made an impact, highlighted by a two-goal game in an 8–7 overtime win over the Los Angeles Kings on October 14, 2024. He played in 19 games with Ottawa, recording two goals and five points, before being placed on waivers on November 24. After clearing waivers, he was assigned to the Belleville Senators, where he continued to produce offensively.
He was recalled by Ottawa on January 10, 2025, appearing in two more games before being returned to Belleville on January 16. On January 21, MacEwen took an indefinite leave of absence from the organization for personal reasons. He closed the year with 21 games played for Ottawa, recording two goals and three points, along with 23 games and seven goals for Belleville.
On October 3, 2025, ahead of the 2025–26 season, MacEwen was traded to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Kurtis MacDermid. He is expected to bring physicality, penalty killing, and veteran presence to a Devils team looking to compete in the Metropolitan Division. His role with New Jersey will likely focus on fourth-line energy, faceoff reliability, and continued leadership in the locker room.