

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired forward Jeremy Morin from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Tim Erixon, club General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.

Morin, 23, has registered eight goals and eight assists for 16 points with 56 penalty minutes and a +7 plus/minus rating in 54 career NHL games, including 15 penalty minutes in 15 games with Chicago this season. He has also collected 81-77-158, 301 penalty minutes and a +21 plus/minus rating in 208 career AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs, including 1-0-1 and two penalty minutes in three outings in 2014-15.

“Jeremy is a young, strong forward with a very good shot, who has been a productive offensive player throughout his career,” said Kekalainen. “Given our depth at defense, this was an opportunity for us to add a very good player with a lot of potential on the other end.”

VIEW: Photo gallery of new Blue Jackets forward Jeremy Morin

The 6-1, 189-pound forward was selected by Atlanta in the second round, 45th overall, in the 2009 NHL Draft. He split the 2013-14 season between Chicago and Rockford, tallying 5-6-11 and 32 penalty minutes in 24 games with the Blackhawks. He added 24-23-47 and 58 penalty minutes in 47 games with the IceHogs, earning team Most Valuable Player honors. He spent the majority of his first three professional seasons with Rockford, including 2012-13 when he notched 30-28-58 and 86 penalty minutes in 67 outings.

A native of Auburn, New York, he spent two seasons with the United States Development Program before playing for the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers in 2009-10. That season, he collected 47-36-83 and 76 penalty minutes in 58 regular season games and led the OHL with 23 power play goals. He added 12-9-21 and 32 penalty minutes in 21 playoff games. He also represented Team USA at a pair of World Junior Championship tournaments, winning a gold medal in 2010 and a bronze medal in 2011.

The Blue Jackets return to action on Tuesday when they visit the Detroit Red Wings. Game time from Joe Louis Arena is 7:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show at 7 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Scioto Downs Blue Jackets Radio Network, including flagship station Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan, and online at BlueJackets.com.