The Red Wings finally took a swing.
Detroit entered the 2026 Draft without a first-round pick after sending its own selection and other assets to bring in Justin Faulk at the trade deadline in a push that didn’t end with a playoff berth. That left the club waiting until the middle of the second round - until a surprise on draft day changed everything.
The Red Wings dealt goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 24th overall pick, then used it on J.P. Hurlbert out of the Kamloops Blazers in the WHL. It was a notable move not just because Detroit moved on from a prospect it had invested heavily in, but because it marked a clear departure from the kind of player the organization has usually targeted near the top of the draft.
Under Steve Yzerman, Detroit has leaned hard toward players who bring compete level, skating, and two-way reliability. Carter Bear, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Nate Danielson, Simon Edvinsson - that type has been the pattern.
Sometimes that approach has paid off, as with Moritz Seider, who now looks like a brilliant pick. But it has also meant taking prospects whose offensive ceilings may not be as high as some other options, including Danielson and Marco Kasper.
It has also left the prospect pool crowded with players who bring similar tools, rather than a broader mix of talent.
Hurlbert is different.
He’s a skilled forward who played both center and wing in the WHL, and his game is built around puck skill. He can make junior defenders miss with dekes and fakes, and he brings real playmaking ability.
But the calling card is the shot. That’s what makes him dangerous when he gets space in the offensive zone.
Hurlbert left the United States National Team Development Program after only one of the usual two seasons and joined Kamloops. Even though he spent most of his first WHL season as a 17-year-old, he stood out as one of the league’s top players from beginning to end. His 42 goals and 97 points both ranked fourth in the WHL, and his next-highest scoring teammates finished with 86 and 77 points.
There are still questions if he’s going to stay at center long term. His faceoff work needs attention, and his compete level would have to rise if he’s going to handle a top-two center role. He works hard enough, but his style looks more like that of a top-six forward than a true high-end center.
The move to the CHL helped Hurlbert a lot, especially since he wasn’t viewed as a first-round pick when the season began. Now he’s headed to the University of Michigan for 2026-27 under the NCAA/CHL agreement. That Wolverines roster is loaded with NHL prospects, including Michael Hage and Will Horcoff, along with Landon DuPont, who is the most highly touted prospect for the 2027 Draft.
With Hage, Horcoff, and Jack Nesbitt all projecting as centers down the line, Hurlbert should get a chance to play on the wing, at least as a freshman. Michigan has talent on the flanks too, but he looks capable of carving out a top-six role pretty quickly.
Whether this is the beginning of a new draft identity for Detroit or just a one-off remains to be seen. The next management group will have plenty to say about what comes after the Steve Yzerman era in Hockey Town. But Hurlbert is the kind of bet the Red Wings haven’t made often lately: bolder, riskier, and aimed higher.
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