Red Wings Draft Michigan-Bound Winger

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Snubbed by a former Michigan man, the Detroit Red Wings were being warmly embraced by a future Michigan man at the NHL entry draft.

Left winger J.P. Hurlbert, bound for the Michigan Wolverines in the fall, bounded to the stage excitedly when the Red Wings tabbed him with the 23rd overall choice on Friday.

Though he was born in Allen, Texas, Hurlbert’s family has strong ties to the Detroit area. He’s also going to be the fourth generation of his family to don the Maize and Blue of Michigan.

The Red Wings trade their way into the first round and draft J.P. Hurlbert with the 23rd overall pick pic.twitter.com/L6qOQaB0sf

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2026

“It’s so special to be able to put on this jersey,” Hurlbert told Sportsnet. “I’m so excited. Kind of a dream come true.

“It was meant to be.”

Actually, it took some moving and shaking for it to happen.

Following some wheeling and dealing, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman got the team back into the first round. He dealt Grand Rapids Griffins goalie Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth for the 23rd overall selection in this year’s draft. Cossa was Detroit’s 15th overall selection in the 2021 draft. He’d only play one game for Detroit.

Detroit was moving its first-round pick, 15th overall, at the NHL trade deadline. It went to the St. Louis Blues as part of the package that acquired defenseman Justin Faulk.

Red Wings Get The Scoring Winger They Need​

Hurlbert recorded a hat-trick in his first WHL game. The six-foot, 190-pound right-shot left winger scored 42 goals and collected 97 points as a rookie this season with the WHL Kamloops Blazers.

The scouting report on Hurlbert is that he is a cerebral player. He displays the ability to find seams and read where the puck is going to go next.

He was earning selection to the CHL All-Rookie Team and the CHL Third All-Star Team. Hurlbert led all WHL rookies and tied for the CHL rookie scoring lead with 97 points. His 42 goals ranked tied for fourth among WHL skaters.

JP Hurlbert has an elite shot release. Gets in on the forecheck. Plays with pace and reads the ice well. Also capable of making moves with his hands like this
Committed to Michigan #LGRWpic.twitter.com/Z5gzTA6SWx

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) June 27, 2026

Hurlbert became just the third rookie in Blazers history to score 40 goals in a season, joining Scottie Upshall and Rudolfs Balcers. He was also a WHL Western Conference First All-Star Team selection. Hurlbert became just the third player in Blazers history to win the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as WHL Rookie of the Year, joining Upshall and Ron Shudra.

It was 12 years ago that the Red Wings selected another Michigan-bound forward in the first round of the draft. That was Dylan Larkin, the current Detroit captain, who has requested that the Red Wings trade him.

While Yzerman was able to pull off a deal, a Larkin trade wasn’t among the multitude of moves taking place on the first night of the draft.

The post Red Wings Draft Michigan-Bound Winger appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

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