Red Wings take 'big swing' on J.P. Hurlbert as NHL draft grades roll in

The Detroit Red Wings traded goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth to acquire the No. 23 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, which they used to select forward J.P. Hurlbert on June 26, 2026 in Buffalo, New York. Hurlbert, the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year, is set to play for the University of Michigan. Analysts responded positively to the Red Wings' seven-member draft class, describing the Hurlbert selection as a 'big swing' that paid off.