Red Wings’ first-round pick ‘knows how to score goals’

The Detroit Red Wings have a recent history of drafting two-way players in the first round.

Thats fine, but they could also use someone with a high offensive upside, and they hope left wing J.P.

Hurlbert is that player.

Hes scored wherever hes gone, so thats something that obviously, we liked, Kris Draper, Red Wings assistant general manager in charge of amateur scouting, said.

He has good size; hes a solid build.

He shows real good offensive instincts.

He knows how to score goals.

He can make plays.

The Red Wings selected Hurlbert with the 23rd pick during the first round of Fridays draft at KeyBank Center in Buffalo.

They acquired the pick from Utah for goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa, who spent the past four years developing in their minor league system.

Hurlbert (6-0, 190) will play at the University of Michigan next season.

He is coming off a tremendous season with Kamloops (WHL), where he tallied 45 goals and 97 points in 68 games.

The native of Allen, Texas, played at the U.S.

National Team Development Program prior to that.

He put up some real big numbers, Draper said.

For the most part, he was leading the WHL in scoring for most of the year, and then we ended up being one of the top scorers.

We think its a real good fit for what were looking for, a prospect that has a knack around the net, can score goals in different ways and certainly has some creativity when the pucks on the stick.

The Red Wings didnt have a first-round selection entering the draft, having drafted it to St.

Louis (No.

15) on Match 6 for defenseman Justin Faulk.

Hurlbert talked to Red Wings personnel prior to the draft but didnt expect they would be able to select him.

Thats really special and really cool, Hurlbert said.

Its just a dream come true.

And for them to trade to get me, its so special.

This is the fifth consecutive draft the Red Wings have selected a forward in the first round, after Marco Kasper (eighth in 2022), Nate Danielson (ninth 2023), Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (15th in 2024) and Carter Bear (13th in 2025).

Hurlbert described himself as an offensive kind of player.

I kind of like to find soft ice, anticipate plays, Hurlbert said.

I think my shots very accurate and deceptive and Im very confident with my release.

I think I use my deception to my advantage, and my playmaking, and I feel very dangerous, five-on-five and on the power play.

Try to generate momentum and energy into a game.

He grew up watching Red Wings on TV.

Thats how he got into hockey.

Pavel Datsyuk, not surprisingly, was his favorite player.

His creativity, his deception, his hands ..

he could make something out of nothing, Hurlbert said.

So, hes someone thats really fun to watch.

But, you know, even still watching Dylan Larkin and (Alex) DeBrincat, two players that really strive and I want to kind of be like one day and hopefully meet here soon.

Draper noted that Red Wings forward Emmitt Finnie played four seasons at Kamloops before Hurlbert arrived.

Weve talked about Emmitt Finnie and how he played in Kamloops and how that worked out for us, Draper said.

So, were hoping for the similar success.

- Michigan hockey incoming freshman selected in first round by Red Wings - Red Wings deal Sebastian Cossa to Utah for 23rd pick, select LW J.P.

Hurlbert - Anaheim uses Red Wings first-round pick to draft Saginaw Spirit star Nikita Klepov - NHL Draft: How to watch, first-round order, Red Wings selections - Red Wings could use some depth at this key position in the draft.

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