Red Wings Draft Hurlbert
Detroit Red Wings Trade Cossa for Pick, Draft High-Scoring Michigan Commit JP Hurlbert
Key Points
Detroit traded Sebastian Cossa to Utah for the No. 23 overall pick, a move that recoups a first-round pick after Detroit sent its No. 15 overall pick to the Blues in the Justin Faulk trade.
JP Hurlbert will play college hockey at the University of Michigan next season and is the fourth generation of his family to attend the school.
Hurlbert scored 42 goals and 97 points in 68 Western Hockey League games for Kamloops, leading all rookies in the league.
NHL analyst Kevin Weekes compared Hurlbert to Kyle Conner, praising his ability to release the puck and ‘sling it’.
Cossa had a strong 39-game AHL season with Grand Rapids (26-8-4, .915 SV%, 2.33 GAA) but appeared in only one NHL game and eventually ceded the starting job late in the season to Michal Postava.
The Detroit Red Wings traded goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Hockey Club on June 27, 2026, receiving the 23rd overall pick in return. Detroit then used that pick to select winger JP Hurlbert from the Kamloops Blazers — a Texas-born scorer who led all WHL rookies with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games. NHL.com confirmed the deal.
The move effectively replaces the first-round pick Detroit surrendered to St. Louis in the Justin Faulk trade. Cossa, 23, put up strong AHL numbers — a 26-8-4 record, .915 save percentage, and 2.33 goals-against average with Grand Rapids — but appeared in just one NHL game. Audacy reported that the Wings are now betting on Hurlbert's offensive upside to fuel their rebuilding pipeline.
Cossa's AHL Standout Season Couldn't Save His Detroit Spot
Cossa had the best AHL season of his career in 2025-26. He went 26-8-4 with Grand Rapids and posted a .915 save percentage — numbers that would excite most teams. But in March 2026, Czech goaltender Michal Postava signed an entry-level deal and took over. Postava started the final 10 games of the regular season and the entire AHL playoff run, posting a .928 SV% in the postseason. Detroit News noted the move came after a tough season for Cossa's NHL future.
With Postava rising fast, Cossa became expendable. GM Steve Yzerman said: "With the emergence of Michal Postava and our need for high-end offensive talent following the Justin Faulk trade, this move allows us to address a priority." Cossa had appeared in just one NHL game all season, and the Wings chose to convert his trade value into a forward with a higher ceiling in today's fast-paced NHL.
Hurlbert Brings a Kyle Connor-Style Shot to Detroit's Pipeline
JP Hurlbert is a 2025-26 Kamloops Blazers winger who put up numbers almost no WHL rookie has matched. He scored 42 goals and added 55 assists for 97 total points in 68 games — tops among all WHL first-year players. NHL analyst Kevin Weekes compared him directly to Jets star Kyle Connor, saying Hurlbert can "sling" the puck and changes his blade angle at the last millisecond. "Detroit fans are going to fall in love with his offensive instincts," Weekes said on NHL Network.
Hurlbert will not go pro right away. He plans to play at the University of Michigan next season — making him the fourth generation of his family to attend the school. That gives Detroit time to let him develop in a top NCAA program while they retain his rights. Hurlbert said: "I'm the fourth generation of my family to wear the maize and blue. I'm ready to prove that a kid from Texas can be a cornerstone for a franchise like Detroit."
Utah Gets a 6'6" Goalie to Anchor Its Crease Beside Vejmelka
For Utah, the deal fills a clear need. Karel Vejmelka has been the team's starter, but the Hockey Club lacked a high-upside backup. Cossa stands 6'6" and is just 23 years old, making him a rare find with pro-level experience. Utah GM Bill Armstrong said: "You don't often get the chance to acquire a 6'6", 23-year-old goaltender with Cossa's pedigree. He fits our window and gives us a formidable tandem." NHL.com confirmed Utah sent pick No. 23 in the deal.
Some scouts are already saying Detroit may regret the move. Speaking to Audacy, one analyst warned: "Goalies take time. Cossa has the frame you can't teach. If Postava regresses, Detroit has no Plan B, and Utah has a franchise anchor for the next decade." Cossa himself called it "a fresh start" and said he is "ready to prove" he can be a consistent NHL starter.
Yzerman Reclaims a First-Rounder After the Costly Faulk Deal
The trade is also about fixing a hole Yzerman created. In September 2025, Detroit sent its own 2026 first-round pick — projected as No. 15 overall — to the St. Louis Blues as part of the Justin Faulk acquisition. That left the Wings without a first-rounder in a draft loaded with offensive talent. Trading Cossa for pick No. 23 gets that asset back. Archynetys reported the move is being seen as Detroit "getting back into the first round" of the draft.
Broader questions still hang over Detroit's roster. Reports suggest Yzerman is weighing moves that could involve captain Dylan Larkin as the team balances its rebuild with short-term needs. But for now, the focus is on Hurlbert. Yzerman said the Wings have "tracked him for years." With Hurlbert heading to Michigan and Postava holding down the crease, Detroit is betting on youth and offensive upside to drive its next chapter.
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