The Detroit Red Wings made one of the boldest moves of the 2026 NHL Draft on Friday night in Buffalo, trading goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa to the Utah Mammoth in exchange for the 23rd overall pick, then using that selection to draft Kamloops Blazers forward JP Hurlbert.

The move was announced on the draft floor by Commissioner Gary Bettman and sent immediate shockwaves through the first round. Cossa had sat on Detroit's trade block for much of the summer, with the Mammoth connected to the netminder as early as June.

Hurlbert, an 18-year-old Allen, Texas native, came up through the Dallas Stars Elite AAA system before earning his way into the U.S. National Team Development Program, posting 68 points in 90 games as a 16-year-old. When the NCAA amended its eligibility rules in late 2024 to allow players with CHL eligibility to retain their college options, Hurlbert seized the opportunity and made the jump to the WHL's Kamloops Blazers, a decision that paid off immediately.

He played all 68 regular season games for the Blazers, finishing with 42 goals and 55 assists for 97 points, leading the team in all three categories. He scored a hat trick in his WHL debut and never looked back, finishing fourth in the entire league in points. He was named WHL Rookie of the Year and was one of 90 top prospects invited to the NHL Combine in Buffalo.

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Hurlbert was projected to be selected around the early 20s on average across draft rankings. Detroit landed him at 23, which many around the league view as a mild value pick on paper but an underwhelming return when weighed against what they gave up.

Cossa, the 6-foot-6 netminder selected 15th overall by Detroit in 2021, put together strong numbers at the AHL level with the Grand Rapids Griffins, dominating for a 26-8-4 record, a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage in 39 games. He heads to Utah, where the Mammoth will be hoping he finally becomes the starter his draft pedigree always promised and is expected to compete for crease time alongside Karel Vejmelka next season.

The trade puts very real pressure on Hurlbert to produce. If Cossa develops into the difference-maker many scouts believe he can be, and Hurlbert fails to make a meaningful impact at the NHL level, this deal could age poorly for Detroit in a hurry.

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