2026 NHL draft profile: Texas prospect J.P. Hurlbert originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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As the calendar turns to June, the month of the annual 2026 NHL Scouting Combine and the 2026 NHL Draft are upon hockey fans; and for those Texas fans, a lot of focus and talk surrounds top prospect J.P. Hurlbert.
Hurlbert is the reigning WHL Rookie of the Year and is committed to the University of Michigan. Ahead of the coveted prospect events in June, the dual-threat offensive winger is coming off time with both the U.S. National Team Development Program and the Kamloops Blazers. A right-handed shot and Allen, Texas native, Hurlbert recently finished fourth in the entire WHL scoring race in the regular season — scoring 42 goals and 55 assists for 97 points in 68 games which firmly established himself as a first-round pick.
In an exclusive with The Sporting News, Hurlbert said he has been preparing for the NHL level of play by focusing on a combination of his strengths and weaknesses.
“There’s so much that goes into the game and trying to develop. I think working on my strengths and working at working on my weaknesses at the same time is kind of a big priority. I’m just super grateful to kind of be in the opportunity that I’m at,” Hurlbert said.
The Texas-born forward is also known for possessing a high-end ability to read defensive layers paired with a spatial awareness that assists in his goal scoring efforts.
J.P. Hurlbert projected to be selected in first round of 2026 NHL Draft
Eric Silverman is the Director of Hockey Operations for Dallas Stars Elite in addition to being the organization’s 16U Head Coach. He has known Hurlbert for practically the player’s entire career and said he has no doubt Hurlbert will work hard to make it in the NHL.
“If you look at J.P.’s history, he’ll bring offense. He’s a very competitive kid. He’s probably as good a pure goal scorer as there is in the age group,” Silverman said to The Sporting News. “One thing I know about J.P. is his best quality is how driven he is to be great, and I know he’ll put the work in and do whatever to takes to find his way to be successful.
“He’s a goal scorer. He has scored in every level he’s been at, and I expect that to continue.”
Hurlbert was one of the Dallas Stars Elite’s top goal-scorers throughout his youth hockey career. His 2023-24 year with the Dallas Stars Elite 16U team saw him score 48 goals and log 40 assists.
Courtesy: Hurlbert Family
Hurlbert’s previously mentioned commitment to Michigan will make him a fourth generation Wolverine and the sixth member of his family to go to school in Ann Arbor, Mich.
The prospect’s main standout is a league-caliber shot, which he said he has been working to set himself apart from other players since he was as young as six.
“For me, I think it’s my shot,” Hurlbert said of what he feels makes himself stand out from other prospects. “I’ve had a net, some pucks in my backyard since I was six years old, making targets with my dad. It’s just something that [has] created muscle memory. It’s a habit, and it’s just an area of my game where I feel very confident.”
Matthew Zator of The Hockey Writers has also noted that Hurlbert’s shot features a “catch-and-release” mechanic that allows him to whip the puck toward the net at an extremely fast rate upon receiving a pass, which makes him an even bigger threat to goaltenders.
Hurlbert is currently projected to be selected within the first 32 selections of the upcoming draft. Smaht Scouting has him ranked as No. 10, with Daily Faceoff ranking him at No. 21; also, the Dallas Stars Elite alum is the No. 12 ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Dallas Stars Elite alum ready for next level of play
In addition to possessing a high-level of competitive nature and Texas pride, Hurlbert said he is looking forward to representing the continued growth of young, skill-based players in the league.
“To kind of be a part of that next wave of generation [of young, NHL players] and hopefully to make my debut one day here in the near future, it’s really cool to be a part of and it’s just crazy to think about,” Hurlbert said of his dreams of having his name called in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft. “It’d be a dream come true. It’s something that not many people in the world get to say — that they’ve been a first round pick and it’s something I’ve strived for since I was 10 years old.
“To finally be here today and knowing it’s so close, it’s super, super exciting, super emotional to think about.”
The 2026 NHL Entry Draft will be held at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. on June 26 and 27. The first round will be held on Friday, June 26 and air on ESPN and ESPN+ in the United States along with Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada.
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