The Utah Mammoth have acquired goaltender Sebastian Cossa from the Detroit Red Wings. In exchange for Cossa, who was a pending restricted free agent, the Mammoth sent the Red Wings the No. 23 pick in Friday’s draft. This transaction allowed the Red Wings to select forward JP Hurlbert with the 23rd overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Sebastian Cossa, a 23-year-old netminder, had a notable season in the American Hockey League. He posted a record of 26-8-4 with a 2.33 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. His performance contributed to the Grand Rapids Griffins achieving the league’s second-best record, finishing with 51-16-5. Cossa, who stands 6-foot-7, was initially drafted 15th overall by the Red Wings in 2021. He has appeared in one NHL game, which was a 6-5 shootout victory against the Buffalo Sabres on December 9, 2024. The Hamilton, Ontario native also represented Canada at the 2022 World Juniors, where he earned a gold medal.
Hurlbert’s path to the NHL Draft
JP Hurlbert, selected by the Detroit Red Wings, has a background that includes playing for the Kamloops Blazers in the Western Hockey League. His selection at No. 23 overall in the 2026 NHL Draft followed a trade that saw the pick move from the Utah Mammoth to the Red Wings. Hurlbert was widely known as a promising prospect, having previously been a standout with the Dallas Stars Elite U14 AAA team, where he recorded 112 goals and 195 points in 75 games. He was initially expected to pursue a path through the Youth Olympics and the U.S. NTDP.
The Kamloops Blazers had identified Hurlbert as a significant talent. According to head coach and general manager Shaun Clouston, the team’s head scout, Robbie Sandland, emphasized Hurlbert’s potential during the 2023 WHL US Prospect Draft. Despite initial challenges in getting Hurlbert to join their camp due to his commitment to school, the Blazers maintained contact with his representatives. Hurlbert eventually accepted an invitation to play his draft year in Kamloops, leaving the national program. This decision proved beneficial for his development.
During his time with the Kamloops Blazers, Hurlbert made an immediate impact. He scored a hat trick in his WHL debut and was named an alternate captain for both the Blazers and Team CHL for the CHL USA Prospects Challenge. By the end of November, he was leading the WHL in scoring with 44 points in 25 games. He concluded the season fourth in league scoring with 42 goals and 97 points in 68 games. He also finished second in the WHL with 294 shots on goal. His performance earned him rookie of the year honors.
Hurlbert’s strong season elevated his draft stock. Initially viewed as a potential second-round pick, he concluded the year as NHL Central Scouting’s 12th-ranked North American skater. He is listed as a left winger but began the year as a center, taking 361 draws for the Blazers. His offensive instincts were particularly noted by Shaun Clouston, who described Hurlbert as a player who can skate, stickhandle, and has a knack around the net, with strong anticipation of plays.
Hurlbert’s summer plans include training in Allen, Texas, his hometown. He will skate with a group led by former NHL player Vernon Fiddler and train with local strength coaches. He is set to join the University of Michigan Wolverines as a freshman in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in mid-August. This move follows his father, Jeff, who is a Michigan alum and a Red Wings fan originally from Detroit. Hurlbert expressed that his decision to play in Kamloops prepared him for this next step, calling Kamloops his second home.
In the 2025-26 season, Hurlbert played all 68 regular season games for the Kamloops Blazers, accumulating 42 goals and 55 assists for 97 points. The Blazers finished fifth in the Western Conference with a 31-24-7-6 record. Hurlbert finished fourth in the league in points and was tied for fourth in goals. He led the Blazers in goals, assists, and points. In the playoffs, he recorded one goal and two assists for three points in four games, tying for the team lead in points as the Blazers were swept by the Kelowna Rockets in the first round.
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Source: tsn.ca
Chloe Tremblay is the Sports Reporter at CasinoNews, covering basketball, tennis and athletics with nine years of reporting experience. She reported on the Raptors' rise and two Olympic cycles. She holds a degree in Journalism from Concordia University. Based in Montreal, she plays recreational basketball and follows track athletics. “The best stories come from the athletes everyone overlooks.”
