Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - In the days leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft in Buffalo, WGR will provide profiles on some players that could be available for the Sabres with the 20th overall pick in the first round.
It was quite the path for J.P. Hurlbert this past year, becoming one of the leading scorers in the entire Western Hockey League in his first season with the Kamloops Blazers.
Before making the jump to Western Canada, Hurlbert developed his game playing his 13U, 14U and 16U days in Texas with the Dallas Stars' Elite program. The Allen, Texas native was quite dominant playing against his peers that he ended up taking his talents to the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) in Plymouth, Mich., where he continued to produce well with 68 points (35+33) in 90 combined games played as mostly a 16-year-old.
Then came the next big jump in Hurlberts's development, as he decided to play his critical draft year in the WHL, and his presence was known right off the bat. In his first game with the Blazers, Hurlbert picked up a hat-trick against the Spokane Chiefs. In his first 10 games in Kamloops, Hurlbert put up 11 goals and 13 assists for 23 points.
By the end of the season, Hurlbert finished the year with 42 goals and 55 assists for 97 points in 68 games. Both totals for goals and points led all rookies in the league, and ranked him fourth overall in all WHL scoring. That earned him a First-Team All-Rookie nod for the WHL's Western Conference, as well as the Jim Piggort Trophy as the league's Rookie of the Year.
Hurlbert is a very smart player on the ice, and thinks the game at a particularly high level. He's very good about anticipating where the play is going to develop and getting the puck there for a scoring chance. While he doesn't play at any sort of blazing speed, he makes up for it with his quick thinking.
The one aspect of his game that makes him so dangerous on the ice is what he can do with the puck on his stick. Hurlbert has a very good shot that comes off the stick quick and accurate. He's also very patient with the puck, allowing for either the right lane to open up for a shot, or to take the puck to the net for a scoring chance that way.
Hurlbert is a good passer too, utilizing his hockey IQ and anticipation to get pucks to teammates on the fly. However, there are times he may try to overcomplicate things by making a pass that's nearly impossible to make, rather than just making a simpler play.
Despite not being the fastest player on the ice, Hurlbert is still a good, fluid skater with solid footwork and stability that allows him to skate with the puck and go to the net or work the zone.
While Hurlbert is not afraid to go hard to the net with the puck, the 6-foot, 183-pound forward does lack some strength and willingness, at times, to engage in physical battles, primarily sticking to the perimeter.
Hurlbert certainly has first-round pedigree to his game with the skill, but the question will be how well he can continue to develop and evolve as he climbs the ranks to get to the NHL.
The good news is Hurlbert is heading down a solid development route by going to college next year and playing at the University of Michigan as a Freshman. Playing collegiately should challenge Hurlbert to be an even better offensive presence, and also help him grow physically and mentally with his overall game.
