The Los Angeles Kings are stuck in the mud. After another frustrating first-round playoff exit, this time at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche, the message in the front office is clear: the current offensive blueprint isn’t enough to conquer the Western Conference. Enter JP Hurlbert. Slotted anywhere from 12th to 30th on public draft boards, the Kamloops Blazers sensation could be the exact wild card the Kings need when they walk up to the podium with the 17th overall pick.
But why is a player who just posted 97 points in the WHL tumbling out of the top 10? The answer lies in a polarizing scouting report that separates the bold general managers from the safe ones. Hurlbert possesses a heavy, pro-caliber wrist shot and game-breaking offensive instincts that you simply cannot teach. While some scouts critique his top-end skating speed, those willing to look closer see a winger who hunts the dirty areas of the ice and thrives when manufacturing space on the cycle. For an LA Kings system desperate for a pure goal-scorer to ride shotgun with Quinton Byfield, drafting JP Hurlbert isn’t just a smart gamble, it’s the ultimate draft floor heist.
JP Hurlbert’s Junior Stats: A Track Record of Elite Scoring
You don’t accidentally score 42 goals as a rookie in the WHL. Leaving the USNTDP to join the Canadian Hockey League was a massive risk for the Allen, Texas native, but it paid off instantly. He jumped into major junior hockey and immediately became the offensive engine for Kamloops, leading the team in scoring by nine points and finishing fourth in the entire WHL.
Here is a look at JP Hurlbert’s impressive numbers over the last two seasons leading up to the 2026 NHL Draft:
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts |
| 2024-25 | U.S. National U17 Team | NTDP | 56 | 19 | 18 | 37 |
| 2025-26 | Kamloops Blazers | WHL | 68 | 42 | 55 | 97 |
Averaging 1.43 points per game in his draft-eligible season in a notoriously heavy-checking league speaks volumes about his offensive ceiling.
How Hurlbert’s Style of Play Fits the Los Angeles Kings’ Roster
I’ve watched countless hours of WHL tape this year, and Hurlbert is arguably the smartest puck-manager in the 2026 draft class. He isn’t a perimeter floater; he willingly engages physically, absorbing contact to make plays. The Los Angeles Kings traditionally love hard-nosed, two-way forwards, but that philosophy has left them lacking a true secondary scoring punch.
Hurlbert alters the math. He has an uncanny ability to slow the game down and speed it up on his terms. Once he sets up in the offensive zone, he uses his frame to shield the puck, manufacturing space on the cycle to set up teammates or rip his lethal release.
Furthermore, Hurlbert is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2026-27 season. For the Kings, this is a massive developmental advantage. He can head to Ann Arbor to hit the weight room, refine his skating mechanics in a lighter-schedule environment, and mature physically. If LA wants a high-floor player, they can look elsewhere. But if they want a 30-goal threat who can solve their playoff scoring woes, JP Hurlbert is the obvious choice at 17.
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The post JP Hurlbert 2026 NHL Draft: Why the Los Angeles Kings Should Pick Him appeared first on NHL Trade Rumors.
