Draft profiles: Hurlbert has 'exceptional' instincts
Winger J.P. Hurlbert checks a lot of the boxes teams are looking for in a first-round pick.
He produces. He's smart. He has one of the better shots in the draft class. And after exploding offensively in his first season with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL -- where he was teammates with Harrison Brunicke -- Hurlbert has become one of the faster-rising forwards in this year's draft.
The question isn't whether Hurlbert has NHL skill. It's whether the rest of his game develops enough for that skill to consistently translate once he turns pro.
He could be an interesting option for the Penguins if he's available at No. 22 on Friday.
Hurlbert moved to Kamloops this season after leaving the U.S. National Team Development Program, and the change of scenery went well for him, finishing with 42 goals and 55 assists in 68 games.
“His instincts are exceptional,” Blazers general manager and head coach Shaun Cloustontold the CHL's league site of Hurlbert. “His offensive instincts, his anticipation, timing on breakouts, on transition, on attacks. I think he took some pretty big steps with the structure of the game. I think a lot of high-end players need a little bit more structure. ... I think JP got better in the D-zone, took a step there, and then there’s the attack part of the game that he was really, really good at.”
Hurlbert has decent size at 6 feet and 183 pounds, and often draws praise for his willingness to play through traffic and win battles.
The concerns with Hurlbert largely center around his skating. He could stand to work on his explosiveness, and add another gear in order to find success at the NHL level. There's also room for him to improve defensively -- concerns that don't come from a lack of trying or work ethic, but rather just an area where he can work to become more reliable and consistent.
Hurlbert will be moving to the University of Michigan next season, where he'll have time to work on those parts of his game ... and be teammates with a previous Penguins first-round pick in Will Horcoff.
There might be players at No. 22 with safer "floors" to their outlook, but not many who have Hurlbert's production and offensive instincts. If the Penguins are looking for a high-end forward, Hurlbert wouldn't be a bad pick.
THE ASYLUM
Draft profiles: Hurlbert has 'exceptional' instincts
Winger J.P. Hurlbert checks a lot of the boxes teams are looking for in a first-round pick.
He produces. He's smart. He has one of the better shots in the draft class. And after exploding offensively in his first season with the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL -- where he was teammates with Harrison Brunicke -- Hurlbert has become one of the faster-rising forwards in this year's draft.
The question isn't whether Hurlbert has NHL skill. It's whether the rest of his game develops enough for that skill to consistently translate once he turns pro.
He could be an interesting option for the Penguins if he's available at No. 22 on Friday.
Hurlbert moved to Kamloops this season after leaving the U.S. National Team Development Program, and the change of scenery went well for him, finishing with 42 goals and 55 assists in 68 games.
“His instincts are exceptional,” Blazers general manager and head coach Shaun Clouston told the CHL's league site of Hurlbert. “His offensive instincts, his anticipation, timing on breakouts, on transition, on attacks. I think he took some pretty big steps with the structure of the game. I think a lot of high-end players need a little bit more structure. ... I think JP got better in the D-zone, took a step there, and then there’s the attack part of the game that he was really, really good at.”
Hurlbert has decent size at 6 feet and 183 pounds, and often draws praise for his willingness to play through traffic and win battles.
The concerns with Hurlbert largely center around his skating. He could stand to work on his explosiveness, and add another gear in order to find success at the NHL level. There's also room for him to improve defensively -- concerns that don't come from a lack of trying or work ethic, but rather just an area where he can work to become more reliable and consistent.
Hurlbert will be moving to the University of Michigan next season, where he'll have time to work on those parts of his game ... and be teammates with a previous Penguins first-round pick in Will Horcoff.
There might be players at No. 22 with safer "floors" to their outlook, but not many who have Hurlbert's production and offensive instincts. If the Penguins are looking for a high-end forward, Hurlbert wouldn't be a bad pick.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits!
We’d love to have you!