USA Hockey Magazine

Plante, Cullen's NTDP teammate, was taken with the 47th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings — the exact same team and exact same draft slot as his older brother Max Plante in the 2024 draft. A smiling, beaming Plante was one of the highlights of the draft. He had hoped going into the draft that he'd be picked a little bit earlier than his older brother, but everything worked out too perfectly for the family. "I can't really imagine anything better, right?" Plante said. "When Detroit was up and they traded for the pick, you kind of get a little bit excited about it and wonder 'what if ?' and then it happens, it's a dream come true." The draft served as a solid reminder of how many different paths and routes players can take within this country to reach the NHL. For example, Hurlbert was the first Texas native selected in the first round since Seth Jones in 2013. In total, teams drafted American players from 16 different states, ranging from Alaska to North Carolina. "It's a pretty good reminder that if you can play and find your path, you'll be able to earn your opportunity," Hurlbert said. "You kind of have that opportunity and you do what you can with it, as long as you can get on the ice." Hextall—who the Calgary Flames select- ed 30th overall—played this season for the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. He believes playing in the league improved his game and helped him get drafted. "It's a pretty good look for USA Hockey and the USHL, the league really challenges you and pushes you to be better," Hextall said. "But it's not just about the league, it's about the options and opportunity to find your path and prove it." Reid was the first American selected in the 2026 NHL Draft when the Seattle Kraken chose him with the No. 7 pick in the first round. However, there were times Reid thought his hockey journey might be coming to an end. It wasn't that he was quitting or giving up, but after getting cut by the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks in 2024, the defenseman was starting to wonder how realistic his long- term goal of reaching the NHL actually was. "You kind of deal with that adversity and you learn a lot about yourself," Reid said. "But there are times during that, where it starts to feel like the path to your ultimate goal isn't really going to be there; it's hard." Reid didn't quit or give in. Instead, he started the 2024-25 season in the NAHL with the Bismark Bobcats and then made the jump to the CHL and the Soo Greyhounds. Now 18 months later, with a World Junior Championship appearance for Team USA in the middle, Reid became the top American selected in the 2026 NHL Draft when the Seattle Kraken used the seventh overall pick on him. "It's an honor," Reid said soon after getting drafted. "You put the work in and you kind of trust in yourself and how things are going to go, and then to end up here, it's pretty incredible." P SUMMER 2026 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM // 9 Nashville Predators Select Wyatt Cullen in 2026 NHL Draft zPlWvO_xHf0 AvqVDjqyAw8 Get to know Detroit Red Wings first round pick JP Hurlbert VICTOR PLANTE I can't really imagine anything better, right?" – Victor Plante, on being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings V I D E O V I D E O

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