Buffalo, N.Y. — Count another NHL draft pick on the Michigan hockey team’s upcoming roster.
Adam Valentini, a 5-foot-10 forward from Toronto, went 96th overall to the Utah Mammoth in the third round of Saturday’s 2026 NHL Draft at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. He is the second Wolverine drafted this year, joining Red Wings pick J.P. Hurlbert, who went 23rd overall.
“I believe I’m one of the best in my age group, and I’m gonna prove to Utah that they won’t regret it,” said Valentini, who called Utah a “top-notch” organization and one he had many good conversations with in the draft process.
Valentini was supposed to be a part of Michigan’s freshman class this year alongside Hurlbert and recent commit Landon DuPont, who is the projected No. 1 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.
Instead, an open roster spot allowed Valentini to get a head start on his college career. He took that opportunity and ran with it. In 40 games for Michigan as a 17-year-old, Valentini notched 27 points including 11 goals. He scaled his way up into the top six as the season progressed. He also added five points in five games against his age group on Canada’s Hlinka-Gretzky team.
Valentini’s college season ended just days before his 18th birthday, in a double-overtime loss to Denver in the Frozen Four at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. Over the months since, even during the draft process, that loss stung him — and added fuel to his training.
The goal with Michigan this year? It’s obvious.
“There’s a chip on our shoulder from last year,” Valentini said. “We’re not stopping until we get to the end goal.”
The biggest knock for Valentini — his height — was out of his hands. In recent years, Michigan has thrived with shorter players, turning Gavin Brindley into a second-round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023 and an eventual Big Ten Player of the Year. That’s a source of motivation for Valentini, too. He cites his work ethic, compete and offensive play as his top assets, and he says physicality is an understated part of his game despite his size. He wants to get stronger and faster this coming season, in addition to contending for a championship.
“Every game is a playoff game there, and playing against older guys taught me a lot,” Valentini said.
Valentini came to Michigan by way of the USHL’s Chicago Steel, where he scored 39 points in 58 games two years ago. He played AAA in the GTHL, Toronto’s youth league that produced the likes of Hobey Baker winner Adam Fantilli, who was also a Chicago Steel alumnus.
Valentini joins an NHL draft class including a future rival: Ethan Belchetz, a power forward joining Michigan State this season who went 17th overall to Utah in Friday’s first round. Both Michigan and Michigan State are expected to contend for the Big Ten championship this season, and with it a national championship.
The path to a national championship for Michigan and Michigan State may very well run through each other. And Minnesota-Duluth, if Red Wings draftee Max Plante gets his way. The elder Plante is following a Hobey Baker Award-winning season with his junior year alongside brothers Zam and Victor, the latter also a Red Wings draftee.
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@ConnorEaregood
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan forward Adam Valentini drafted by Mammoth: ‘They won’t regret it’
Reporting by Connor Earegood, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Connor Earegood, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
