When the top prospects in the Detroit Red Wings system are being discussed, you don’t ever hear people talking about Dylan James.

Certainly, on draft day, plenty of hockey people were speaking with high praise about the potential James offered. Detroit got him with the 40th overall pick of the 2022 NHL entry draft. Some scouts were viewing him as a bonus, suggesting he could’ve been a first-round pick.

He was coming off a season in which he’d won the USHL’s rookie-of-the-year award. That put James on a list including the likes of Joe Pavelski, Andrei Svechnikov, Cole Sillinger, Anders Lee, Kyle Okposo, Max Pacioretty, Jake Guentzel, and Johnny Gaudreau. Good company to keep.

It seemed like the Red Wings had engineered a steal. Then James just seemed to steal away into invisibility.

Dylan James is off to the races and brings North Dakota within one with a short-handed goal late in the second period. It’s James’ first goal since November 16th and sixth of the season. pic.twitter.com/12zbi3hC4p

— Taylor Budge – Midco Sports (@TBudgeMidco) January 11, 2025

The offensive upside he displayed in junior didn’t follow him to NCAA hockey at North Dakota. In three years there, he’s scored just 31 goals in 114 games.

Instead, James has grown into a checking, defensive dynamo at North Dakota. He was a nominee for the NCHC defensive forward of the year award.

“Dylan skates great,” Detroit director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He’s excellent. And a tremendous penalty killer. He’s got good anticipation.”

Red Wings Pick Heading Back To North Dakota

The offense began to emerge more often for James last season. He counted 14 goals. James enjoyed a three-point game against St. Cloud and a four-point performance vs Colorado College.

“Yeah, Dylan had a good season last year,” Cleary said.

James will also be having another season at North Dakota. He’ll be back there in the fall for his senior campaign, playing for new coach Dane Jackson.

“I think with the new coach, he’s going to take a much larger role, leadership-wise,” Cleary said. “He’s pretty hard on himself, to be honest. He’s a tough critic on himself, but he’s a good player.”

What a thing of beauty from Dylan James! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/YtnfPKgsTR

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) March 4, 2023

He was billed as a 200-foot player when the Red Wings drafted him. Now, James wants to show he can step up his game in the other team’s end of the rink.

“Hopefully, I can be a driver on the offensive side,” James told the Grand Forks Herald.

Generally, draftees who play all four years in college don’t get NHL contracts. But Cleary made it abundantly clear that they haven’t given up on James as a prospect.

“He’s a good person,” Cleary said. “He works hard, puts all the time in the gym. He’s a rink rat. He’s always around.

“So I look forward to watching Dylan. I’m like, yeah, go enjoy your last year.”