Dylan James signs two-year deal with Detroit Red Wings

Apr. 11—GRAND FORKS — UND senior forward Dylan James has signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

James will immediately report to Grand Rapids, the top minor-league affiliate of the Red Wings, this week and finish this season on a tryout deal.

His NHL contract starts next season.

James had a big senior year for UND, leading the Fighting Hawks with 21 goals. He had 32 points in 40 games, a career high, while serving as an assistant captain on a team that won the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Penrose Cup as regular-season champions and reached the NCAA Frozen Four.

James finished the year strong, scoring goals in four of the last five games.

He was named to the Sioux Falls Regional all-tournament team.

Detroit drafted James in the second round, No. 40 overall, in 2022, and considered signing him last summer. James opted to return to UND for his senior season, though.

James' point total increased every year at UND from 16 to 19 to 22 to 32.

The 6-foot winger from Calgary has been a key penalty killer since his freshman season, scoring six shorthanded goals in his career. He was added to the power play as a senior, scoring six times with the advantage. Only Will Zellers scored more power-play goals for UND.

UND's season ended Thursday with a 2-1 loss to Wisconsin the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals.

"This place has been on my mind for the last eight years," James said after the game. "It's weird that this is my last time wearing the jersey, being around these fans."

James is the third player from the 2025-26 UND team to sign an NHL contract.

Defensemen Abram Wiebe and Jake Livanavage signed after UND lost in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals to Wisconsin. Both Wiebe and Livanavage reported directly to their NHL teams and are expected to make their NHL debuts.