Valentini Selected by Mammoth in Third Round of 2026 NHL Draft
6/27/2026 4:28:00 PM | Ice Hockey
• NHL Draft Tracker | Wolverines in the NHL
• U-M Players Selected in the NHL Draft | U-M NHL Draft Selections by Franchise
BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Adam Valentini of the University of Michigan ice hockey team was selected by the Utah Mammoth with the 32nd pick (96th overall) in the third round of the 2026 NHL Draft on Saturday (June 27).
Coming off his freshman season at Michigan, Valentini helped the Wolverines to a Big Ten Tournament championship and a berth to the Frozen Four. He led all freshmen in scoring with 27 points, netting 11 goals and 16 assists, while playing in all 40 games. A native of Toronto, Ontario, he began his career on a three-game point streak before his first multiple-goal game on Oct. 16 against Robert Morris, including the game-winning goal, which kick-started another three-game streak.
A steady scoring presence, Valentini had points in more than half of his games played. He had his best point production against Penn State in November, with a goal and two assists. Following the Frozen Four, Valentini was named an alternate captain for Hockey Canada at the 2016 U18 World Championship. He was also an alternate captain at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where the team won bronze, and was the leading scorer at the 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge, where Canada won gold.
Valentini played for the Chicago Steel (USHL) in 2024-25 following his career in the Greater Toronto Hockey League.
Valentini joins incoming freshman J.P. Hurlbert, who was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the first round on Friday night (June 26), as well as a future commit in Michigan's 2026 NHL Draft class.
Michigan has a streak of 31Â consecutive years with an NHL draft pick, and now has 202 all-time draft picks.
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