When you ask Dylan James why he chose to return to the University of North Dakota for his senior season instead of turning pro with the Detroit Red Wings, his answer is simple: you had to be there to truly understand.
"I committed when I was 16," James recalls. "So that place has been on my mind for the last eight years. You'd have to experience it to know exactly what I'm talking about. It's a very, very special place. The town has 50,000 people, and half of them are at your games every weekend. Yeah, it's super special, and I'll spend my summers there for years to come."
On paper, James' decision carried some risk for the Red Wings. In college hockey, once a player finishes his season, he can become an unrestricted free agent if he remains unsigned until August 15. By staying an extra year, James gained leverage—but as it turns out, he didn't need it.
The move paid off for both sides. James used his final collegiate season to take his game to another level, posting a career-high 21 goals (up from 14 as a junior) and becoming a more complete player. Over 40 games, the 2022 second-round pick (40th overall) notched 32 points and finished with a stellar plus-17 rating.
The Calgary native brings a versatile toolkit to the ice: blazing speed, sharp defensive instincts, and sneaky offensive skill that often catches opponents off guard.
"I think I excel on the penalty kill, using my speed to close in quickly," James explains. "That's where the shorthanded goals come from. I feel like I surprise some people sometimes. When you're on the power play, you think you have more time. But I like to eliminate that. I want to be hard on the forecheck, bang bodies, and make life difficult for their defensemen."
That mindset has paid off in a big way. James' six career shorthanded goals are the most by any North Dakota player in the last 20 years—a testament to his relentless style and hockey IQ.
With the Detroit Red Wings looking to build a tougher, harder-to-play-against roster and revamp their bottom six with more offensive punch, James seems like a natural fit. He turns 23 in October and will likely draw plenty of attention in training camp. If his second game was any indication—where he scored twice and turned heads—this is a player ready to make an impact at the next level.