Overview
- Detroit signed James to a two-year NHL entry-level contract Saturday, with the deal beginning in the 2026–27 season.
- He will report to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout for the rest of 2025–26, an arrangement that lets him play now without using a contract year.
- PuckPedia reported the contract at a $1.05 million average annual value with a detailed salary and bonus breakdown, which was not in the team’s announcement.
- James capped his North Dakota career with a breakthrough senior season of 21 goals, 11 assists, and 32 points in 40 games after a Frozen Four semifinal loss to Wisconsin on Thursday ended his run.
- Detroit drafted the 22-year-old winger 40th overall in 2022; he won the USHL’s Clark Cup with Sioux City and totaled 89 points in 154 NCAA games as a four-time AHCA All-Academic pick.