Green Bay signs draft pick Ethan Sturgis for 2026-27 season

Green Bay turned another draft selection into a signed piece of its 2026-27 puzzle, landing forward Ethan Sturgis on a standard player agreement for next season. The move signals more than simple roster housekeeping: it shows the Gamblers want known, drafted talent in place early as they shape a forward group built for pace, structure and balance.

Sturgis, 18, comes out of Minnetonka, Minnesota, and was selected by Green Bay in the fifth round, 81st overall, of the 2025 USHL Entry Draft. That draft pedigree matters because it gives the organization a player it has already evaluated closely, then tracked through the development window before moving to secure him. In a league where roster turnover can be rapid, especially among forwards, that kind of early commitment gives Green Bay another layer of continuity heading into a 62-game season.

The profile Green Bay attached to Sturgis is the real clue to why the Gamblers moved when they did. The club described him as a forward with a strong combination of size, speed and versatility, and credited him with a superb three-zone game. That is the language of a staff that sees reliable, multi-purpose utility, not just a winger who can fill out a lineup. A player who can handle the neutral zone, make responsible reads in his own end and still drive play with pace can earn ice time quickly on a team that wants every line to hold up under pressure.

Sturgis also fits a familiar recruiting lane for USHL clubs that have long leaned on Minnesota talent. Minnetonka has been part of the league’s broader pipeline of high-end junior and prep players, and Green Bay’s decision to bring Sturgis into the fold adds another example of how clubs continue to mine that region for forwards who can translate skill into dependable habits. For the Gamblers, that blend is especially valuable because it helps define the type of team they want to ice, one that can skate, check and stay organized without losing speed.

The timing is just as important as the player. Green Bay has been active in building its 2026-27 roster well before camp opens, and Sturgis now joins the list of recent additions as the club works to lock in certainty around its young core. For the organization, the agreement secures a forward the staff believes can fit the identity it is building. For Sturgis, it marks the next step from draft pick to a defined role in Green Bay’s plans.