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This content was machine-translated from the French version.
Landon DuPont is only playing his first college season, but his name has already risen to the very top of the 2027 draft board. The University of Michigan defenseman is among the A-rated players on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary list, a label reserved for prospects considered credible first-round candidates.
The signal is strong without being definitive. This list, which is bound to shift over the course of the season, awards neither a trophy nor a contract. It does, however, make it very clear that DuPont has a head start in a draft class where scouts will scrutinize every detail for months. For a 17-year-old defenseman, the spotlight is already particularly bright.
This list, which is bound to shift over the course of the season, awards neither a trophy nor a contract.
A Fast Adjustment to Michigan
DuPont left the Everett Silvertips after two seasons in the WHL to join Michigan, facing the immediate challenge of going up against older and stronger players. After six games, he has six points, all assists, with a +6 rating and average ice time of more than 18 minutes.
Those numbers do not tell the whole story, but they show that he has not been hidden in a protected rotation. Michigan is giving him ice time and responsibilities, and the defenseman is responding with a clean first pass, mobility and an ability to accelerate zone exits. His absence from a game in Denver, due to an unspecified injury, was only a brief setback: he returned for the very next game.
A Path Already Beyond the Norm
Before arriving in the college league, DuPont had been one of Everett’s driving forces. He finished last season with 73 points, including 18 goals, in 63 regular-season games. In the playoffs, his 23 points helped the Silvertips win the title, before a notable showing at the Memorial Cup.
His exceptional status in the WHL, earned at 15, had already explained the attention surrounding him. What is changing now is the nature of the debate. This is no longer just about a precocious young defenseman: he must now prove that he can maintain his influence against more mature opposition, in a schedule where every performance will be compared with those of the other candidates for the first overall pick.
Central Scouting’s list also confirms the depth of the North American group. Dima Zhilkin, Alexis Joseph, Carter Meyer, Brock England and Brock Cripps are also among the A-rated names. DuPont is therefore not moving through the season alone in an empty lane; he is leading a race that already includes several serious pursuers.
Learning to Handle the Pressure
The defenseman still has plenty of hockey to play before the June 2027 draft. His production, his usage at Michigan, his games against the best college teams and international tournaments will inevitably change perceptions. Being the favorite can become a burden if it leads him to try to do everything himself.
For now, DuPont has mainly accomplished the most difficult step for a prodigy: making his transition to the next level credible from the very first weeks. The next update to the rankings will not decide his future, but it will show whether his lead is solidifying. At Michigan, every game is already an audition being closely followed.
