Landon DuPont embraces NCAA leap ahead of 2027 NHL draft year

Landon DuPont, widely viewed as the early favourite to go first overall in the 2027 NHL draft, is adding a significant new challenge to his resume. The 17-year-old defenceman has committed to the University of Michigan, stepping straight into NCAA competition in what will also be his draft year.

DuPont has been on a steep trajectory for several seasons. Two years ago, he became the first defenceman ever granted exceptional status to play in the Western Hockey League at 15. Last season in Everett, he led all WHL rookies with 60 points, finished tied for fourth among defencemen with 73 points in 63 games, and helped the Silvertips capture the WHL championship and a berth in the Memorial Cup.

From WHL standout to NCAA test

Moving from junior to college hockey will mean facing older, stronger opponents on a nightly basis. DuPont acknowledged that reality, noting, “Yeah, it’s going to be a big jump for sure,” and pointing to the physical and fast-paced nature of the NCAA game as a key reason he chose that route. He has already been on the ice with his new teammates for several weeks and describes a highly competitive practice environment.

At Michigan, DuPont will line up against and alongside established players, including Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage. His previous experience in the WHL, where he had to adjust quickly to battling 19- and 20-year-olds as a younger, smaller player, shapes how he approaches this transition. He credits veteran teammates and coaches from Everett with helping him adapt to higher speed and heavier contact at a young age.

Offensive ceiling and high-end comparisons

DuPont’s offensive production has already earned him a place in the record books. He broke Scott Niedermayer’s mark for most points by a 16-year-old defenceman in the WHL, reinforcing his reputation as an attack-minded blueliner. Evaluators often invoke names like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes when describing his style, and DuPont says he studies those players closely, while also watching shutdown specialists such as Jake Sanderson and Jaccob Slavin for their defensive detail.

As he enters his draft year, that skill set will come under even closer scrutiny. Scouts already appreciate his ability to skate the puck out of trouble and drive offence from the back end; the next question is how smoothly he can carry that impact from the WHL into the NCAA against older competition. Being the consensus No. 1 prospect in the fall does not guarantee he will be the first name called in June 2027, and both his performance and growth at Michigan will be central to that debate.

Managing pressure with pro experience at home

The attention surrounding DuPont is intense, but not entirely new. He has lived with heightened expectations since receiving exceptional status, and he also has access to guidance very few peers can match. His father, Micki DuPont, is a former NHL draft pick who played 23 games in the league with the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and St. Louis Blues, plus more than a decade of pro hockey in Europe.

Landon says the consistent message from his father is to keep the game fun, even in a year where every shift will be dissected. With one shot at a draft year and a major transition to college hockey unfolding at the same time, DuPont’s focus will be on continuing to develop against older opponents while keeping the pressure in perspective as he moves toward the 2027 NHL draft.