What Does a Successful Season Look Like For Landon DuPont
Landon DuPont is getting closer and closer to throwing on Michigan's jersey for the first time in a real game, and with that come expectations. What should fans expect from the young phenom, and what would a great season look like next spring?
Video Transcript
Now, in terms of hockey that is actually being played currently as we speak, we've got the Hlinka Gretzky Tournament that's going on in Czechia and Slovakia, semifinals happening today, Friday.
It's really the first big stage for, NHL draft prospects ahead of their draft year.
So, there's a lot of players that are, you know, certainly being watched closely by a lot of NHL scouts right now.
One player though who's really turned heads, recently is Canadian defenseman Landon DuPont.
So he's a projected lottery pick in 2027, so not for this year, this next coming draft class, but the year after.
So, he's got 60 points in 64 games this season in the WHL as a 15-year-old.
So he's now also an assistant captain with Canada's U18 team at the Hlinka Gretzky tournament as a 16-year-old.
So he has recorded an assist in each of the team's three games.
Mike, it's always a challenge to project, prospects, especially when they're this young.
I mean, he's a literal child here, but we're gonna do our best.
Do you think that this is a kid who could potentially make Canada's World Junior roster this year, despite the fact that he would be a lot younger than the rest of the eligible players?
I mean, I can't rule it out.
It's unlikely being so young.
I mean, you have to say, though, if he was in serious consideration, he would've been invited to the World Junior Summer Sho- Showcase.
But, you know, since he was going to the Hlinka Gretzky, it was probably impossible for him to, to do both.
I mean, this is a kid who, as you said, 60 points as a 15-year-old.
He got exceptional status in the WHL for Everett.
You know, if he has a ridiculous first couple months and things fall into place, say for example, the, you know, Canada's roster at the Summer Showcase, they only had two 18 one 18-year-old, Cameron Reid, the Nashville first-round pick, and Matthew Schaefer, the top overall pick, who was a 17-year-old.
Everybody else was 19.
So for, for, DuPont to have a chance, probably Schaefer's gonna have to be with the Islanders, Zane Parekh's gonna have to be with Calgary, and maybe Sam Dickinson ha- will have to be with San Jose to have three guys who would n- probably make that team not be available.
And if that happens, and maybe there's an injury or two, then he might have a chance.
But I, I would say more than likely next year, the 2027 World Junior would be the target, for Landon DuPont.
