Landon DuPont is the biggest recruit for the 2026 season, and with such high expectations, what should Michigan expect to see from the phenom?
It’s getting very close to puck drop for the college hockey season, and with Michigan fans just itching to see what Landon DuPont looks like in a Wolverine sweater, many also question what his game on the ice is going to look like.
Will he be the first freshman defenseman to ever win the Hobey Baker? Will he retain his first-overall status? And can he be the driver of Michigan’s first national championship since 1998? But first, you need to find out what kind of player they’re getting.
DuPont is much more than just an offensive defenseman, although his 73 points in the WHL for the Everett Silvertips say otherwise. One of the things fans will notice very early is that DuPont’s presence in a game can be felt without him producing any points, when he has the puck, you have to keep your eyes glued to him, and even if you do that he’ll still likely make the perfect play.
At six feet, 190 pounds, DuPont isn’t massive by any means, but he plays with aggression in all three zones, and when he combines his speed with aggression, he’s one of the hardest hitters on the ice at all times.
It’ll be very interesting to see who head coach Brandon Naurato pairs with DuPont. Could it be Cameron Reid, who DuPont faced in the Memorial Cup and who the Nashville Predators drafted in the first round? Reid’s game is built around his skating and play-driving, so it may be best to keep those two separate.
DuPont’s game is very adaptable as well; he’s fine being a more supportive player at times, where he focuses on supporting the play and making small but simple plays throughout the given shift. But when he wants to flip that switch, everyone in the arena knows what’s happening.
He has all the tools to become an elite player for Michigan, and he’s the best chance they have at bringing home a national title.
