As Canada heads off to defend its title at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the scouting world will be focused on a ton of names for the 2026 NHL draft. But they also won't be able to ignore the top prospect for 2027, defenseman Landon DuPont.

The Everett Silvertips blueliner is coming off an excellent rookie season in the WHL, where he put up 60 points in 64 games. Granted exceptional status to play in the league a year early, DuPont still managed to snag WHL and CHL rookie of the year honors along the way.

"It felt good," DuPont said. "I was really lucky to go to an organization like that and I was really lucky to have a great coaching staff and even better players to look up to. Coming in as a rookie, you never know what to expect, but my older teammates really helped me with that. It would have been nice if we made a bigger push and went further in the playoffs, but we'll be back this year."

As it was, the Silvertips made it to the second round and DuPont contributed 15 points in 10 post-season games - but that was just the beginning. With a full year of major junior under his belt, the gifted blueliner has already learned lessons from the older players on Everett.

"Cooling down and warming up, they really take pride in that," he said. "That was the big shocker for me. I was able to add that to my game."

So far, DuPont already has a pretty impressive game himself. The youngster is driven by two incredible engines: His mind and his feet. DuPont processes the game quickly and he also has excellent speed, meaning the puck is often going in the right direction when he's on the ice. That was all evident at Canada's Hlinka camp, where he stood out despite being the youngest player there.

Right now, DuPont is the favorite to go first overall in the 2027 draft, though it will be a fun race if center Alexis Joseph continues his developmental ascent. To that end, DuPont got to spend time with another Dub phenom, top 2026 NHL draft prospect Gavin McKenna, in the off-season. 

"I skated with him a few times this summer," DuPont said. "Being on the ice with him and talking to him about his process and his year with the Memorial Cup (berth) was pretty cool. He's such a great player. You watch his highlights and it amazes you."

With McKenna off to NCAA Penn State in the fall, DuPont won't have to face him again until the pair get to the NHL. But the sizzling blueliner also believes that his path through major junior will get him where he needs to go.

"I'm more than happy to be in the WHL," DuPont said. "I'm super-excited to go back to Everett. We have a lot of unfinished business. We're going to have a really good team, so we're going to push for that championship. I'm not thinking about anything else right now."

That's great news for the WHL as the battle for talent continues to surge between major junior and the NCAA. As for DuPont's opponents, who will have to face him again, that's not so great news.

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