Tavares to Bedard: Eight CHL Players Given Exceptional Status Before Landon DuPont

The WHL is expected to give Landon DuPont exceptional status. The eight players who have gotten it before him in CHL history include some of today's best NHL stars.

Author:
Michael DeRosa
Publish date:
Apr 5, 2024

Connor Bedard and Connor McDavid
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

Only eight other hockey players have had the status that Landon DuPont is expected to receive.

The WHL is scheduled to grant defenseman Landon DuPont exceptional status on Monday at 1 p.m. MT/ 3 p.m. ET in Calgary. Once this comes to fruition, he will be just the ninth player in CHL history to receive it.

DuPont, 14, dominated with Edge School's U-18 prep team in Alberta this season, posting 19 goals and 62 points in 30 games. That is incredible production from a defenseman, so it's not surprising the youngster is getting the chance to join the CHL early.

The Calgary native is joining an elite group of players with varying degrees of success at the pro level. Let's examine the eight players in CHL history who were given exceptional status beforehand and where they are now.

2022: Michael Misa, C, OHL

Michael Misa is the most recent CHL player to be granted exceptional status. The 17-year-old has been excellent for the Saginaw Spirit, posting 51 goals and 131 points in 112 OHL regular-season games over two seasons. He is also improving, setting new career highs with 29 goals and 75 points in 67 games this year.

Due to Misa's success in the OHL, he is projected to be a high pick in the 2025 NHL draft, with Ryan Kennedy ranking him third in The Hockey News' Future Watch 2024 issue.

2020: Connor Bedard, C, WHL

No matter what league or tournament he's played in, Connor Bedard has stood out. Even in the NHL, the 18-year-old leads the Chicago Blackhawks in scoring with 58 points, and that's after missing 14 games due to a fractured jaw. The first overall pick in 2023 holds multiple records at the world juniors, and he had a whopping 71 goals and 143 points in 57 games with the Regina Pats last season.

Last year's CHL player of the year is on track to becoming the NHL's rookie of the year, and winning the Hart Trophy down the road is certainly not out of the question.

2019: Shane Wright, C, OHL

Shane Wright was granted exceptional status in 2019, and the Seattle Kraken selected him fourth overall in 2022. While he hasn't cracked a full-time spot in the NHL yet, he got another exemption this season to play in the AHL instead of heading back to the OHL's Windsor Spitfires.

The promising center spent most of this season in the AHL with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, posting 20 goals and 43 points in 56 games. In terms of upside five to 10 years down the road, Wright ranked 14th out of all drafted prospects yet to graduate to the NHL in Future Watch.

2015: Joe Veleno, C/LW, QMJHL

Joe Veleno became the first QMJHL player to be granted exceptional status. He put together a strong career in the QMJHL, including 104 points in 59 games in his final season, and the Detroit Red Wings drafted him 30th overall in 2018.

Veleno has yet to emerge as a top-six forward with the Red Wings, but he has worked well in their bottom six. In 73 games this season, the 24-year-old has set new career highs with 11 goals and 26 points.

2013: Sean Day, D, OHL

Unlike the three players who were granted exceptional status before him, Sean Day didn't go No. 1 overall in the NHL draft. He didn't even get picked in the first two rounds. Since then, he has had trouble cementing himself as an NHL player and has spent most of his professional career in the AHL. The 26-year-old appeared in two NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2021-22 season and has played solely with the Syracuse Crunch since. In 47 games with Syracuse this season, he has five goals and 22 points.

2012: Connor McDavid, C, OHL

Connor McDavid was granted exceptional status in 2012, and he has since become the NHL's best player. What was considered a slow start to the season for him still saw him average a point per game. The superstar center still managed to claw his way back up the scoring race and is now currently in a fight with Nikita Kucherov and Nathan MacKinnon in the Art Ross race.

In 72 games this season, McDavid has 29 goals, 97 assists and 126 points. He is also making a case for his fourth Hart Memorial Trophy.

2011: Aaron Ekblad, D, OHL

After a strong OHL career in which he was the first defenseman to receive exceptional status, Aaron Ekblad was selected first overall by the Florida Panthers in 2014. Since then, he has blossomed into the Panthers' No. 1 defenseman and has had an impressive career. He won the Calder Memorial Trophy in 2015 and played in two NHL All-Star Games.

Ekblad has played in 51 games this season with the Panthers, with four goals, 18 points and a plus-27 rating.

2005: John Tavares, C, OHL

John Tavares was the first CHL player granted exceptional status. Since then, the star center has put together a marvellous NHL career. He's played in six All-Star Games and has been the captain of two franchises, the New York Islanders and currently the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Tavares, 33, is still an effective forward at this juncture of his career. In 73 games this season with the Leafs, he has 24 goals and 59 points. In 1,102 games over his 15 seasons, he has 451 goals and 1,034 points. Clearly, he has lived up to his hype.