Who is Landon DuPont, the Second Player To Be Granted Exceptional Status in the WHL?

Only nine players in CHL history have been granted exceptional status, but 14-year-old Landon DuPont is joining that club as he aims to take the next step in writing his hockey legend.

It takes a truly special player to be granted exceptional status in the CHL. Hockey Canada and the WHL have agreed that defenseman Landon DuPont is one of those special players.

On Monday in Calgary, DuPont will become just the ninth player and third defenseman to be granted exceptional status. Connor Bedard is the only other player to be given the status in the WHL. DuPont is likely going to be the first overall pick by the Everett Silvertips on May 9 when the league holds their annual prospects draft.

DuPont is a 5-foot-11 and 170-pound blueliner born in Calgary. His father, Micki, played over 350 games at the AHL level and had a few stints in the NHL totalling 23 games. Micki went on to play in Germany and Switzerland to finish off his pro career. Landon played minor hockey with the Eisbaren Juniors Berlin program before coming back to Canada.

DuPont has been playing with the Edge Hockey program out west, playing on the U-18 this season and leading the squad in scoring with 62 points in 30 games, good for third in CSSHL U-18 scoring behind two 17-year-old forwards who both had 64 points. DuPont added 16 points in five playoff games as well. DuPont has dominated players up to three years older than him.

Puck Preps is an excellent source of scouting reports and knowledge for players heading into their CHL draft years or looking to take the NCAA route. Joel Henderson, the director of scouting at Puck Preps, has been following DuPont’s development for the last couple of years.

“DuPont’s just one of those players who can go a mile if you give him an inch,” said Henderson. “He’s already so advanced tactically, his IQ is really high, and his skating is so powerful.”

The skating is the biggest differentiating factor between him and his competition. He has a powerful stride that allows him to create separation seamlessly. He moves well in all four directions, which is a trait all of the best defensemen across hockey have.

Henderson often compares DuPont to Bowen Byram from a stylistic point of view. His ability to outskate and tactically pick apart his opponents while playing a very unselfish brand of hockey makes for an impressive offensive toolset.

“Lots of similarities stylistically, but DuPont is just so much stronger and advanced compared to where Byram was at the same age,” describes Henderson. “If he continues to be aggressive, he could be Byram-plus. If he somehow stagnates and loses his controlling edge in motion, then he could still end up like (Carson) Lambos.”

As far as a ceiling and floor for a player, that’s not a bad outlook. Byram and Lambos were both highly touted NHL prospects who have played prominent roles at the WHL level and won gold at the World Junior Championship for Canada. Byram was recently traded to the Buffalo Sabres in a 1-for-1 deal for Casey Mittelstadt, and he’s excelled since his arrival in Buffalo. Lambos is in his first pro season, playing for the Minnesota Wild’s AHL affiliate in Iowa.

“DuPont should probably even be more selfish than he is. He sets up everyone with prime opportunities a lot,” explains Henderson. “Physically, he can handle so much more than (Matthew) Savoie, (Berkly) Catton, or (Gavin) McKenna or whoever else could when they entered the WHL. He’s a strong kid.”

As mentioned, only two previous defensemen have been granted exceptional status: Aaron Ekblad and Sean Day. The results between the two have been mixed. Ekblad became one of the OHL’s best defensemen and was the first overall pick in the 2014 NHL draft. Since then, he’s been a pillar for the Florida Panthers.

Day, on the other hand, had a tougher time in the OHL that included a couple of off-ice situations involving family that affected him greatly. Day was drafted in the third round by the New York Rangers, and he’s had a very solid AHL career in which he should cross the 300-game mark early next season.

Being granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada means that DuPont will be able to play in the WHL at 15 years old, just as Bedard and the seven other players across the CHL given the exception. DuPont is certainly going to be a player worth watching for fans across hockey. He is a truly special player.