- Landon DuPont is off to the University of Michigan after two seasons and a WHL title in Everett
- The projected No. 1 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft is wearing the C for Canada in Edmonton
- Read below for DuPont’s full explanation of the move and how Canada opened the tournament
Landon DuPont has one more stop before the 2027 NHL Draft, and it is Ann Arbor.
The 17-year-old defenseman, projected to go first overall next June, will play for the University of Michigan this season after two years with Everett of the WHL. He explained the jump to NHL.com’s Derek Van Diest on Monday.
“I think it’s about the development,” DuPont said. “I loved my two years in Everett. I couldn’t have asked to play for a better organization, but I think the NCAA is a bigger, faster game and I think it’s just one step closer to the pro level.”
He was quick to add that the Silvertips had nothing to do with it. “It never had anything to do with what Everett did, it’s about the competition I’ll be playing against.”
DuPont picked Michigan over Michigan State, Denver and Minnesota, and announced it himself on Instagram in late June. Here is the post:
Ann Arbor can wait a week. DuPont is in Edmonton captaining Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, the only returnee from the group that settled for bronze last summer, and he said that was the whole point of coming back.
“Last year going through it, we had a really fun team but came up short with the bronze,” DuPont told the CHL, which reported he was named captain on Saturday. “I wanted to come back this year and bring some leadership and hopefully a gold for Canada.”
Canada handled Switzerland 7-3 on Monday night at Rogers Place. Liam Pue and Brock England scored twice apiece, and DuPont ran the blue line without landing on the scoresheet. Watch the highlights:
Ryan Oulahen, Canada’s head coach at the tournament, was asked what stands out about his captain.
“He does a lot of really good things,” Oulahen said. “Then the on-the-ice details too, with somebody so willing to defend when he has the elite offensive instincts and talent. He’s been impressive and I think he’s going to get better as the tournament goes on, just like our team is going to.”
Everett got two enormous years out of him. DuPont put up 73 points (18 goals, 55 assists) in 63 games last season, then 23 more (five goals, 18 assists) in 18 playoff games as the Silvertips lost twice on the way to a WHL championship. Kitchener beat them 6-2 in the Memorial Cup final.
Hockey Canada granted the Calgary native exceptional status to play major junior at 15, making him the first defenseman and just the second player overall to get it after Connor Bedard. He responded with 60 points in 64 games as a rookie.
Michigan will not be a soft landing. The Wolverines are expected to carry as many as 17 drafted players this season, five of them first-round picks. DuPont also wants a spot on Canada’s roster for the 2027 World Junior Championship, which runs Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in Edmonton and Red Deer.
He was the headliner when Canada named this roster, and he says the draft chatter is not going to weigh on him.
“Ever since hockey players are 10 years old, they play with pressure and I think the past few years I’ve been getting more and more used to that,” he said. “I’m just going to try and play this season and have fun.”
