Projection: Elite #1 Defender
Projectable Skills: Skating, IQ, Team style attack
Development Opportunities: Shot power/strength

It is anecdotal but important; Landon was the best player in the CSSHL U15 Prep league last year as an underager and he’s been the best player in the CSSHL U18 Prep division as a draft eligible. He has explosive first few steps which means he adjusts to play quickly, beats players to pucks in the defensive zone, and accelerates with control through the neutral zone. Stylistically, Landon controls each shift and can change his personal approach depending on the situation and landscape of the game. He has the ability to play fast, slow, controlled, individual, or team-style, and can beat you in every way he chooses to. His decision making is sound, his understanding of spacing and timing is excellent, and his ability to uplift the skills of his teammates is that of a true leader. While he doesn’t have a rocket of a shot from the point, he knows when to slip into space where he simply can pick his spot and beat goaltenders clean with a wrister. His highlight reel goals off the rush this season attest to that. He should be a truly dominant WHL player and one worthy of exceptional status.

The presumptive top pick in this year’s WHL draft is a strong candidate to be the second player to gain exceptional status in the league’s history after Connor Bedard, and it doesn’t take long to understand why. I have never seen such a singular offensive force from the back end at this age. The game revolves around him when he’s on the ice as he has an impeccable knack of being acutely involved in every offensive foray without selling out defensively. The puck always seems to be on his stick. His pristine positioning and elite situational awareness allow him to really maximize opportunities and stay tight to the play. While I love his hockey mind it’s his skating abilities that really unlock his game. His stride is explosive yet light allowing him to change directions on a dime without losing momentum. His lateral movement in particular is suffocating and his ability to cover so much ground east-west often catches the opposition by surprise. Unlike most high activity defenders, he plays remarkably mistake free hockey as his margin for error is far larger than most thanks to his mobility and ability to erase errors with his feet. Overall, it was a fantastic showcase for DuPont against some of the toughest U18 opposition talent available.

Landon Dupont certainly isn’t hesitant despite being a 2009-born player in a talented tournament. He showed off his ability to transition pucks by skating through layers or making competent outlet passes. He has that ability to dominate the play in all areas of the ice; besting players with body checks, explosive quick strides, and a textbook follow through wrist shot. Landon is not only looking like a top player in Western Canada for the 2009s, but a top North American Player.

I think if we are talking about hockey IQ at a high pace, I don’t think there’s anyone that reaches the potential of Landon Dupont at this point. He was explosive, fluid in his stride, and was constantly turning play around faster than the opposition can adjust. At this age, players are often using those rush attempts to attack one-on-one and find sneaky shots against defenders and look like the hero but Landon is a pass first defender who only adds to his value by playing give and go and driving the net front by slicing through seams with and without the puck. Landon is the front runner to be number 1 overall in North America for our 2009-born rankings so it is no surprise that he dominated possession and could have had many more points than he did. If I was selecting a team for this event, he’d easily be my first pick.

I’ve written this about Landon in a few events now but while a lot of the higher end competition are trying to really push through gaps to beat players one on one and attack by themselves a high percentage of the time, Landon always shows such a diversity of play by drawing coverage and setting up teammates with loads of space. Today, he played hard defensively, stepped up into gaps to hit shoulder to shoulder, turned plays around as quickly as could be, and weaved and darted his way into high traffic at times. His efficiency and well-rounded play is staggering at times. It is easy to see how he was the best player on the ice again today despite not getting any points I don’t think.

Although it’s just been two games, and this event is only 3 games per team in duration, I think it’s safe to say no one in attendance comes particularly close to Landon Dupont. Such a strong skater in all accords, his mobility was suffocating to puck carriers, nearly impossible to elude and evade in transition, he stuck square to the puck carrier, surrendered no ice to the middle and effortlessly stripped opponents of the puck time-and-time again. Shortly after landing an accurate stick check when denying a zone entry, he would have the explosiveness and strength to quickly transition from back skating to forward skating, pick up said puck, and transition up ice flawlessly. His control and stride length mixed with power was unlike anyone in this game. His first few steps are next-level and it really allowed him to see plays and lanes others couldn’t, making himself an option to receive the puck only to quickly fire it further up ice before a lane could get covered. He had also intercepted plenty of passes and once more formed quick counterattacks in transition. One of his best plays in the game came when he jumped up from the blueline late, intercepted a cross-ice pass, funneled it to the front of the net, and in 3 strides also found himself by the goal crease, receiving the puck back and burying it in tight. He had another phenomenal solo rush in the second half of the game where he effortlessly slipped by two defenders with elite speed and puck control only to nearly miss tucking the puck when alone with the goaltender. For a defenseman that is so capable offensively, he also owns such great positioning and awareness in his own end, making him a lethal two-way threat.

My expectation for this event is that Landon would be easily one of the top players from his massive defensive effort, open up hits, rush creation, and ability to dangle and find players on the backside. He didn’t let me down in this game as he knocked players off balance early, powered through his turns so well, and jumped up into gaps which led to a pair of assists to his defensive partner off the rush. They both would decide to step into that gap and it almost seemed comical to find the two defenders essentially playing give and go cross ice. If Landon was a 2008-born player from Western Canada, he would have easily been my first overall selection for the WHL draft and he showed a bit why today despite the loss.

It just continues to impress me when you can shake up all the names and the story becomes the same. The way Landon drives possession through transitions, dependable passing routes, and can make any pass reception in full stride look easy is quite wonderful. He’s such a gifted skater from his form and acceleration; allowing him to shift laterally and drag with control to his reach.