14-year-old defenseman Landon DuPont has been granted exceptional status by the WHL and will enter major junior hockey a year early, the league confirmed today. He’s the first defenseman to be granted exceptional status in WHL history and only the second player ever, joining Blackhawks rookie and current Calder Trophy favorite Connor Bedard.
DuPont, the son of Calgary native and former Flame Micki DuPont, is the (very) early consensus first-overall pick for the 2027 NHL Draft. Granting him exceptional status allows him to have three full seasons of major junior play under his belt before having his rights picked up by an NHL club.
Playing on the U-18 squad for the Edge School, a Calgary-based prep academy in the CSSHL, DuPont had a record-breaking season, leading the team with 19 goals, 43 assists and 62 points in only 30 games. He’s the only 14-year-old defenseman ever to play a full season at the top level of the Canadian prep circuit, and his point production has only ever been surpassed by Bedard, projected 2026 first-overall pick Gavin McKenna, and Sabres first-round pick Matthew Savoie among U-15 players at the U-18 level.
DuPont, already at 5’11” and 170 lbs, has been praised by WHL GMs for his play-driving ability, skating, and shot power – essentially a complete package for a top-pairing, first-power-play defender. His Edge School coach called out Avalanche star Cale Makar as a comparable.
His rights currently aren’t held by a WHL club, but today’s announcement makes him eligible for selection in this year’s bantam draft. He’ll be the first-overall pick and will be headed to the Everett Silvertips. Everett finished second in the U.S. Division this season but won the draft lottery with a selection originally owned by the Kamloops Blazers, who parted with the pick to add top Ducks defense prospect Olen Zellweger last season.
hope it all works out for this kid
Looks like Letang ++, hope he continues to develop. Wish him the best.
Pretty lame when they are claiming he’s already the “consensus 1st overall pick” in a draft that won’t happen for THREE YEARS.
And LAME writing claiming his point totals were “only ever been surpassed” by 3 other players – who ALL had higher point total BEFORE this guy.
THEY didn’t “surpass” him – HE never surpassed THEM.
The article reads like it was written by some poser hoping maybe this kid will see it and pick him to be his agent or something.
Josh Erickson is the best writer on this site. He did say (very) early 1st consensus pick, as far as the surpass statement I don’t even what you talking about he made sense in how he wrote it. You having a bad day my man you got really triggered there Karen….I mean Kerryd
I second that. Great writer. Someone is just angry that a 14 year old could probably beat them up ;)