Michigan Lands Top Hockey Prospect
Projected No. 1 NHL Pick Landon DuPont Commits to Michigan's Hockey Program
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Key Points
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Landon DuPont became the only WHL exceptional-status player outside Connor Bedard to earn an exemption at age 15, highlighting his early entry into major junior hockey.
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He was the top overall pick in the 2024 WHL Draft when he was just 15 years old.
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DuPont helped the Everett Silvertips win the WHL title and earn a berth in the 2026 Memorial Cup.
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In the WHL playoffs last season, he recorded 23 points in 18 games, underscoring his impact in postseason play.
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DuPont visited both Michigan and Michigan State last week during the recruitment process, signaling a decisive choice in his college destination.
Landon DuPont, the consensus No. 1 projected pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, has committed to the University of Michigan for the 2026-27 season, Daily Faceoff reported on June 24. The 17-year-old defenseman chose the Wolverines over Michigan State, Denver, and Minnesota, ending the most high-stakes recruiting race in college hockey this year.
DuPont arrives in Ann Arbor off a dominant season with the Everett Silvertips. He posted 73 points — 18 goals and 55 assists — in 63 WHL games, then added 23 points in 18 playoff games as Everett won the WHL title. Prospect analyst Cam Robinson called the commitment a "massive get" that closes one of the year's biggest sweepstakes, according to TSN.
How a 15-Year-Old Prodigy Reached This Moment
DuPont's path to Michigan started unusually early. In April 2024, the WHL granted him "exceptional status" — a rare exemption that lets a player enter the league a full year ahead of schedule. He was only the second player ever to receive it, after Connor Bedard, and the first defenseman in WHL history, according to WHL Official.
Selected No. 1 overall by Everett in the 2024 WHL Draft at age 15, DuPont won WHL Rookie of the Year in 2025 after a 60-point debut season. NHL.com noted he was the first WHL rookie defenseman to hit 60 points since Scott Niedermayer in 1989-90. His plus-59 rating last season ranked among the best in the entire league, per Elite Prospects.
Michigan Wins the Recruiting Battle Over Rival MSU
DuPont visited both Michigan and Michigan State on June 18-20, according to The Athletic. The decision came down to fit and opportunity. Analyst Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff said Michigan was "the perfect spot" because DuPont would get "more runway as a true No. 1 defenseman" than at rival programs.
Scott Wheeler of The Athletic noted that Michigan's specific need for a top-pairing defenseman — and the program's resources — made the Wolverines the frontrunner over Denver and Minnesota. Reports from Sportsnet suggest the recruiting race involved NIL offers nearing $1 million, reflecting a new era in college hockey recruiting. Michigan State, described by Spartan Avenue as "this close," may now pivot to other top targets like Daxon Rudolph.
DuPont Could Be the Missing Piece for a Title Run
Michigan has reached the Frozen Four in multiple straight seasons but hasn't won a national title since 1998. The Wolverines lost 4-3 in double overtime to Denver in the 2026 semifinal, per Michigan Athletics. Head coach Brandon Naurato now has what analysts view as the "final piece" to anchor a defense that has cracked under postseason pressure.
DuPont is expected to quarterback Michigan's top power play, likely alongside returning star Michael Hage. Ellis called him "a game-breaking puck-mover" who should demand top power-play minutes immediately, per Daily Faceoff. DuPont said of leaving Everett: "Winning a championship together is something I'll always cherish," according to HeraldNet.
Father's Pro Career and a Growing College Hockey Trend
DuPont's development was shaped in part by his father, Micki DuPont, a former NHL and professional defenseman who raised Landon while playing in Germany and Switzerland, according to Daily Faceoff. That international background gave Landon early exposure to a high level of competition well before his WHL debut.
His college choice also fits a wider trend. Elite Canadian prospects like Gavin McKenna — who chose Penn State in 2025 — are increasingly picking the NCAA over more years in major junior hockey, driven by NIL money and the college development model, per Sports Illustrated. In the NCAA, DuPont will face players ages 18 to 24, older and stronger than WHL competition, which could cement his No. 1 draft status heading into 2027.
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