Draft season is here. Landon DuPont is the name to know heading into next June's NHL draft class.
The Hlinka Gretzky Cup wrapped up, and scouts have their first real look at the top prospects in controlled international competition. DuPont leads the pack so far, though the season is still young. Teams will spend the next nine months dissecting film, watching these players night after night, checking their progress against current NHL talent.
The prospect rankings will shift. They always do. A kid who dominates in September gets exposed in November. Another one clicks in December and doesn't look back. The scouts know this. That's why they watch every weekend, not just the highlights.
DuPont has the early edge, but the real story isn't one name. It's depth. This class has options at positions teams need, and the competition level across the league means these teenagers are facing legitimate talent every game. The Hlinka results matter because they're the first real test. Everything after this is the long evaluation, the nitty-gritty work that determines draft order come June.