Landon DuPont is tracking as the top prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft, prompting struggling teams to evaluate their roster needs and lottery odds early in the 2026-27 season. Daily Faceoff reported that the 17-year-old defenseman has recorded six points in his first five games during his freshman year at the University of Michigan.
Canucks Evaluate Lottery Odds for Top Prospect Landon DuPont
The Vancouver Canucks sit with a score of 10 out of 15 on the DuPoints evaluation rubric, which measures positional need, lottery misfortune, and desperation factor. Vancouver has never won the NHL draft lottery and dropped to No. 3 in the 2026 draft after finishing as the league’s worst team. The Canucks hold a solid stable of young defenders, meaning DuPont would compete with Filip Hronek and Tom Willander on the right side.
Chicago Blackhawks Face Roster Pressure
The Chicago Blackhawks generated a score of 9 out of 15 in the evaluation system, driven heavily by high organizational pressure. General manager Kyle Davidson faces mounting scrutiny following another difficult start to the season, just months after trading a top-five pick for Bowen Byram and signing him to a contract with a $12.5 million average annual value.
Chicago drafted Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick in 2024 and employs shutdown options in Alex Vlasic and Wyatt Kaiser. Despite those assets, the team lacks a definitive game-breaker on the blue line to stabilize a volatile defensive group.
Los Angeles Kings Balance Aging Core
The Los Angeles Kings recorded 7 out of 15 DuPoints, reflecting an aging roster that relies on veteran additions. The Kings signed 38-year-old Mats Zuccarello, 34-year-old Erik Gustafsson, 35-year-old Erik Haula, 32-year-old Scott Laughton, and 41-year-old Corey Perry on July 1.
Brandt Clarke and Mikey Anderson anchor the defensive core, but the rest of the group remains old as Drew Doughty enters the final year of his contract.
Calgary Flames Seek Franchise Building Blocks
The Calgary Flames earned 9 out of 15 DuPoints while preparing for their move into Scotia Place for the 2027-28 season. The franchise has never won a draft lottery and has not selected in the top three since arriving in Calgary in 1980, with Sam Bennett’s fourth-overall selection in 2014 standing as their highest pick.
Calgary possesses a deep group of right-shot defensive prospects, including Zayne Parekh, Simon Nemec, Carson Carels, Kevin Bahl, and Hunter Brzustewicz. While a local talent like DuPont would immediately capture fan interest, the team needs any prospect who can advance their ongoing rebuild.
Columbus Blue Jackets Face Uncertainty
The Columbus Blue Jackets totaled 9 out of 15 DuPoints, though that figure could rise depending on the future of reigning Norris Trophy winner Zach Werenski. Werenski headlines a defensive group that includes Ivan Provorov, Damon Severson, Denton Mateychuk, and Jackson Smith.
Columbus has won a single playoff series in 25 years and struggles with the second-lowest average attendance in the league. The Blue Jackets dropped from second to third in the 2023 draft, missing out on Leo Carlsson and selecting Adam Fantilli instead.
Philadelphia Flyers Target Defensive Anchor
The Philadelphia Flyers lead all evaluated clubs with a score of 12 out of 15 DuPoints. The team missed out on Zeev Buium in the 2024 draft by trading down to select Jett Luchanko, and passed on Kashawn Aitcheson and Jackson Smith in favor of Jack Nesbitt at No. 12 in 2025.
Oliver Bonk has shown promise in early NHL action, but Jamie Drysdale has plateaued and Travis Sanheim has entered his 30s.