D Landon Dupont - Edge School U15 Prep, CSSHL U15 (2027 Draft)

[Hammer Slammer]

 

[Bubbles]

2A tonight. Beauty pass on Bear's goal last week:

 

[Mathieukferland]

2A tonight. Beauty pass on Bear's goal last week:

At 4:33 in that video there’s a highlight of him with the tomahawk stride to switch direction backward to forward; it’s an insanely hard footwork sequence to pull off and I’ve only ever seen Makar do it in the NHL (lots of forwards, notably Crosby, do it, but not to change backward to forwards, rather to face the play). That level of skill is insane for a 15 year old and if that’s the base footwork he’s dealing with at 15, the sky is the limit

 

[coooldude]

At 4:33 in that video there’s a highlight of him with the tomahawk stride to switch direction backward to forward; it’s an insanely hard footwork sequence to pull off and I’ve only ever seen Makar do it in the NHL (lots of forwards, notably Crosby, do it, but not to change backward to forwards, rather to face the play). That level of skill is insane for a 15 year old and if that’s the base footwork he’s dealing with at 15, the sky is the limit

I thought it was an awesome video and at 15 he looks like he has a huge number of the physical tools already. That said, I don't think the transition you're describing is that uncommon... I am a scrub beer leaguer and I use a similar transition often when going from defense to attack in the NZ or when cycling from the blue line in the OZ. He's handling the puck at speed skating backwards on his backhand, and he opens the hips to step through onto his forehand. Pretty standard.

Again, this is not to say I'm any good. Just that his skating looks incredible, but not to me because of that specific footwork sequence. Just one of many plays from the video where he looked like a great skater and skilled player.

 

[Bubbles]

After a couple of games, I'm pretty impressed. He has a lot to learn, but the potential is sky high:

Pros:

His skating is elite. Both forwards and backwards. Sometimes, he'll use his skating to get out of tricky spots.
Passing is very good, always head up and often spots the open man. One timer is OK, haven't really seen his shot, he did deke on a breakaway but just missed:

Cons:

Doesn't really play defensively at all. But that's easy to teach.

He is overly aggressive on the offensive end. Often positions himself at the top of the circles which is way too deep for a D-man.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Is the defense something that was a problem for him prior to the WHL?

 

[Faceboner]

Is the defense something that was a problem for him prior to the WHL?

Meh 15 years old and defense is a really hard position to play especially against older competition. But doesn't mean that it won't hurt his development if his confidence gets shaky early on

 

[Bubbles]

Is the defense something that was a problem for him prior to the WHL?

No idea, I don't watch prospects until they reach major junior.

 

[macbowes]

Is the defense something that was a problem for him prior to the WHL?

I think some would say yes, but he's been the most talented player on every team he's been on, so it's hard to blame him too much when he can regularly transition the puck out of his own end by himself. I think he has the tools to be a high end defender, because of his agile skating and high IQ. He's not thin, either, so I don't think strength will be an issue for him.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Meh 15 years old and defense is a really hard position to play especially against older competition. But doesn't mean that it won't hurt his development if his confidence gets shaky early on

You can’t just poo-poo a main part of the game. It’s important to know if he’s never been any good at defense or whether he’s struggling because of his age and the jump to a better league.

 

[wetcoast]

You can’t just poo-poo a main part of the game. It’s important to know if he’s never been any good at defense or whether he’s struggling because of his age and the jump to a better league.

At this point it doesn't really matter as his skillset simply makes him the #1 guy for the 27 draft right now as he has the skillset to become a capable defender but his offense is off the charts because of that skating and his size isn't going to hold him back.

 

[bigdog16]

You can’t just poo-poo a main part of the game. It’s important to know if he’s never been any good at defense or whether he’s struggling because of his age and the jump to a better league.

Its always been a question mark because he never had to actually play defense before. His dad was his coach and there were never any repercussions. The skillset offensively is undeniable, I think we will learn a lot about his defensive play as the year progresses.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

At this point it doesn't really matter as his skillset simply makes him the #1 guy for the 27 draft right now as he has the skillset to become a capable defender but his offense is off the charts because of that skating and his size isn't going to hold him back.

How can you say that? A one way defenseman is without a doubt before the draft has entered junior around the world a guaranteed 1OA?

And I’m not even suggesting that’s what his game amounts to, but you are arguing for that.

Look at Parekh. One way, some of the best draft eligible defenseman stats in the CHL ever, and barely made the top 10. In fact, there has not been a one-way offensive defenseman below 6’0 that went in the top five as far back as I’ve been following the NHL draft.