When the 2026-27 NHL regular season concludes, the Seattle Kraken will have one of two things to look forward to. (1) Their hope, to continue the season into the Stanley Cup playoffs. (2) The recommendation of most hockey pundits, and even some Kraken fans, that they get the opportunity to draft the next generational talent.
If Seattle ever wants to escape the playoff bubble blahs, they need a great young superstar, a la Connor Bedard in Chicago or Macklin Celebrini in San Jose or Matthew Schaefer on Long Island.
The early-early-early speculation is that defenseman Landon DuPont could be that guy. Let’s say the Kraken lose, as in don’t make the playoffs, but then win, as getting their ping-pong-ball numbers called in next May’s Draft Lottery. NHL.com calls DuPont, “The next great franchise-defining piece on defense for the NHL club holding the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.”
Kraken Would Welcome DuPont’s Return To Western Wash.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because DuPont helped the Everett Silvertips win the 2026 WHL championship, and reach the Memorial Cup Final. Known as an “exceptional status” player, he was deemed talented enough to play junior hockey a year early, when he was 15.
DuPont poured in a total of 35 goals for the ‘Tips the past two seasons. Now 17, he’ll play this upcoming season for the University of Michigan. But don’t expect the 5-foot-11, 185 pound defender to remain in Ann Arbor for more than a year.
“He’s been able to process the game at an elite level from a very young age,” says David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting. “Very few prospects can do this, playing against bigger, stronger and older opponents. He combines this with elite skating ability. He can make a play from anywhere on the ice.”
The Kraken and their fans can dream of the Calgary native returning to Puget Sound, someday forming a 1st-D pairing alongside 2026 1st round draft pick Chase Reid. With prospect Blake Fiddler slated to join them and vets Brandon Montour and Adam Larsson in the mix, good luck piercing the Seattle zone in a couple of years.
Present & Future Of Kraken Defense
Simmer wrote this week about the current state of the Kraken defense. “Top guy Vince Dunn turns 30 and will be an unrestricted free agent (UFA) at season’s end. 32-year old Montour has five years left on his Seattle contract; 33-year-old Larsson has three remaining. Jamie Oleksiak, the “big rig”, who turns 34 in December, has already departed, signing as a free agent this summer with the Canucks.”
Bleacher Report added this about Seattle’s blueline. “DuPont’s arrival would significantly accelerate that group’s development. Up front, Matty Beniers, Berkly Catton and newcomer Mackie Samoskevich headline a young core that could drive the franchise forward in the coming years.
“Still, the Kraken’s lack of offensive punch and overall depth last season hurt them significantly and does not inspire much confidence in their outlook this year.”
If the Kraken were to land DuPont, however, that might be looked back on someday as a blessing in disguise.
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