Landon DuPont (RHD) - Michigan
6' 0, 190 lbs, Shoots Right
Everyone knows Landon DuPont’s name by now, he is remarkably complete as a defensive prospect. His trek to Michigan has led to some very impressive results already, even if some of these results have been against some weaker opponents in Bowling Green and Alaska-Anchorage.
The highest standout of DuPont’s game is his skating and pace of play. DuPont’s mobility is at an NHL level already. He isn’t a burner like some offensive defensemen but the combination of his 8/10 speed with his 10/10 evasiveness will kill opponents in transition. His motor additionally plays a huge role in DuPont’s blistering pace. He has no issue turning up the heat at any point in a shift. Edgework is another large compartment of DuPont’s pace and elusivity. His edges make turns incredibly easy whether at rest or in motion. In transition and on breakouts, this ability to twist and turn in any direction to find an open passing lane is critical to his success as a puck-moving defenseman. It goes both ways as well as DuPont can support the rush as well as he starts it, getting open in transition with ease and possessing all the tools and intelligence to attack the neutral and offensive zones. Rounding out his offensive game, DuPont has tremendous stick work to create space, extend plays, and expose gaps. It is so rare to find a defensive prospect who can be a driver, playmaker, and safety valve all in one.
During his only game against the defending college champs in Denver, his flash and creativity were both challenged but it led to him showing more refined details. His motor was obviously a highlight but DuPont showed remarkable hand-eye and puck control in his game. Another strength revealed by the Denver game was his defensive zone shifts. Despite being barely six foot, DuPont is very sound defensively, having the speed and playreading skills to stay with opponents to defend rushes and cycles. His gap control is very noteworthy as it has transitioned to the college level, which itself has gotten faster and faster in pace of play each year. He will never be a hard hitter but his relentless compete and good positioning give him a boost when trying to knock his opponents off pucks.
DuPont has clearly separated himself as the clear number one pick in this early stage. He has been showing an offensive defenseman case that is too strong to pass up at this point. Day one in the NHL at this point should see him on the first power play and top pairing at even strength. He could become a true, all situations #1 defenseman, with a great situation and proper development as well.
Looking at some clips to display these details:
DuPont finds a tight lane along the wall, exploiting space with speed and draws the attention of all defenders while he wheels around behind the net, finding Perron out in front of the net.
DuPont is defending a rush and shows his mastery of gap control, stick usage and then closing the play, taking the opposing forward into the wall.
DuPont walks the line with the puck and looks off a better passing option, and then floats to the wall and shoots a less than ideal shot.
DuPont shoots the puck on net and it turns into a race for the puck thats tumbling towards his own zone, DuPont uses his stick to knock the puck away from the opposing forward and then goes for his body.
Diego Gutierrez (RHD) - USNTDP
6' 2" 192 lbs, Shoots Right
In a weaker defensive class, Gutierrez is a breath of fresh air, being 6 '2, 200 pounds and having a right hand shot, a rare sight in a class whose defensive highlights tend to be on the shorter side. Gutierrez made a bold call to stay with the NTDP after several high-class teammates departed for the CHL. The tools are what make Gutierrez special and he will have plenty of time to round out his two-way game and become a highlight in an otherwise lackluster year for defensemen.
Starting with his skating, Gutierrez can fly and it contributes to his excellent transition skills and general puck carrying ability. He is very mobile, possessing great edgework and lateral movement to keep opposing players guessing at the blueline. Gutierrez is a very instinctual player in transition; he is always open to receive a pass and works well as a rush supporter on many occasions. However, that instinctual nature can show through in moments when he needs polishing. Gutierrez needs to be a more accurate and aware passer. At times his ability to thread the puck to teammates is at a highlight level, however, his full body of work shows that he needs to find sticks better and realize when his pass opportunities are. Despite his passing inefficiencies, Gutierrez controls the puck well, losing the puck on rare occasions due to his agility and above average handwork. Shooting wise, he is around average, he has good shot selection from the top of the zone but I want to see him take more advantage of his speed to put himself into positions for closer shots.
Defensively, Gutierrez is quite solid. His skating is just as impressive defending the rush as it is supporting it. Gutierrez sets his feet with intensity and puts great work into driving zone entries wide and to the wall. His defensive stick is impressive, knocking away chances with his long reach and intelligence, knowing exactly when to attack a puck carrier. He has become more of a factor on the PK as the season has gone along and can cut off opposing passing options just by virtue of his skating and reach covering that much ice. Gutierrez reads plays very well in his own zone; he loves to cover the wall when defending cycles to make attackers take their chances passing in the middle of the ice. However, he can lose the puck at times and be caught in a standstill. Gutierrez isn’t a complete in-zone defender yet, but he has the tools and sense to become one.
Overall, Gutierrez has a ton of skill and potential with his tools and intelligence at his disposal. However, he will be a bit of a project with some patience required. He can get himself into trouble by being overeager on rushes and getting caught way behind a play that gets flipped to the other team. His early strides look promising in all aspects except for offense as he has only scored one point through his six games of USHL play thus far. I can see him rising to become a very useful #3 or #4 defenseman who can be above average defensively with a flash of offensive drive in his game at this point.
Looking at clips:
Here is a clip of the highs and lows of Gutierrez’s play. He starts the rush with incredible speed, passes then picks up the loose puck, enters the zone and fires to the slot but the play goes the other way and Gutierrez is caught way down the ice.
Gutierrez defends the rush with his lateral movement and stick skills and then supports the rush going the other way and helps establish the USNTDP in their zone.
Though he never touches the puck, Gutierrez is in motion from the second the puck is possessed by a NTDP forward and remains a great passing option for the entirety of the play, taking away defenders to reveal a wide open forward in front of the net. Gutierrez’s mobility gives his team a ton of options.
Riley Zupfer (W/C) - Des Moines
6' 0" 170 lbs, Shoots Left
Another year, another intriguing, skilled forward worth talking about in Des Moines. Riley Zupfer started his season hot and depending on who you ask, he is either the first or second highest rated draft eligible forward in the USHL this year. In a way, his game reminds me of other Des Moines draft eligibles like Ben Kevan and Blake Zielinski with his play, which should lead to him garnering early mid-round attention all year. Zupfer is also a Notre Dame commit, joining a number of intelligent, offensive forwards bound for South Bend.
Offensively, Zupfer is best characterized as patient and intelligent. He loves to hang above the play, acting as a safety valve between the circles. Zupfer is glued to the middle of the ice and reads the ice well to connect passes and find shooting lanes. His skating is flawed and doesn’t have a great stride or blazing speed, however he looks like he has grown physically since last season so I will give him a pass until he gets comfortable with his new height. Zupfer’s hands process the game at the same speed that his brain does, which is super fast. He makes his opponents respect his option to shoot always while finding a great passing partner. Zupfer has serious PP2 as a potential 3rd liner in an NHL lineup and his passing and stick skills are a big reason why. He is experimenting more with his deking and manipulation which has led to mixed results, but it is early in the season. Zupfer’s shot is a scary thing for opponents to deal with as he possesses the quick release, patience, and shot selection to bury his chances in close, though he strikes me as more of a pass-first forward. On rushes he is effective as well, though his skating holds him back his positioning is solid, acting as a safe passing option for his teammates. Though some remain unconvinced due to his skating, Zupfer’s instincts and intelligence on offense give me confidence that he has translatability.
Defensively, he is getting used to using his frame, though he is listed at 6 '0" even, he looks like he’s grown a bit so expect that height to rise. Zupfer’s timing makes up for his lack of speed and he has been knocking opponents off pucks with efficiency. His positioning also carries over to the defensive side of the puck, getting in the way of opposing pressure in the middle of the ice, forcing pressure wide to the wall. Zupfer’s defensive stick is very solid and should be one to watch as the season progresses.
Looking at the clips:
Zupfer breaks up a play at one end and then supports the rush on the other end of the ice. He shows off his ability to play a complete two-way game below average skating.
On a zone entry, Zupfer draws back and allows the Omaha defense to bite on the other two Des Moines forwards, leaving himself wide opening to receive the pass and score.
Zupfer corrals the puck, hitting his bumper and getting the puck back only to make a no-look pass to the goalscorer on the side of the net for the PP Goal.
Daniil Butin (W/C) - Sioux City
6' 2" 183 lbs, Shoots Left
11 games into his USHL season, Butin has already matched his production with Sioux City from last season. Butin is a lanky and awkward, yet explosive and deadly forward for the Musketeers, he could be a dangerously good forward that is flying under nearly every radar. He should not only be on some people’s watch list but he should be in conversations for the late first round by the end of the year. Butin is very raw but once he commits to an NCAA school his path to the NHL should get even clearer.
Offensively, Butin skates awkwardly at times, but that doesn’t stop him from getting some really good speed going under him. His edges and his lateral movement is a specialty of his, being able to pivot on the fly in the offensive zone. In a straight line, his stride is where he looks super awkward, not getting the power and explosiveness that he should be garnering. Butin’s motor and work rate is what really makes him special not just in the offensive zone but in every zone. When there is a loose puck, Butin will look like a bull trying to throw off a bull rider in the effort to get to that opportunity. He is a wild horse, but he can be tamed. One reason why I believe he is closer than expected is his hands. Butin’s hands and play reading ability are enhanced. He tracks the puck very well and always seems to know where it is to keep a play alive. Butin shows flashes of a great playmaker but is not consistent enough yet. Butin overall is extremely raw, especially in his offensive pursuits, however there is serious potential here.
Defensively, Butin has very good reflexes and they come in good use defensively. His lateral movement is one of the key reasons why he has featured on the penalty kill for Sioux City. Butin is 6 ‘2 but he isn’t as physical as first expected, without that physical he is still a capable defender. He follows the play very well on the PK, showing that he really has potential to play a man down at the next level. His physicality looks like it could gradually grow as he becomes more comfortable with his balance.
Overall, this is a really early bet on a player who looks like he could really garner some serious Top 2 round attention soon. Butin shows off incredible potential to be a very explosive two way winger with good instincts, great size and tools. There is a long way to go as he is very raw but committing to college will go a long way for his development. Butin could top out at 50 points a year on a third line, while mixing in PK2 minutes which is not half bad for a guy you could get in the late first round.
Looking at clips:
Butin jumps on an opposing defenseman at the blueline to create a breakaway that he almost ruins by tripping but his determination keeps him going enough to get space and the goal.
Butin jumps on the ice for a shift and immediately makes a play, reading a pass perfectly, intercepting it, deking around another defenseman and then shooting gloveside for the goal.
My favorite Butin play so far, he shows off his speed by getting to the wall and disrupting a breakout, passes it up to the defenseman, becomes an option along the wall for another pass and then gives it to another defenseman to make a play. Very intelligent play reading and cycle supporting here.
RE-Entry
A.J. Francisco (RHD) - Fargo
5' 11" 174 lbs, Shoots Right
When discussing re-entries, undersized offensive defensemen are seldom taken seriously. A.J. Francisco was a guy that I wrote off in his draft year but has flourished with more ice time and responsibility this year with Fargo in the USHL so far and it may get him some real consideration. Francisco’s profile is an offensive defenseman with limited speed but heightened senses in all three zones. The details he brings to the game are more pronounced now that he is away from the NTDP and he is showing a game that deserves consideration.
Offensively, scouts are always looking for offensive defensemen who are crafty and can support the play almost as a fourth forward at times. Francisco is a strong puck carrier, despite not having game changing speed. He is strong on his edges and very deceptive in open ice. Francisco is remarkably aware of the pressure around him and routinely knows the best angle for a zone exit. His hands assist him in his elusiveness, showing early on in this season his proclivity to split defenses with his activations with the puck. Francisco always had a very solid passing game, possessing adept cross-ice vision. He makes simple passing decisions quickly and with precision, helping him with simple banks off the boards all the way up to ice-length passes. His shot is legit, he played some forward in his past. and Francisco’s patience and quick release are evidence of that time paying off.
Defensively, he is more of a mixed bag. Francisco rises to challenges along the walls and uses his stick checking to great effect. He is aggressive when meeting zone entries and forcing his opponents wide. Francisco has shown development in the way he manages space though, he is a non-factor physically but does great work to put himself in between puck and opponent. His defense has seen strides taken since last year with the program but he still will be a below average defender for some time.
Overall, A.J. Francisco’s torrid start to this season deserves some recognition. There could still be some doubts over his defense or pace of play, and those are reasonable considering the fact that it’s the start of the season. However, there is serious potential here with Francisco, with an NHL that has seen the roles of offensive defensemen grow, to become a player in the future. He is committed to Notre Dame, a program whose defensive core will have a massive overhaul and will lead to plenty of opportunities to develop his offensive skill at the NCAA level.
Looking at clips:
Francisco enters the zone and finds a lane in the middle of ice after making a huge deke.
Francisco waits at the top of the zone and stays open, after getting the puck, he waits until he can pick a spot in his opponent's triangle and fire a shot with his quick release for the goal.
Though his lack of pace is exposed here, Francisco baits the 2-on-1 into thinking his partner is open, only for Francisco to get his stick in the lane and then shut down the passing option along the wall.
Already Drafted
Daxon Rudolph (RHD) - Denver
6' 3" 205 lbs, Shoots Right
In late June, Daxon Rudolph heard his name called in KeyBank Arena for the first of hopefully many times but the crowd reacted in shock to hear his name taken as the first defenseman off the board in the 2026 Draft. Rudolph has since gone to the University of Denver, making it his personal mission to prove the Sabres right for taking him at fourth overall. Only two other drafted players from the 2026 draft have as many points as Rudolph has to this point this year, as he’s put up seven points and two goals in six games. Are we witnessing the best defenseman in this draft class go to work early in his DY+1 season? Let’s see what Rudolph has improved from his draft year season.
Offensively, Rudolph has resumed a role he found all too familiar in the WHL, PP1 Quarterback. He has been running the offense from the blueline and has been a talent of Rudolph's for some time. It is amazing because his pace hasn't increased too much yet but his hands and play reading have been so good for the college level that he has thrived early. Rudolph’s shot has also been NCAA-calibre all along as he had zero trouble firing it at the biggest level. His ability to fire from tough angles keeps goalies on their toes and with a team as focused as Denver, they will come up on some rebound chances if he keeps doing that. Rudolph is a very capable passer with the occasional goof here and there. He’s particularly good at spacing out the opponent with ice-length passes but he is just as deadly in close range and from the blueline. His game has not changed drastically but what worked in the WHL has been working in college. Personally, I think the increase in speed that we’ve been waiting for with Rudolph will go a long way to reaching his full potential but that’s why he is in college right now and potentially for next season too.
Defensively, we have seen a more engaged Daxon Rudolph than from last year. You cannot just be an offensive defenseman in David Carle’s lineup, Rudolph looks like he’s been pushed to engage more physically. His defensive stick was always very solid but it has looked even better in spurts with Denver. Rudolph is not going to be a particularly special defender in his own zone but these strides he’s taken have already made a mark on several critics of his overall game. I’d like to see him less still on the PK however, he has been effective at breaking up plays at times, really using his size. If Rudolph can keep doing that and making average defensive plays to go along with his offensive production, there is a player who could make the jump to the NHL in time for a Sabres playoff run.
Overall, Rudolph has time to develop more as a defenseman in a great system like Denver, he realistically can play another year if he pleases. However, despite him not making massive strides early, Rudolph is standing out for making it work with a skill set that doesn’t always translate to the college game so seamlessly. Buffalo is going to have the same problem of having too many talented defensemen on their roster, one where they will be relieved by a very solid, tooled out player in Daxon Rudolph.
Looking at clips:
Against BC on the power play, Rudolph is an option at the blueline for the play along the wall, once the puck comes to him, he fires at an odd angle but picks an angle perfectly screened by net front forwards and it goes in.
Rudolph activates against Alaska, carrying the puck below the net line, finding a passing option in front of the net between two defensemen, who passes to another open forward for the goal. Great play reading and passing touch.
Rudolph has grown a ton as a defender and his work along the wall is a big reason why. He gets active along the wall behind the net on the penalty kill, stopping the play and making a quick between the legs pass to a teammate for the clear. His creativity helps him in defensive shifts too.