Some people will claim that DuPont’s size is a drawback to his game, because he’s only six feet tall and 190 pounds. Don’t listen to that. He’s a strong player, and he uses that strength well, bringing a nice element of physicality to every shift. He’ll be going up against bigger players this season, for sure, but he’s definitely not one to shy away from contact.
Although we highlighted his processing and intelligence as a strength, DuPont, of course, still exhibits poor decision-making at times. This usually shows up when he’s under pressure or rushed; it’s natural for players his age, even the really talented ones. When he does make these mistakes, he tends to recover quickly. Whether this trend continues at a higher level is something to watch this season, but our gut feeling is that it will, and he’ll be fine, continuing to develop that decision-making with time.
There are moments where you’re left wanting more in the sense that you see his skill and want to see him grab control of the game. It’s a valid want, and ideally we’ll see more of that from him this season. But this is an area where it’s so important to remember that he just turned 17. The games we’re judging his play from to build this scouting report were played as a 16-year-old.
He’s entering college hockey, where most players will be at least a couple, if not several, years older than him. It will be a challenge, and one he should be applauded for taking by the horns.