As if the Vancouver Canucks needed more incentive to be bad again next year.

Trading away the best defenceman in franchise history has cast a cloud over the organization. Whether you like the return or not, the fact that they were in that spot originally is a colossal failure.

Fortunately, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.

All could be forgiven if the Canucks were to somehow land the first overall pick in 2027, giving them a chance to draft a potentially generational defenceman in Landon DuPont.

The 16-year-old defender is already one of the best defencemen in the WHL, largely controlling the pace of play despite being one of the youngest skaters on the ice.

He was the first defenceman to be granted exceptional status in the league. DuPont lived up to the hype, posting 60 points in 64 games as a 15-year-old.

In 2024-25, he became the first rookie WHL defenceman aged 16 or under to record 50 points since Scott Niedermayer did so in 1989-90.

This season, he’s continued to shine. DuPont ranks fifth in the WHL among defencemen in scoring. His 1.16 points-per-game this season is ahead of both Ryan Lin and Daxon Rudolph, both of whom are potential top-10 picks in this year’s draft.

Not only is DuPont the consensus No. 1 overall pick in 2027, but his favourite team may have the best chance at drafting him next season.

Last summer, DuPont was asked in a clip posted by the NHL what his favourite team was.

“Probably the Vancouver Canucks,” he said.

Get to know the projected first overall pick in the 2027 #NHLDraft, Landon DuPont! 👋 #NHLYoungStarsWeek pic.twitter.com/hmWD5JlWIU

— NHL (@NHL) July 20, 2025

That clip was posted before the Canucks traded Hughes, and that decision seems to have tested DuPont’s fandom.

“Yeah, I’m sort of a Canucks fan,” DuPont told The Athletic. “Though ever since [Quinn Hughes] got traded, I don’t know if I still want to be with them.”

“They’ve got Zeev Buium, though, and I really like his game!”

That wasn’t the only occasion where DuPont expressed affection for the highly touted Canucks rookie blueliner.

During an interview on the Prospect Don Show, DuPont was asked who he modelled his game after.

“Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and a new, young stud defenceman, Zeev Buium,” he said. “I like him a lot.”

Pretty good company for Buium to be mentioned in.

And, could you blame Canucks fans if they salivate over the potential of a blueline led by DuPont and Buium in the near future?

Vancouver already missed their chance at drafting two immensely talented young players who grew up Canucks fans in Conor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini.

So, third time’s the charm?