NCAA hockey season preview: Landon DuPont follows Gavin McKenna’s path

The NCAA simply retains gaining popularity for high NHL Draft picks.

After 10 gamers chosen within the first spherical of the 2025 NHL Draft suited up within the NCAA within the ensuing season, the quantity is as much as 14 on the subject of 2026 picks for the upcoming marketing campaign.

This is 12 months two of the NCAA permitting ex-CHLers to play, and a development clearly is rising of high CHLers taking their abilities to U.S. school hockey following their draft 12 months.

However, there are exceptions — with some elite gamers of their draft 12 months getting into the NCAA to face older and stiffer competitors.

With 12 first-rounders from 2025 on rosters and 4 from 2024, the NCAA figures to be as sturdy as ever this season.

Heading into Friday’s first video games, here is a take a look at a few of the massive storylines:

Just like Gavin McKenna one 12 months earlier, Landon DuPont is leaving the WHL after main his crew to a league title and the Memorial Cup remaining for a shot within the NCAA earlier than he’s eligible for the NHL Draft.

Also like McKenna, the previous Everett Silvertips defenceman picked a program within the Big Ten — Michigan.

McKenna and Penn State fell within the first spherical of the NCAA event earlier than the Whitehouse native was chosen first general by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

DuPont appears to have an actual shot at making a deeper run with Michigan ranked No. 2 nationally in each polls getting into the season.

Some of his teammates embrace high Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, Canadian world junior goalie Jack Ivankovic (Nashville Predators) and three first-round freshmen — forwards JP Hurlbert (Detroit Red Wings) and Jack Nesbitt (Philadelphia Flyers), and defenceman Cameron Reid (Predators), who helped the Kitchener Rangers beat DuPont’s Silvertips within the Memorial Cup.

Two units of three brothers ought to play starring roles for potential contenders.

Minnesota-Duluth star Max Plante (Detroit Red Wings) is the primary Hobey Baker winner to return to the NCAA since 2007. He’s joined by his returning older brother, Zam Plante (Pittsburgh Penguins), and his youthful brother and newcomer, Victor Plante (Red Wings).

Meanwhile, 2026 first-round prospect Sammy Nelson joins older brothers Danny Nelson (New York Islanders) and Henry Nelson at Notre Dame.

Top expertise at Michigan State

Michigan State may have a file 9 first-round picks on its roster this season. They’ll play beneath a head coach who’s additionally serving as bench boss for the U.S. world junior crew this season — Adam Nightingale.

Key freshmen embrace towering winger Ethan Belchetz (Utah Mammoth), defencemen Chase Reid (Seattle Kraken) and Tommy Bleyl (Predators), and goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen (San Jose Sharks), who replaces star netminder Trey Augustine (Red Wings).

Calgary Flames first-rounder Cullen Potter additionally has transferred to Michigan State from Arizona State.

Teams with probably the most first-round picks historically have not been probably the most profitable at event time, nonetheless. The youthful Spartans will attempt to overcome that hurdle.

What does Denver do for an encore?

The David Carle-coached Denver Pioneers gained their third nationwide title in 5 years in 2026 with out the sort of star energy seen on different groups.

Unheralded freshman goalie Johnny Hicks rode an amazing scorching streak to victory, and Carle had Denver enjoying a really efficient model.

Hicks returns this season to a crew with some very spectacular freshmen on defence, together with Buffalo Sabres first-rounder Daxon Rudolph and Sharks first-rounder Ryan Lin.

Forward Jack Pridham (Tampa Bay Lightning) additionally begins his NCAA profession after serving to Kitchener win the Memorial Cup.

Denver hosts Michigan Oct. 16-17 in a rematch of final season’s Frozen Four semifinal.

Can Wyttenbach make a run for the Hobey Baker?

Flames fifth-round choose Ethan Wyttenbach made an enormous leap in his freshman season at Quinnipiac, main the nation in scoring whereas serving to the Bobcats advance to the NCAA event.

Wyttenbach must be thought-about one of many favourites for the Hobey Baker this 12 months as he enters his second season with a Quinnipiac crew returning with its high seven scorers.

If all goes nicely, the native of Roslyn, N.Y., might signal with the Flames on the finish of the season.

Flames watch at North Dakota

Flames scouts additionally may have an in depth eye on how issues are going at North Dakota.

First-round ahead Cole Reschny returns to captain the crew in his sophomore season, whereas first-round defenceman Carson Carels enters the NCAA ranks after making Canada’s junior crew final 12 months earlier than being picked sixth general by Calgary.

Toronto Maple Leafs third-round ahead Ethan MacKenzie is also enjoying his freshman 12 months at North Dakota after enjoying for Canada’s junior crew, whereas defenceman Keaton Verhoeff is again for his second 12 months after going ninth general to the Sharks.

North Dakota faces Michigan State on Oct. 31 in Austin, Texas, in what ought to be a improbable sport.

It was a down 12 months for Boston College and Boston University final season, with each groups lacking the NCAA event.

Both squads ought to have an opportunity to bounce again this season.

Six-foot-seven Boston Bruins first-round ahead Dean Letourneau returns for a 3rd season at Boston College after a breakout marketing campaign final 12 months. Columbus Blue Jackets first-round ahead Oscar Hemming ought to enhance after being restricted to half a season final 12 months due to a contract difficulty in Finland.

Dynamic ahead Matias Vanhanen (New Jersey Devils) joins BC after enjoying an enormous function in Everett’s march to the Memorial Cup remaining final season.

At Boston U, all eyes will probably be on incoming freshman ahead Caleb Malhotra, picked third general by the Vancouver Canucks on this 12 months’s draft after a wonderful OHL season with Brantford.

Forward Tynan Lawrence (St. Louis Blues first-rounder) is again after a half-season with Boston final 12 months, whereas new defenceman Haoxi (Simon) Wang (Sharks) and Xavier Villeneuve (Chicago Blackhawks) ought to present a lift to the blue line.