U17 Defensemen Dominating During The 2024-25 WHL Season

U17 defensemen have taken the league by storm. Landon DuPont, Keaton Verhoeff and Ryan Lin have all surpassed the 35-point mark this season and are on pace to become the eighth, ninth and tenth defensemen in league history to surpass the 50-point mark as either a 15 or 16-year-old. Despite their age, all three have become crucial players for their teams and are showing why they were all high WHL draft picks.

Starting with DuPont, he has been better than advertised. He leads all WHL rookies with 44 points, while his projected 72-point total would be the second-highest by a U17 defenseman in league history. Not draft-eligible until 2027, DuPont has a very bright future ahead of him at both the WHL level and in the NHL.

Moving over to Verhoeff, he has been a star for the Victoria Royals. Listed at 6'4", 212 lbs, he is up to 35 points in 39 games and is a big reason why the Royals are challenging for the division. A top prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, Verhoeff has already developed into one of the best offensive defensemen in the WHL.

Lastly, Lin is in contention to win team MVP for the Vancouver Giants this season. He has 35 points in 40 games and has already established a franchise record for most points by a 16-year-old defenceman. A player who looks like Quinn Hughes when the puck is on his stick, he is projected to be a lottery pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

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