Pittsburgh Penguins select Will Horcoff in 1st round of 2025 NHL Draft

The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Michigan forward Will Horcoff in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft. He went as the No. 24 overall pick.

Horcoff is coming off an impressive freshman season at Michigan. He had 10 points – four goals and six assists – to help rise up the NHL Draft board as one of the top prospects available.

Horcoff also played in the 2024 U18 Five Nations, where he won a gold medal and played in four games. In 2023, he competed in the U16 Hockey Challenge and won a silver medal while playing in seven games.

Of course, hockey is in Horcoff’s blood. His father, Shawn, played for the Edmonton Oilers and logged more than 1,000 games in the NHL. Now, he will look to follow in his dad’s footsteps, though ESPN’s John Buccigross indicated Will Horcoff could play another couple years at Michigan first.

But watching his dad play in the NHL, Horcoff knew he wanted to be a hockey player. He reflected on that journey with ESPN’s Leah Hextall after he heard his name called.

“Honestly, since I was very young,” Horcoff said. “Going to the games in Edmonton, seeing the fans and seeing how much each guy cared about the sport, I always knew it was my dream since then. I’m really glad to be at this point. I’m super happy and thankful for everyone who’s helped me along the way.”

What NHL Draft experts are saying about Will Horcoff

Will Horcoff makes a major impact on defense, and that was part of the reason he jumped out as an NHL Draft prospect. He’s also a talented passer and could find himself becoming a physical presence, depending on when how he develops, according to ESPN’s Rachel Doerrie.

“The son of former NHLer Shawn Horcoff, Will projects as a defensively reliable third-line center with size, strength and strong off-puck instincts,” Doerrie wrote. “At nearly 6-5, he’s a disruptive force in his own zone, using his range and physicality to pressure puck attackers and cause turnovers.

“Offensively, he facilitates with smart passes and uses his size to play with contact and protect the puck. He’ll need to develop his skating from a speed and mobility perspective to grow offensively. If he adds a step with some explosiveness and fills out his frame, Horcoff could become a physically imposing, two-way pivot in a bottom-six NHL role who plays against secondary matchups.”