The Pittsburgh Penguins made a bold statement at the 2025 NHL Draft, holding three first-round picks and using one of them on University of Michigan forward Will Horcoff. At the time, the selection looked like a solid investment in a potential middle-six NHL contributor.
But a few months into the college hockey season, Horcoff is making it clear-he might be more than just a depth piece. He might be a star in the making.
Horcoff has been electric out of the gate for Michigan, a program currently sitting atop the national rankings. Through 18 games, he’s racked up 18 goals and 26 points-good for a point-per-game pace and a share of the national scoring lead. That kind of production doesn’t just turn heads-it puts you squarely in the Hobey Baker conversation, college hockey’s most prestigious individual honor.
And he’s not doing it in a vacuum. Horcoff is tied for the national lead in points alongside teammates TJ Hughes and Michael Hage, as well as Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante.
While Plante and his brother Zam hold a slight edge in points per game, Horcoff’s goal-scoring prowess is what’s setting him apart. The old adage in college hockey circles is “Hobey loves goals,” and Horcoff is averaging one per night.
That’s the kind of stat line that makes voters take notice.
What makes this even more impressive is the context. This NCAA season is one of the most talent-rich in recent memory, thanks in large part to a wave of Canadian junior talent making the jump to college hockey over the summer. The level of competition has never been higher, and Horcoff isn’t just keeping up-he’s leading the charge.
For the Penguins, this has to be an encouraging development. Horcoff is showing he can thrive against elite competition, and he’s doing it with consistency and poise.
His offensive instincts, skating, and finishing touch are translating at a high level. That’s the kind of trajectory you want to see from a first-round pick, especially one projected to slot into your middle six down the road.
Whether Horcoff can sustain this torrid pace remains to be seen-college hockey seasons are long, and opposing teams will start game-planning around him. But right now, he’s not just a promising prospect-he’s one of the best players in the country. And if this is the version of Will Horcoff the Penguins are getting in the future, they may have landed a steal in the first round.