[Sandman]

Draft Thoughts (American Edition, Vol. 11):

LHC William Horcoff (6'4",181lbs)
NTDP: 19gp/ 4g/ 4a/ 8pts, -2, 24 PIM
U of Michigan (NCAA): 4gp/ 1g/ 3a/ 4pts, -1, 2 PIM

Before the season even began, Will Horcoff (son of Shawn Horcoff) was given a "B" ranking by Central Scouting, designating him as a potential 2nd or 3rd-round pick, and throughout the year I've seen him high up on many lists. I've discovered that you can't get a proper read on this kid by stats-watching, reading up on his profile, or by catching highlights here and there- you have to watch him play to appreciate how good this kid is. He does all the little things (and a lot of the big things) to put his team in advantageous positions, and to win games- he's an absolute beauty. First of all, he's listed at 6'4", but he's actually closer to 6'5", and he uses his frame to be a highly physical power-forward with a very rugged, NHL-projectable style. In December, he made the jump to the NCAA with the U of Michigan, and he's managed to explode out of the gate with 4 points in 4 games so far, with ice-times of 9:19, 14:57, 13:23, and 14:12- and he doesn't turn 18 until January 23rd.

Horcoff already excels in his own zone, and is considered to be a detailed defensive player who looks to stifle the rush early- stepping up in the neutral zone with contact, or by using his long wingspan and a well-timed poke-check. He sometimes looks like a D-man in the middle-third, skating backwards and employing gap control to push attackers outside, but also in how he retrieves the puck down low and scans for the best outlets. He backchecks hard and heavy, and is proficient at shutting down lanes, disrupting passes, blocking shots, and removing time and space from those running the point. As a good defensive center should, he supports his teammates in battle all over the zone, and aids his D in corralling pucks down low. Once the puck touches his stick, it's going the other way with a quick pass. Horcoff is an underrated facilitator who seals off pressure, turns defense into offense, and constantly creates advantageous situations for his teammates in all 3 zones with his smarts, on and off the puck.

Horcoff is dominant along the boards, a force down-low, and is a load to handle in front of the net. He's a fierce forechecker, coming in hard and heavy to make life difficult for opponents on retrievals, and he hounds puck-carriers relentlessly. Often times, he looks like he's a little mean and likes to punish opponents and wear them down in addition to separating them from the puck. He has a great work-ethic, a high compete level, and doesn't seem to tire. Horcoff hasn't shown himself to be a prolific scorer in the past, but those who watch him regularly say he is a very intelligent player with a high IQ who processes the game quickly, and there are even moments of top-notch skill. He understands how to open space in the offensive zone, and he has a patient delay game to draw adversaries towards him to unlock pockets of space to pass into. In transition, he contributes by using the give-and-go to open lanes, and he also displays well-developed protection skills for times he has to move through traffic. Off the puck, he's just so smart and knows where to be to support his teammates and make himself available for the pass- he always seems to be in position at the right time. When in the offensive zone, he's able to make plays around the net and through the slot that make life miserable for goalies, and he has a hard, heavy shot that he not only uses to get shots on net, but also as a playmaking tool to manufacture second-chance opportunities for teammates.

Horcoff's stride was heavily criticized last season as being detrimental, but he's obviously put a ton of work into it; his stride still looks a little clunky and a bit choppy with an upright stance, but he can generate a surprising amount of power from it. He doesn't seem to be having trouble keeping up with the older players in college, and most of his issues here will clean themselves up as he gets stronger- I don't see it as a big issue anymore, but it will require work. His edges and agility look fairly good, as he can surf laterally across the ice to snuff a rush pretty quickly, and he keeps his feet moving constantly. Stylistically speaking, there are times when he reminds me of a baby Brady Tkachuk. Right now, he seems like a shoo-in for future bottom-6 duty in the NHL, but if he continues to develop his offense in the NCAA (and I think it's a good bet that he does), he will be a fine middle-6 NHL center. The more I digest on this kid, the more I like him, and the more I think he'll be taken in the second-round of the 2025 Draft. This is the type of prospect that makes scouts (and GM's) drool, and I can understand why he's so highly touted.