1st rounder Will Horcoff happy to land in Pittsburgh, driven to follow in father's NHL footsteps

Most players drafted into the NHL don’t care what team picks them on draft night, but for new Penguins forward Will Horcoff, Pittsburgh was one of the cities he had circled.

“I really had my fingers crossed that I’d come here,” Horcoff said. “I had a double interview with them at the combine, so I knew they were interested, and I’m super thankful that they picked me.”

Horcoff was drafted 24th overall in the first round this year after the Penguins traded up from the 31st spot.

With player development camp taking place this weekend at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry, Horcoff has been able to get a glimpse into what the facilities look like at the NHL level.

“I mean, it’s unreal, and the facilities are incredible,” he said. “I’ve seen the facilities, and they’re amazing so it’s an honor to be here and I’m excited to go through this whole week.”

He spent his freshman season playing for the Michigan Wolverines, scoring 10 points in 18 games.

Horcoff buries a Hughes rebound on the power play and it’s 3-3 pic.twitter.com/BTyQRb3gOg

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) March 8, 2025

His college commitment was somewhat of a surprise, considering his NHL father, Shawn Horcoff, played at Michigan State, a school that was also among the final choices for Horcoff.

“He always told me to go where I felt belonged, and he really supported my decision in the whole process,” Horcoff said.

That doesn’t mean his father will be rocking the maize-and-blue anytime soon.

“He just won’t wear anything Michigan,” Horcoff joked. “He said not until we win the national championship, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

Shawn Horcoff played in the NHL from 2000-16, mostly with the Edmonton Oilers. He spent his final three seasons in Dallas and Anaheim.

Shawn Horcoff was a fourth-round selection of the Oilers in the 1998 NHL Draft, making his professional debut two years later.

Will Horcoff has grown up around hockey thanks to his father. It is a reason why they share so many similarities.

“I mean, we’re kinda similar,” Horcoff said. “We both work super hard, and I try to model my work ethic off of him because he showed me how bad he wanted it and he had an incredible career.”

Horcoff has been around the world following his father’s hockey journey, making him adaptive to new environments almost every year of his life.

“Growing up, I think I’ve been to nine different schools to this point,” Will said. “I’ve had to meet new people, which has really helped my personality, so I’m really outgoing and not afraid to talk to new people.”

Now in another new city, Horcoff and his other new draftees have been exploring Pittsburgh throughout the past week leading up to development camp. Along with fellow first-rounders Bill Zonnon and Ben Kindel, Horcoff threw out the ceremonial first pitch at last Monday’s Pittsburgh Pirates game.

“It was unbelievable. Like, I didn’t notice the skyline in the background. It was sick,” Horcoff said. “I was nervous because I’ve seen all of those worst first pitch videos, and I didn’t want to drill someone in the back or miss the catcher.”