Blackhawks Draft Profiles: Will Horcoff

We started our series of Blackhawks Draft Profiles by looking at six options for the third overall pick in this month’s NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks also have the 25th overall pick, acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2023 trade for Jake McCabe and Sam Lafferty. General manager Kyle Davidson has been aggressive on draft night before, so there is no guarantee that this pick will be made. Will Horcoff brings a lot of what the Blackhawks are missing to the table, and would be a logical target at 25.

Tale of the Tape

Date of Birth: Jan. 23, 2007
Place of Birth: Birmingham, MI
Position: Left Wing/Center
Shoots: Left
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 190 pounds
2024-25 Team: USNTDP/University of Michigan (NCAA)

Player Profile

I believe that the third overall pick should be used on the best available player, not necessarily to fill a need. The 25^th pick can be used to add another first-round talent who fills a need. The Blackhawks need size up front, and Horcoff brings that. At 6-foot-4, he will be a tough matchup at the NHL level when he fills out.

You probably recognize the last name, as Will’s father, Shawn, played 15 seasons in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers, Dallas Stars, and Anaheim Ducks. Horcoff has an eventful draft season. It started with the U.S. National U18 Team and seven games with the USNTDP in the USHL. He was sidelined with an injury in November and returned to action with the University of Michigan in January. After being a point-per-game player in his first five NCAA contests, he finished the season with four goals and 10 points in 18 games.

Horcoff plays his best hockey in the defensive zone. His physicality stands out, but he also has superb awareness. His ability to read plays and use his size to disrupt an offensive attack is top-notch. He uses his big body to push the puck carrier to the outside, then uses his leverage to stop the attack.

While his physical defensive play is his best attribute, he is also a skilled playmaker with the puck. Horcoff has a knack for forcing defenders out of position and then making a quick pass through traffic to set up scoring chances. He does need to work on his pace of play and decision-making. Just because you welcome contact, doesn’t mean you have to seek it out every time on the ice. He will need to work on his skating, but there is plenty of time for that. Playing another season at an elite college program will go a long way in his development.

What Experts are Saying

“I’ve said it all year: if Dean Letourneau goes in the first round, Will Horcoff should, too. Sometimes those guys work out, sometimes they don’t. People forget Tage Thompson was raw, and others like Riley Tufte or Brian Boyle had their ups and downs. But Horcoff’s shown more at Michigan and the U18s than he did earlier in the year. He’s skilled, thinks the game well, can shoot, score, play net front. He’s really competitive and physical. Plus, he’s got great NHL lineage. When you start projecting what he could be at 22 or 23, he becomes one of the more intriguing upside bets late in the first.” – NHL Scout, per Elite Prospects

“Horcoff is a raw talent, but one who has shown he can adapt no matter the situation. He’s competitive, can put guys through the glass, and can shoot the puck very well. Horcoff’s mobility might limit his potential, but he has enough going for him both physically and in his bloodlines to suggest he’ll have a solid NHL career.” – Stephen Ellis, Daily Faceoff

“Horcoff is a big body who extends plays below the goal line and sets screens around the crease. His open ice pace is average-plus, and he’s adjusting defensively at the college level. He’s a power-style forward who shields pucks and opponents.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet

Blackhawks Fit

The Blackhawks need what Horcoff brings to the table. He’s a big-bodied two-way forward who plays a physical style of defense sorely lacking in the system. He’s a long-term project, but the Blackhawks have time to wait. His NHL pedigree certainly doesn’t hurt his cause.

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Additional Draft Profiles

Anton Frondell
Caleb Desnoyers
Jack Nesbitt
Cullen Potter
Daniil Prokhorov
Malcolm Spence
Milton Gastrin