The Pittsburgh Penguins selected William Horcoff with the 24th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. The selection of Horcoff, a Canadian-American left winger from the University of Michigan, came after the Penguins traded the No. 31 pick and No. 59 pick in the second round to the Los Angeles Kings to move up.

Horcoff, born on January 23, 2007, is 18 years old. He stands tall at 6-foot-4 and weighs 181 pounds. Before joining the Wolverines mid-season, Horcoff played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP). During the 2023-24 season with the NTDP, he recorded 11 goals and eight assists in 54 games with the under-17 team and five goals and five assists in 35 games in the United States Hockey League (USHL). In 18 games as a freshman at Michigan, Horcoff posted four goals and six assists. Notably, he was the youngest player in college hockey.

Prior to the draft, there were varying opinions on Horcoff's potential. Bob McKenzie ranked him 27th overall, while NHL Central Scouting ranked him 24th among North American skaters. Going into the draft, some analysts projected Horcoff as a late first-round pick.

Horcoff is the son of former NHL player Shawn Horcoff, who played 1,008 NHL games from 2000-2016, most notably with the Edmonton Oilers, where he served as captain for three seasons.

According to Steven Ellis of Daily Faceoff, Will loves to put players through the glass whenever possible. He is good in his own zone. Ellis noted Horcoff made a big first impression with a two-point effort in the outdoor game against Ohio.

Some scouts noted that Horcoff's role and usage with the USNTDP may have limited his impact early in the season. However, after joining the NCAA, he seemed more comfortable, effectively utilizing his size, physicality, and puck protection skills. One scout described him as a "taxing center" who forechecks hard, finishes his checks, and causes trouble in the offensive zone. He is strong along the boards in his own zone and uses his stick effectively to break up plays.