Michigan’s Horcoff Hopes to Join the Family Business

University of Michigan hockey player Will Horcoff doesn’t need to give his dad a Father’s Day present Sunday because what he said about him at NHL Draft Combine is the kind of gift all dads hope to receive.

“He’s taught me a lot,” Horcoff said, “and I wouldn’t be the man, or the player, I am without him.”

Will’s dad is Shawn Horcoff who played 1,008 NHL games and is currently an assistant general manager for the Detroit Red Wings.

“(He was) captain of the Oilers for four years, so I’ve learned a lot from him,” the young Horcoff said. “I’m really thankful and lucky to have him as a father. He has a ton of experience.

Second-Round Projection

Will’s goal is to follow his father into the family business. He’s projected to be a second round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, but 6-foot-4 forwards with skill sometimes climb into the bottom of the first round.  May not happen, but it could. The Michigan native is ranked 24th in North America by NHL’s Central Scouting.  When you mix in the Europeans, his consensus ranking is probably 45ish.

Red Line Report, an independent scouting service, said this about Horcoff: “Processes the game well and has good vision on the ice. His stick skills are good and he’s an absolute beast in puck battles along the boards, providing
a massive screen in front of the net – dominant force on the PP.”

“I could be a skilled power forward in the NHL, just impact the game and shift momentum by using my size and physicality,” Horcoff said.  “But also as good hockey sense and make plays and is dangerous in the offensive zone with my shot and scoring ability.”

Horcoff left the U.S. National Team Development Program to join the Michigan team and finished with 10 points in 18 games.

“I thought (my game) translated pretty well, and I owe a lot of that to my teammates and my coaches and just the whole organization there,”  Horcoff said. “I had a ton of questions coming in. It was a whole new environment, and they were already a team, but they welcome you right away. We’re super supportive. Both the staff and the teammates are all super thankful.”

He was plus-7 for Team USA at the U18 World Championships. He had four points in seven games. Scouts saw improvement in the second half of the season.

“I think once I made the transition to Michigan, my game kind of took off. So I’m thankful to have the opportunity to do that,” Horcoff said.

Set NHL Combine Record

Horcoff’s physical assets are noteworthy. He set an NHL Draft Combine record of 124.8 inches in the horizontal jump. It was 6.5 inches farther than the next-best jump at this year’s event

When team officials asked him what kind of animal he is, he said: “Silverback gorilla.”

“Because he’s a leader and protects his family,” Horcoff said.

The Red Wings own pick No. 44, and then don’t pick again until No. 75, which is the pick they received in the Olli Maatta trade.  Their own third-round pick is No. 76.

These situations, with a potential employee’s son available in the draft, are tricky for teams. On one hand, team officials know the player extremely well. On the other hand, it’s not easy for a player to play for a team when his father is in a position of power.

The Red Wings drafted Kienan Draper,  son of assistant GM Kris Draper, 187th overall in 2020. He will be a senior at the University of Michigan this season.