Penguins 2025 First Round Pick Shows Promise After Excellent 2026 AHL Playoff Debut
In the 2025 NHL Draft, the Pittsburgh Penguins held three first-round picks, 11th, 22nd, and 24th overall. Benjamin Kindel was taken with the 11th overall pick, as he made an immediate impact in Pittsburgh. Through 77 games as a member of the Penguins, Kindel tallied 17 goals, 18 assists, and 35 goals, being a bright spot on Pittsburgh’s younger roster in 25-26. Taken with the 24th pick, William Horcoff spent this past season playing his final year for Michigan of the NCAA, not getting any ice time for Pittsburgh, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, or Wheeling. However, the most interesting prospect of the Penguins' first-round picks was the 22nd overall pick, Bill Zonnon. Having played his 25-26 season with Blainville-Blosbriand Armada of the QMJHL, the 19-year-old Canadian only joined Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate for their recent playoff run. Despite arriving just a day before the Penguins' Game Four Matchup against Hershey in the Atlantic Division Semifinals, Zonnon already knew how Wilkes-Barre/Scranton played hockey and how he could contribute.
In the young forward’s first three games for the Penguins, he scored a goal in each game, as the Penguins took a 2-1 series lead over the Springfield Thunderbirds. After his QMJHL season ended with a Game Seven playoff loss, the Canadian forward immediately impressed the Penguins and brought a lot of excitement with him. Pittsburgh’s President of Hockey Operations, Kyle Dubas, had a press conference before Wilkes-Barre/Scranton started their Atlantic Division Final matchup against Springfield. In this presser, he spoke about the opportunity Zonnon had that evening, and what his journey would look like as the Penguins worked to turn him into an NHL-ready player. Dubas said, “It’s obviously exciting that Bill will get that chance, starting tonight.” As mentioned, the six-foot-two youngster made the most of his chance, scoring in three straight games for the Penguins, leading to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton head coach Kirk MacDonald telling reporters, “He’s not a first-round pick by accident, right?” Even with Zonnon missing 29 games of his QMJHL season, he still finished with 14 goals, 32 assists, and 46 points in just 35 games, earning a 1.31 points-per-game average, good for 11th in the league.
The Penguins started last offseason and are continuing through this offseason with a mindset of looking towards the future. Not just Kindel, Horcoff, and Zonnon, but the Penguins are building through youth to continue their return to supremacy. Seeing what the Canadian native is able to do with so little time with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton will inspire other young Penguins players moving forward. The young forward from Quebec spent the entire drive from Philadelphia to Hershey watching film of his soon-to-be AHL team, as he had spent his entire season with the Armada studying them, preparing himself. The Penguins organization is extremely excited for this kid and what he’ll bring to the Steel City next season. Penguins Vice President of Player Personnel Wes Clark spoke on Zonnon, saying, “Billy has a high work rate, is highly competitive. Tremendous athletic upside. You see the look in his eyes, he’s got that dog mindset. He’s the type of kid that helps you win hockey games.” He also brings a complete package to Pittsburgh, both playing and thinking at a high level of hockey, prompting MacDonald to say, “If you do those two things, usually you have some success.” With a leading goal-scorer expected to test free agency, the young forward from Quebec could be asked to step into a much larger role in 26-27.
