During the 2025 Entry Draft, I confess I was bitterly disappointed at first when the Penguins selected smallish center Ben Kindel 11th overall. I very much wanted us to take bristling physical defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who went on to pile up 28 goals and 70 points in 56 games with the Barrie Colts this past season.
I still held out hope Kyle Dubas might take Aitcheson with the 12th overall pick, the one gleaned from the Rangers, until he promptly dealt the choice to Philly for the 22nd pick. When the Islanders swooped in to nab Aitcheson at No. 17, I was crestfallen, not to mention downright angry and frustrated.
Then Dubas selected power-forward Bill Zonnon with the pick gleaned from the Flyers, and my frown immediately turned upside down. I’d had my eye on Zonnon prior to the draft and had even written an article about the 6’2” 190-pounder while singing his praises. So this was a (very) rare instance where the Pens actually picked a player I held in high regard.
To digress for a moment, we all know how Kindel turned out. Not only did “Kid Kinde” establish himself as a bona fide NHLer at the callow age of 18, he piled up a snappy 17 goals and 35 points in the process. A smashing success in anyone’s book.
I’m happy to report Zonnon is shining, too. Signed to an ATO (amateur tryout) by Wilkes-Barre/Scranton after wrapping up his final season of junior, Billy Z has made an electric entry into the pro ranks. The hard-charging center notched a goal in each of his first three games, including the game-winner in the Baby Pens’ 2-1 victory over Springfield Tuesday night. A tally that earned him top-star honors.
All the more remarkable considering he’s been skating on the Baby Pens’ fourth line.
In particular, Zonnon’s compete level and battle-readiness, to say nothing of his ability to more-than-keep pace with the pro game, have stood out. As has the maturity in both his game and approach.
While the Montreal native figures to hone his skills with the Baby Pens next season, you certainly can’t rule out a cameo with the big boys based on what he’s shown thus far.
Ilyin Too
Another young forward who’s adapting extremely well to the pro game is Mikhail Ilyin. A fifth-round pick of the Pens in 2023, the 21-year-old Russian winger’s proven to be a quick study despite the fact that he speaks little-to-no English. Baby Pens teammates Sergei Murashov and Alexander Alexeyev have been a huge help in bridging the language barrier, but credit Ilyin, too, for absorbing and implementing instruction quickly.
Production-wise, the 6’3” 191-pounder’s tallied a goal and four assists in seven Calder Cup games. An exceptional play-maker, Ilyin sees the ice well and is quick to exploit seams and openings thanks to his deft passing touch and high hockey IQ. The only rub is said to be his skating, but he’s made strides (pun intended) to improve that area of his game as well.
In my mind, I picture him serving as a perfect set-up man for countryman/sniper Egor Chinakhov (and Evgeni Malkin if we re-sign him). Perhaps as soon as the upcoming season.
