Penguins Update: Is Will Horcoff Planning a Cruz Lucius?

Before I begin, I need to be clear. There have been absolutely no creditable reports to back up what I’m about to write. Only faint whispers passed along by someone who has connections to the NHL and has proven to be a reliable source in the past. Other than that, it’s strictly a case of yours truly attempting to connect the dots.

Okay, here goes. Will 2025 first-round pick (24^th overall) Will Horcoff follow in the skate tracks of Cruz Lucius and refuse to sign with the Penguins? Opting instead to join the Red Wings?

The basis for my concerns are three-fold. A Michigan kid through-and-through, Horcoff hails from Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit. He currently plays for the University of Michigan in nearby Ann Arbor. The topper? Will’s dad, Shawn Horcoff, was recently named the Red Wings’ GM, albeit on an interim basis.

Frankly, the thought the kid might choose to jump ship sickens me. Six-foot-five power forwards who possess a scoring touch, not to mention a mean streak, don’t grow on trees. Especially around these parts, where the Pens still tend to favor players of Smurfish dimensions and milder temperaments. In fact, you might say Horcoff is the anti-Penguin.

Indeed, the last power forward developed in-house was Ryan Malone back in the early 2000s, some two decades ago.

Again, there’s been absolutely nothing official to suggest Horcoff might not sign with us. Perhaps I’m panicking myself for no good reason. (Wouldn’t be the first time.) However, I won’t feel truly at ease until Kyle Dubas gets the big guy’s signature on the dotted line of an entry-level contract.

More Cuts

The Penguins have trimmed eight more players from their roster ahead of their final preseason game against the Sabres in Buffalo tomorrow afternoon, including one of my personal favorites.

The following forwards have been assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton: Atley Calvert, Avery Hayes, Tanner Howe and Mikhail Ilyin. Forward Oliver Okuliar has been designated injured, non-roster and will continue to rehab from a lower-body injury at Wilkes.

Goalie Colin Delia has been released from his tryout.

Following a productive camp The Ruck Twins, Liam and Markus, have been returned to their junior team, Medicine Hat of the WHL.

I was particularly disappointed to learn Hayes had been farmed out. I love the way the 23-year-old sparkplug hustles each and every shift. Despite his modest size, he’s utterly unafraid to stick his nose in and engage the opposition. And, unlike some of our other top prospects, Avery’s shown an ability to score at the big-league level.

Personally, I make room for a kid with his speed, grit and spunk any day of the week.