The Pittsburgh Penguins selected 13 players in the 2025 NHL Draft after selecting 12 players combined in the past two years. The theme: high-energy players bringing a combination of skill and physicality to a rapidly rebuilding prospect pipeline.
First a quick recap of the trades. The Penguins used the 12th overall pick acquired from the Vancouver Canucks via the New York Rangers to move back in the first round and acquire the 22nd and 31st overall picks from the Philadelphia Flyers via the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers, respectively. The Penguins then packaged the 31st overall pick and the 59th overall pick acquired from the Washington Capitals at the trade deadline to move up a few spots and acquire the 24th overall pick.
The Penguins got back into the second round by sending pending restricted free agent Conor Timmins and prospect Isaac Belliveau to the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for roster player Connor Clifton and the 39th overall pick.
Finally, the Penguins traded the 85th overall pick acquired from the St. Louis Blues to the Vegas Golden Knights for the 91st overall pick and the 154th overall pick in the fifth round.
By the end of the draft, the Penguins selected three players in the first round, one in the second, three in the third, one in the fourth, three in the fifth, and one each in the sixth and seventh. Take a look at the newest additions to the Penguins prospect pipeline.
Benjamin Kindel
RW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
1st Round, 11th Overall
Initially projected to go later in the first round, the Penguins organization likely got a good look at Benjamin Kindel while keeping tabs on 2024 second round pick Tanner Howe with the Calgary Flames in the WHL. Kindel finished second on the Hitmen with 99 points in 65 games last season–seventh in the league and first among 2025 draft eligible players–after posting 60 points in 68 games as a rookie in 2023-24. Kindel also recorded seven points in five games with Canada at the U18 World Championships, winning a gold medal. A dynamic forward with a reputation for never giving up on plays, expect Kindel to rely on high hockey IQ to quickly move up the depth chart.
Bill Zonnon
LW, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
1st Round, 22nd Overall
A little bit of a late bloomer with, perhaps, some untapped potential, Bill Zonnon finished second on the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies and seventh in the QMJHL with 83 points in 64 games while playing all three forward positions. With a good frame at 6’2”, 185 lbs., Zonnon needs some polishing but comes with a lot of raw talent and the brings a lot of energy and physicality to the prospect pipeline.
William Horcoff
C, University Of Michigan (NCAA)
1st Round, 24th Overall
The Penguins hope to hit on a big, potential middle six center in William Horcoff with the 24th overall pick. Horcoff started the season with the United States National Team Development Program U18 team but joined the University of Michigan as a 17-year-old and managed 10 points in 18 games. Listed at 6’5”, 203 lbs., Horcoff brings size, a willingness to go to dirty areas, and a 200-foot game to the prospect pipeline plus the pedigree of being the son of a former NHL player with over 1,000 games played. If Horcoff finds another level with Michigan next season, look for a debut in Pittsburgh in the next two or three years.
Peyton Kettles
D, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
2nd Round, 39th Overall
Though not flashy, Kettles plays defense extremely well, using a 6’6”, 194 lbs. frame to shutdown the opposition and play with some snarl, leading the Swift Current Broncos with 65 penalty minutes in 53 games last season–while managing five goals and 14 points. If Kettles finds a way to contribute offensively with a little more consistency, expect the big blueliner to be a big part of the Penguins backend in the future.
Charlie Trethewey
D, U.S. National Team Development Program (USHL)
3rd Round, 73rd Overall
Considered a first round talent headed into the 2024-25 season, Charlie Trethewey slipped into the third round after finishing fourth among blueliners on the United States National Team Development Program U18 team with nine points in 24 USHL games. Committed to Boston University next season, Trethewey brings all the intangibles to find another level in the NCAA, giving the Maryland native the potential to be a steal in the third round.
Gabriel D’Aigle
G, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
3rd Round, 84th Overall
A 6’4”, 212 lbs. frame immediately jumps off the page for Gabriel D’Aigle despite relatively poor numbers the worst team in the QMJHL last season in the Victoriaville Tigres. D’Aigle won 16 of 17 total wins for the team last year and posted a .883 save percentage. A good addition to the goaltending prospect pipeline in the third round, look for D’Aigle’s numbers to improve on a better Victoriaville team next season or with another team if the Tigres decided to sell.
Brady Peddle
D, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
3rd Round, 91st Overall
Though only boasting 10 points in 62 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL last season, Brady Peddle plays a physical game with a reputation for hard hits and simple plays. Committed to Michigan State University in the 2026-27 season after another year with Waterloo, Peddle likely needs several seasons to develop into a legitimate prospect but brings a needed element of physicality to the Penguins prospect pipeline.
Travis Hayes
RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
4th Round, 105th Overall
The younger brother of Penguins prospect Avery Hayes, Travis Hayes finished fifth on the Soo Greyhounds with 51 points in 65 last season but brings energy and grit to the lineup. Expect Travis to be a top contributor in the OHL next season and follow a path similar to the eldest Hayes brother–needing a few years to develop in the minor league before becoming a candidate to play in the bottom six.
Ryan Miller
C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
5th Round, 130th Overall
Another prospect with a steep development curve, Ryan Miller finished eighth on the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL last season with 31 points in 50 games and committed to the University of Denver for the 2026-27 season. Miller needs to increase production next season before transitioning to the NCAA.
Quinn Beauchesne
D, Guelph Storm (OHL)
5th Round, 148th Overall
Quinn Beauchesne finished third among bluliners on the Guelph Storm in the OHL last season with 24 points in 49 games and fourth among blueliners with four points in seven games for Canada at the U18 World Championships, winning a gold medal with first round pick Benjamin Kindel. Another right-handed blueliner needing time to develop, look for Beauchesne to up the production next season with Guelph.
Jordan Charron
RW, Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
5th Round, 154th Overall
Jordan Charron started the season playing Junior A in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League with the Ayr Centennials before joining the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL and recording 21 points in 48 games. Committed to St. Lawrence University in the 2026-27 season, Charron needs to show a higher level of production next season before transitioning to the NCAA.
Carter Sanderson
C, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6th Round, 169th Overall
Committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2026-27 season and the first player ever drafted from the state out South Dakota, Carter Sanderson hopes to improve on 11 points in 48 games with the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL last season.
Kale Dach
C, Sherwood Park Crusaders (BCHL)
7th Round, 201st Overall
Kale Dach finished second on the Sherwood Park Crusaders and second in the BCHL with 87 points in 54 games last season. One of only two players drafted out of the BCHL in 2025 and slated to play for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL next season and Penn State University starting in 2026-27, keep a close eye on the development of the talented center.