EDMONTON – The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Or in the case of this former Edmonton Oilers’ son, he would like to stay close to the tree.

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William Horcoff, son of former Oilers forward (and captain) Shawn Horcoff, is one of the players eligible to be drafted in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

This past weekend, the Cup Final took a backseat to the Scouting Combine, where all the greatest prospects dreaming of their name being called on draft day gathered for interviews and testing.

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William’s dad, Shawn, is now a member of the Detroit Red Wings management, operating as the GM for their AHL affiliate as well as Assistant GM to the Red Wings. But Shawn spent many years playing for the Oilers. He played with a current member of the Oilers when they were a rookie.

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins entered the NHL in the 2011-12 season. Shawn and Nugent-Hopkins didn’t spend much even-strength ice time together, but they did skate together on the powerplay for two years before Shawn was traded to the Dallas Stars.

When speaking to the press during the combine, William revealed a few Oilers-related tidbits. 

For starters, he’s cheering for the Oilers to win the Cup Final. Additionally, William said that the one player he would love to play with, who his dad played with, is Nugent-Hopkins.

The draft hopeful also revealed that he first met Nugent-Hopkins when he was five years old. William also commented that Nugent-Hopkins looks like he hasn’t aged a day since he turned 18.

William is a US-born player who spent this past season split between the USNTDP and the NCAA. He joined the University of Michigan mid-way through the season.

The 6-foot-5 and 199-pound centerman is ranked 24th among North American skaters according to NHL Central Scouting. That could increase his chances of being drafted by the Oilers, who’s highest draft pick is a 3rd-round selection.

If that happened, the apple would be pretty close to that tree.

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