2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profiles: William Belle and William Horcoff
Upside Hockey's NHL Draft profile series: American Edition Volume 10 and 11
Upside Hockey’s prolific prospect profiler Trevor Curtis’s 2025 NHL draft eligible prospect profiles are all featured on our dedicated page for this with all featured prospects indexed in our table of contents alphabetically by last name. For the 2024 NHL Draft, we had well over 200 prospect profiles completed.
RW William Belle (6'4", 218lbs)
NTDP: 32gp/ 3g/ 5a/ 8pts,-14, 24 PIM.
William Belle is like the NTDP's version of the incredible hulk, he's built more like a linebacker than a hockey player. He's a true alpha-male with supreme athleticism, who broke fitness-testing records when he was just 15 years old at Shattuck-St.Mary's for Bench Press, Hex Bar Deadlift, Safety Bar One-Leg Squat, Pull-Ups, and Vertical Jump. When I watch Belle, I hearken back to the feeling of watching a guy like Dustin Byfuglien skate, who looked too big to be able to make his way around the ice so quickly, and like Byfuglien, he is like an unstoppable freight train when his opponents are in his tracks. Belle might be an example of how the NTDP fails players sometimes, as he could be showing off his true abilities better if he were getting more ice-time and responsibility on a USHL team; instead, he's toiling on the third-line of a weak squad that struggles to score. Right now, he's been cast in more of a defensive role, but he's intimidating and highly disruptive all over the ice- players on the other team are aware when he takes to the ice, as he hits like a Mack truck. He's a huge problem on the forecheck, causing problems for opponents on retrievals, and he dominates along the boards and in the corners- he doesn't lose many 50/50 contests, and he can't be overpowered. He is used plenty on the PK and in defensive situations, and when he isn't bowling over attackers, he breaks up plays and steals pucks using his extra-long wingspan and a smart stick.
Belle flashes some skillful playmaking as well as deft passing skill at times, but he usually keeps it simple and safe. He also possesses a hard and heavy shot that I believe doesn't get used nearly enough. It's a treat to watch him skate as he moves quite well for a big man, which is usually code to denote an average skater, but Belle actually has a good top speed and manages to apply an admirable amount of pressure on puck-carriers. There's plenty of work to be done on his start-up, as well as his acceleration, but his high workrate and athleticism seem to mask his deficiencies in the way he stays active and keeps his feet pumping tirelessly. He always puts in an honest effort, has excellent stamina, and is an intense competitor with a relentless motor. In the other end of the rink, he causes chaos down low and around the net. He smashes his way through checks, and will lean into defenders to cut inside, or to attack the crease. In transition, he looks surprisingly good, and even though he's more of a straight-line player through the neutral zone, he is able to complete a high amount of entries and exits through carry or by pass.
Belle was given the grade of "C" by Central Scouting to denote a potential 4th, or 5th-round pick. Using C Samuel Helenius as comparable, I am guessing he gets taken in the 3rd or 4th-round. Helenius was the same kind of player as Belle in his draft year- a behemoth (6'6",200lbs) who moves well for a big man and plays more of a defensive role, with good penalty-killing ability and physicality- and he was taken by LA in the second-round, #59 of the 2021 Draft. Granted, Helenius plays the more important role at center, but I think they have a similar profile, and both are offensively challenged. Belle is much more athletic however, and I think he has better potential- although he could end up being a highly effective bottom-6 defensive player in the pros. I'm excited to see what he can do in the next few years, and he's committed to the University of Notre Dame for 2025-26.
(6'4", 181lbs)
NTDP: 19gp/ 4g/ 4a/ 8pts, -2, 24 PIM
U of Michigan (NCAA): 4gp/ 1g/ 3a/ 4pts, -1, 2 PIM
Before the season even began, Will Horcoff (son of Shawn Horcoff) was given a "B" ranking by Central Scouting, designating him as a potential 2nd or 3rd-round pick, and throughout the year I've seen him high up on many lists. I've discovered that you can't get a proper read on this kid by stats-watching, reading up on his profile, or by catching highlights here and there- you have to watch him play to appreciate how good this kid is. He does all the little things (and a lot of the big things) to put his team in advantageous positions, and to win games- he's an absolute beauty. First of all, he's listed at 6'4", but he's actually closer to 6'5", and he uses his frame to be a highly physical power-forward with a very rugged, NHL-projectable style. In December, he made the jump to the NCAA with the U of Michigan, and he's managed to explode out of the gate with 4 points in 4 games so far, with ice-times of 9:19, 14:57, 13:23, and 14:12- and he doesn't turn 18 until January 23rd.
Horcoff already excels in his own zone, and is considered to be a detailed defensive player who looks to stifle the rush early- stepping up in the neutral zone with contact, or by using his long wingspan and a well-timed poke-check. He sometimes looks like a D-man in the middle-third, skating backwards and employing gap control to push attackers outside, but also in how he retrieves the puck down low and scans for the best outlets. He backchecks hard and heavy, and is proficient at shutting down lanes, disrupting passes, blocking shots, and removing time and space from those running the point. As a good defensive center should, he supports his teammates in battle all over the zone, and aids his D in corralling pucks down low. Once the puck touches his stick, it's going the other way with a quick pass. Horcoff is an underrated facilitator who seals off pressure, turns defense into offense, and constantly creates advantageous situations for his teammates in all 3 zones with his smarts, on and off the puck.
Horcoff is dominant along the boards, a force down-low, and is a load to handle in front of the net. He's a fierce forechecker, coming in hard and heavy to make life difficult for opponents on retrievals, and he hounds puck-carriers relentlessly. Often times, he looks like he's a little mean and likes to punish opponents and wear them down in addition to separating them from the puck. He has a great work-ethic, a high compete level, and doesn't seem to tire. Horcoff hasn't shown himself to be a prolific scorer in the past, but those who watch him regularly say he is a very intelligent player with a high IQ who processes the game quickly, and there are even moments of top-notch skill. He understands how to open space in the offensive zone, and he has a patient delay game to draw adversaries towards him to unlock pockets of space to pass into. In transition, he contributes by using the give-and-go to open lanes, and he also displays well-developed protection skills for times he has to move through traffic. Off the puck, he's just so smart and knows where to be to support his teammates and make himself available for the pass- he always seems to be in position at the right time. When in the offensive zone, he's able to make plays around the net and through the slot that make life miserable for goalies, and he has a hard, heavy shot that he not only uses to get shots on net, but also as a playmaking tool to manufacture second-chance opportunities for teammates.
Horcoff's stride was heavily criticized last season as being detrimental, but he's obviously put a ton of work into it; his stride still looks a little clunky and a bit choppy with an upright stance, but he can generate a surprising amount of power from it. He doesn't seem to be having trouble keeping up with the older players in college, and most of his issues here will clean themselves up as he gets stronger- I don't see it as a big issue anymore, but it will require work. His edges and agility look fairly good, as he can surf laterally across the ice to snuff a rush pretty quickly, and he keeps his feet moving constantly. Stylistically speaking, there are times when he reminds me of a baby Brady Tkachuk. Right now, he seems like a shoo-in for future bottom-6 duty in the NHL, but if he continues to develop his offense in the NCAA (and I think it's a good bet that he does), he will be a fine middle-6 NHL center. The more I digest on this kid, the more I like him, and the more I think he'll be taken in the second-round of the 2025 Draft. This is the type of prospect that makes scouts (and GM's) drool, and I can understand why he's so highly touted.
