The 2025 version of our Pensburgh Top 25 Under 25 countdown list continues with a look at one of the top players selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2025 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n
Catch up on the previous entries for this year:<\/p>\n
Acquired Via: First-round pick (No. 22 overall) in 2025 NHL Draft<\/p>\n
Height\/Weight: 6-foot-2, 185 pounds<\/p>\n
The Pittsburgh Penguins had built a reputation over the last 20 years (and rightfully so) of putting all their chips in the center of the table in the name of winning championships.<\/p>\n
As a result, the Penguins, as most of us know by now, have not had many first-round picks to develop talent over that span.<\/p>\n
With general manager Kyle Dubas taking the helm of this rebuild, he began to stockpile draft picks and kept those valuable draft assets to rebuild what was a barren prospect cupboard.<\/p>\n
Fast forward to now, and the Penguins\u2019 prospect pool is on the rebound, with many players in the system that have real NHL upside.<\/p>\n
And in June at the 2025 NHL Draft, the Penguins had something they haven\u2019t had since the 1984 draft: three selections in the first round.<\/p>\n
With the second of those three first-rounders, 22nd overall, Pittsburgh selected 18-year-old Bill Zonnon of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.<\/p>\n
In 2024-25, Zonnon completed his third season with the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, also adding the alternate captain patch to his sweater and another feather in his cap as a young player.<\/p>\n
He scored 28 goals and 55 assists, good for 83 points, which were career highs. He also ranked second on his team in points.<\/p>\n
During the 2025 playoffs, the forward led Rouyn-Noranda and ranked 13th overall in the QMJHL with eight goals and 16 points in 13 games.<\/p>\n
Over the past three seasons with Rouyn-Noranda from 2022-25, Zonnon tallied 62 goals, 118 assists, 180 points and was plus-29 in 195 QMJHL games. He has appeared in the playoffs all three years with the Huskies, registering 16 goals and 33 points in 32 career postseason games.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead, he was traded to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, where he will play this year.<\/p>\n
Before the draft, EliteProspects described Zonnon as something of a Swiss Army Knife player who is relied upon in all three zones, can flash offense, but also lay the body when needed.<\/p>\n
Constantly supporting teammates in all three zones, Zonnon jumps to the aid of defencemen on the back wall, gets the puck back, offers timely passing options, and moves the puck quickly in transition, orchestrating clever passing plays and entries in the offensive zone. When no play is open, he falls back on his forechecking ability. Defenders retrieving the puck better hurry their play when facing Zonnon. If they take too long to pass, the forward comes barreling down on them, pinning them to the wall, freeing the puck with his stick, and moving to an open teammate. -EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide<\/a><\/p>\n The following description<\/a> of Zonnon from January 2025 is one of the reasons Penguins fans can get excited about Zonnon\u2019s potential.<\/p>\n Zonnon is a big and versatile forward who can play the wing or center. What stands out the most about Bill is his compete level. He\u2019s relentless every shift on puck carriers and uses his size well to win board battles. Zonnon possesses a long and powerful skating stride, which allows him to be dominant in transition. Paired with a good skill level and a strong understanding of the game, it gives him a safe floor as a prospect. The only knock on Zonnon\u2019s game would be his explosiveness and agility on his skates. Improvements would give him upside as a complementary top 9 forward in the NHL.<\/p>\n \u201cHe really thrived when he moved to center, was excellent at center, plays in all situations, plays against the other team\u2019s best players, and as the year went on, just a level of competitiveness, especially in the playoffs for them,\u201d Dubas said after drafting Zonnon<\/a>. \u201cHe was really a driver for his team, and that was, for us, the most exciting part of him. So, the combination of size, competitiveness, the production, and then, stepping his game up as it went along.\u201d<\/p>\n Pittsburgh\u2019s Vice President of Player Personnel, Wes Clark, offered a rugged but equally complimentary view<\/a> of Zonnon\u2019s upside.<\/p>\n \u201c(Zonnon) has a high work rate, highly competitive. Played center this year, has played wing in the past. Tremendous athletic upside. Got to know him a little bit there in Buffalo (at the Combine). You see the look in his eyes, he\u2019s got that dawg mindset. So, the type of kid that helps you win hockey games.\u201d<\/p>\n Zonnon\u2019s family immigrated to Canada from Togo, Africa, and in doing so, taught Bill the importance of working hard when nothing is given to you and earning your spot through grit and determination, qualities that undoubtedly shine through on the ice.<\/p>\n \u201cThey came here with pretty much nothing, and they had to work from nothing to the point where they are now,\u201d Zonnon said. \u201cWe have everything we need. So, being a kid and having them as mentors was huge, I\u2019d say.\u201d<\/p>\n