Bill Zonnon is a ball of energy and is that potential playoff performer that teams dream about having in the middle of their lineup. That’s his calling card. To be able to make plays and create scoring chances when sometimes the game devolves and becomes a little bit of a mess, like it often is in the postseason.
For the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies out of the QMJHL this season, Zonnon has transitioned from the left wing to being more of a full-time center — which has not been talked about enough among all the scouting reports or rankings or mock drafts you see at this time of year — and has excelled for a decent junior team. He finished second in scoring among his Huskies teammates with 28 goals and 83 points in 64 games. His 1.30 points per game ranked fourth among all draft-eligible skaters in the QMJHL this season, behind names we have already talked about like Caleb Desnoyers and Justin Carbonneau.
We think that almost every single NHL team would love to have a player like Zonnon in their prospect pool and eventually on their team. Let’s find out why.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 31 by NHL Central Scouting (NA Skaters)
No. 29 by Elite Prospects
No. 34 by TSN/Bob McKenze
No. 31 by Daily Faceoff
Bio
DOB: October 3, 2006
Birthplace: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Position: Center/Left wing
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 190 lbs
Shoots: Left
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Zonnon is the type of player that will never give up on a play and could pile the pressure on just about any opponent he faces until possession is his again. If we had to boil down his impact into one refined and concentrated group of words, it would have to be something like “unrelenting energy with purpose”. When you watch him play, you can just see how his game would translate so easily to the professional level in a certain role. Zonnon might not be the most exciting or high-end player on the ice, but he will certainly have an impact if given the opportunity.
A lot of what Zonnon brings is more about mentality than anything else. It’s that high level of effort that can bring him to be one of the better players coming out of the latter half of the first round this year — but, what specifically is he good at?
Well, it feels weird to say it but just about everything you need from a support player? Like, we’re not going on and on about Sam Bennett’s shot mechanics or how well he can pass the puck. It’s all about effort and what you do with that effort. Because, most players care a whole lot, obviously, but Zonnon specifically has the smarts and on-ice awareness to make smart reads with his skating routes when on the forecheck or backcheck, to apply his pressure in the specific area of the ice that would work the best.
And with that effort, he can play in a high-pace environment that makes his projectability to the NHL so easy to see. There’s no typical waiting around or slowing the game down, as we see from other high-end junior players; but instead, just the level of plays you would expect from a middle-six player on a very good playoff team.
What’s not to like?
While we can go on and on about how much we would love Zonnon as an intelligent, hard-working middle-six forward on just about any hockey team in existence, he does have a couple of things that he could work on.
First, his skating stride is a little bit clunky. Zonnon’s straight-ahead speed is as good as it needs to be, but when it comes to quickly pivoting or trying to cover an attacker in a 1-on-1 situation, he can be a little bit tripped up and not as fast as you want.
One other thing would have to be his general offensive approach. He can work his tail off in all three zones and be an effective player, but in the situation where he has a chance to shoot the puck, or make a strong offensive play, he comes up a little bit short. He feels like an elevated role player (the most ideal role player you can possibly imagine) more than someone with a high ceiling that could become a draft steal. If you want dependability and maybe someone who can score double-digit goals for a few years, Zonnon feels like the perfect fit. If there is something more you want from your late first-round pick other than someone almost guaranteed to make some sort of high-level impact in the professional ranks, then maybe not.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Zonnon would fit in extremely well and you have to think that his entire profile has Flyers scouts drooling. Considering that they have drafted in the previous years players like Jett Luchanko and Denver Barkey out of the CHL — two hard-working, high work ethic players that will do just about all they can to help their team win on every shift — Zonnon would just add to that group of player with a little bit of a lower ceiling.
If the Flyers envision a team with that mentality throughout the lineup, then Zonnon might just be someone that they target, and he would fit in extremely well.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
With the 22nd overall pick from the Colorado Avalanche and the Edmonton Oilers first-round pick that they own going to be anywhere from 29th to 32nd overall, the Flyers should be able to get Zonnon if they want him. It all depends, as it always does, on who else is available when they are making their pick. If more dynamic offensive talents could be had with their second first-rounder, then of course they should be opting to swing for the fences once more. But, if they aren’t super in love with any of the prospects, then Zonnon feels like a real easy buy even as high as that 22nd overall pick. And if not then, they might just get another shot to grab him with that third first-rounder they have.
That’s all to say that yes, the Flyers should have an opportunity to draft Zonnon if they think highly of him.
What scouts are saying
“He plays a versatile game that impresses both on but especially off the puck, where he keeps his feet moving, works, finds space, gets to loose pucks, forces turnovers and tracks. Nobody works harder. He can play both center and wing.”
—Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
“Zonnon is a true 200-foot player. He does everything well, at a high enough pace to translate to the NHL, and never quits on a play. With his motor alone, he gives himself a chance to impact the game every shift. Add in the feel for the game, and it’s easy to see him in the NHL. He’s not the cleanest skater, but he never loses a race off the wall. He passes, sprints to the middle, and gets open, one time allowing him to create a backdoor chance for a teammate. Scanning, moving, battling every second he’s on the ice. He’s a highly aware player who makes quick passes off the wall, cleverly passes through pressure against the grain, and creates non-stop advantages with and without the puck. A high-level defender, too. The question remains the mechanics, but the upright posture and stiff movement likely won’t prevent him from making the NHL. It’s more about upside — can he deceive opponents, relay pucks, and make plays through contact at a high enough level to play in a top-nine scoring role? It’s possible, but I think he ends up more as a supportive third-line forward. Still, that’s a high-value asset in this draft, especially given the myriad ways he impacts the game. A guaranteed fan favourite.”
— Mitch Brown, Elite Prospects
“I adore Bill Zonnon’s game and while I think he has a way’s to go to be worth drafting him this high, I see a heck of a team player who is going to shine in the playoffs assuming he gets there at some point. Zonnon is clunky on his feet but he is fast. An aggressive forechecker who drives offensive transitions extremely efficiently, I would love to see Zonnon carry pucks himself a little bit more and control a bit more possession than he already does. His shots tend to come from the most dangerous areas but he also takes plenty of attempts from no-man’s land, and his analytical profile is a little underwhelming on the surface, but you just watch him play and see a guy who could really make a great impact in the NHL. I see him and think William Carrier who was a big, skilled QMJHL forward that was a key forechecking presence on the Vegas Golden Knights as they marched their way to a Stanley Cup victory. I see a bit more finesse and playmaking ability out of Zonnon, but when things get to the NHL level, I think his physicality, speed and raw intensity is what will keep him in the league. He is also underratedly dynamic, stopping up to create gaps and make passes easier but this is something I’d love to see more of in the future. The pace at which he makes plays and participates in forechecks to me is what makes him a more interesting and safer projection than some of the names behind him like Martin, Desnoyers and McQueen. I just would love to see him go over the boards and electrify crowds with his physical, hard-working style of play with moments of skill and finishing ability that could be a very useful combination to have for any roster.”
— Will Scouch, scouching.ca
“A natural playmaker, Zonnon remains poised with the puck, displaying superior vision and delivering precise, firm passes to his teammates with ease, even under heavy pressure. He thrives at finding teammates in shooting lanes and setting up redirections. Zonnon is also a strong presence in front of and around the net, securing high-danger spots and proving difficult to move. He circulates the puck well in the offensive zone and shows the ability to transition from the boards to the interior, unleashing hard shots on net. However, I wouldn’t consider Zonnon a threatening scorer, as his shot lacks significant danger, and he primarily scores by driving the net and capitalizing on second chances.”
— Joey Fortin Boulay, FC Hockey
As we start to close out the top 32 prospects we have on the 2025 BSH Community Draft Board, we have to add another one to the poll. This time it’s Swedish forward Milton Gastrin.
“The translatability of Gastrin’s game will be what attracts NHL teams to him. He is a high-energy guy who is competitive on nearly every shift. He’s been at his best since returning from injury in early-mid January, showing a bit more offensive punch.”
–Tony Ferrari, The Hockey News
