Penguins prospect Bill Zonnon: ‘I just want to dominate’

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ ongoing training camp has gone much better for forward prospect Bill Zonnon than last year’s camp.

That’s because he’s participating in it.

Last September, Zonnon was a spectator to the franchise’s preparations for the 2025-26 campaign because of a knee injury that wound up sidelining him until November.

But even through that impairment, Zonnon, a first-round draft pick (No. 22 overall) in 2025, found benefit.

“I couldn’t skate, but I was just watching them practice,” Zonnon said in Cranberry. “I just (saw) how competitive it is and how the practices were run. So, I think that was good for me to watch them even though I was injured. I spent a lot of time here, so it was good.”

Zonnon’s rehabilitation kept him in Western Pennsylvania well into November before he was medically cleared and reported to his junior team, the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League.

His return went all of two games before he suffered a separate undisclosed injury that sidelined him until late December.

Once he got past those ailments, Zonnon was a force, posting 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists) in 35 games and steering the Armada to a second-place finish in the standings.

In the postseason, Zonnon generated 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) in 17 games as the Armada reached the Eastern Conference final, falling to the Moncton Wildcats in seven games.

“It was a lot of ups and downs,” Zonnon said of his final junior season. “I really feel like everything happens for a reason. I came out of that season with a lot of learning. Looking forward, it’s really going to benefit me, all those ups and downs. Try to learn from them as much as I can. Turn all those negatives to positives.”

He experienced a pretty immediate positive in May. After his junior season was completed, he was assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, joining that club in the Atlantic Division final.

Embedded as a fourth-line center, he scored goals in his first three AHL games and wound up with seven points (four goals, three assists) in 11 postseason games as Wilkes-Barre/Scranton reached the Eastern Division final before being eliminated by the Toronto Marlies.

Billy Z with some slick moves to break the ice!

In addition to making the immediate jump from the junior to the professional ranks and dealing with the size and speed of other players, the left-handed Zonnon took on a new role as a fourth-liner after being predominantly a first liner.

“It’s one of my strengths, I’m a versatile player,” Zonnon said. “I don’t think I have many issues playing on the fourth line there. I think I did a good thing. … I can play top-six, bottom-six and I think I did a good job.”

That adjustment was aided by some homework. When Zonnon learned he was heading to Northeast Pennsylvania, he studied video of the AHL Penguins’ schemes in order to be ready to jump into the lineup.

“As soon as I turned the page on major junior, I (thought), ‘I’m going all in,’” Zonnon said. “I really wanted to help (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) make it as far as they can. So, that’s why I really tried to get a little bit ahead and learn the systems as fast as I can. I also didn’t want to go in with a feeling that I needed to get adjusted to it. I wanted to take that away from my mind and just focus on hockey.”

Likely to be assigned to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton to open the upcoming season, Zonnon, who be entering the first season of a three-year entry-level contract he signed March 22, will report to the affiliate with a little bit more muscle.

“Around eight pounds,” he boasted. “It was pretty clear in my exit meetings when the season ended (with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) that I needed to get stronger. That was my main focus and it really helps me.”

Zonnon (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) won’t turn 20 until Oct. 3. So, he’s still growing in ways beyond the physical sense.

“As he gets stronger, winning the faceoffs, some of the defending down low as a centerman will just automatically get better just because he’s going to be able to lean on guys more,” Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins coach Kirk MacDonald said. “He does such a good job with so many things, especially when he has the puck on his stick. It’s just continuing to refine those things and get dialed in with his habits.”

A lot of things point toward Zonnon having a much better season.

“Last year, there were a lot of ups and downs,” Zonnon said. “I want to go in and dominate as much as I can. Be the best version of myself. Be someone that coaches can rely on, wherever I play. Whether it’s (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton), whether it’s a couple of games (in the NHL). I just want to dominate and be the best version for as long as I can.

“And be consistent with that. Last year, I kind of had a down year and I’m really looking forward to break out in a way and show everyone what I can do.”