Haoxi Wang is a defenseman at 6’6” and 209 lbs. The Beijing, China native is a big, left-shot defenseman without the usual drawbacks of the typical big defenseman. Wang is a smooth skater for his size who can play in all three zones. Physical play and high-end mobility allow Wang to challenge attackers efficiently.
Wang can bend his knees and drop his lower body, allowing him to be a smooth-skating defenseman. Wang has all the tools of a first-round defensive prospect that make him intriguing. Since making the jump to the Oshawa Generals of the Ontario Hockey League, Wang has jumped up the draft rankings given his ability to make the jump without making mistakes on the ice.
Haoxi Wang is seen as a late first-round to mid-second round prospect by the following rankings:
Ranked #36 by Inside The Rink
Ranked #34 by NHL Central Scouting
Ranked #43 by Daily Faceoff
Ranked #51 by Recruit Scouting
Ranked #49 by Sportsnet/Bukala
Ranked #31 by TSN/Bob McKenzie
Haoxi Wang is a big defensive prospect who uses his physical gifts to be a prospect who can defend in all three zones. Beyond this, Wang can skate fast and smoothly, whether it be through lateral pivots, crossovers, or backward strides. Wang’s ability to adjust to different levels of hockey suggest a high hockey IQ.
“This is a prospect who is just scratching the surface of what he can be. He’s got the size, and there’s some real skill to go with that. Players who have that combination are harder to find. There’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of getting him physically stronger and refining some of his reads and decision making, but you can see the tools, which is exciting,” says Chris Peters of FLO Hockey.
Second Round – Montreal #41
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Kirk Cousins might be relegated to the job of backup quarterback, but he is showing veteran leadership to his Atlanta Falcons teammates. Following Sunday's practice, Cousins pulled aside rookie defensive end James Pearce to encourage the first-round pick after his fourth practice in the league at Flowery Branch, Georgia. "QB Kirk Cousins pulled aside Pearce after practice to compliment him on a pass batted down," wrote Marc Raimondi of ESPN. Cousins reportedly had a solid day of practice on Sunday, going 7-of-12 passing against the first-team unit. If Cousins wants out of Atlanta, he's not showing it at practice. The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback is competing on the field and being a good teammate around the facility. Cousins' actions on the field backed up what Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot praised Cousins for before the team's practice on Sunday. “Outside, it's a lot more of a deal than it is in the building,” Fontenot said to the media about the idea of friction between the Falcons and Cousins, per video from D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “He shows up, he does his job, just like anybody ... We've gotta build the best 70-man roster so we can go win games. "That's what we're focused on, and Kirk, just like all the other players, is focused on coming in here and doing their job. That's what he's been doing." Fontenot didn't dismiss the idea that Atlanta would trade Cousins before the season. He said the Falcons will do whatever it takes to make the team better, but stressed that Cousins has been a professional throughout the process of being replaced by Michael Penix Jr., a first-round pick from the 2024 draft. “In terms of making moves, whether it's trades or acquiring players, we're always looking at those factors," Fontenot said. "We're gonna do whatever we can do to make this team the best it can possibly be. But he's been a great professional, and he's handled himself well.” Cousins is coming to work in a manner that will make another owner want to take a chance on the veteran quarterback. That could be one of his best-selling points before he plays in his 13th season in the league.
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