Haoxi 'Simon' Wang – 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile

Part of the intrigue is the continual development over the course of this season, with a lot of improvement coming from simplifying his game, which he has done significantly since coming to the OHL. He’s making fewer mistakes than he used to, which speaks to how quickly he’s adapted in a short time. He’s executed clean breakout passes consistently and is getting caught out of position less frequently.

Standing at 6-foot-6, Wang is an exceptionally good skater for his size, smoothly navigating through all three zones while maintaining a strong defensive presence. He uses his size for physical play, and when paired with his high-end mobility, it allows him to challenge attackers efficiently. His physicality and willingness to engage in tough plays make him a formidable presence on the ice.

Born in China, Wang started playing hockey when he was four-and-a-half. He came to Canada when he was 12 and has played there ever since, save for a pandemic year when he went back to China. Not only does he have an excellent frame to build on, but he’s also a great skater, which is why NHL teams are so intrigued by the youngster. His skating is helped by his athleticism and coordination, which give him great stride length and agility at top speed.

In addition to his skills on the ice, he is known for his smart decision-making and situational awareness. Wang reads plays well, positions himself effectively, and makes calculated moves to disrupt opponents’ attacks. While he still needs some work on his play and reads in his defensive zone, he has gone a long way in improving in these areas throughout the season.

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Simon Wang – NHL Draft Projection

Wang is a prospect who has been moving up draft boards throughout the year. His combination of size, mobility, and offensive instincts has drawn comparisons with Tampa Bay Lightning blueliner Victor Hedman. With all of that going for him, don’t be surprised if his name is announced late in the first round.

Quotables

“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 that 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.” FLO Hockey – Chris Peters

“For a player with a 6-foot-5 frame, he’s arguably one of the best skaters in the league in terms of getting up ice, getting down the ice, in transition skating, gap control, and pivoting forward to backward. said. “And he’s consistently been our most physical defenseman; he’s not afraid to mix it up and give it back when guys are trying to take liberties with him.” King Rebellion head coach Mark Joslin

“The 6-foot-6 defender is an excellent skater – like, one of the more fluent movers in the draft – while doing an excellent job of carrying the puck up the ice. The ceiling is so high, especially since he has only recently started to figure out how to use his frame and mobility to dominate the competition. Offense has been hard to come by in the OHL, but I still really like his game.” Steven Ellis – Daily Faceoff

“Wang is an athletic, rangy defender with a huge frame and a strong skating base. He is a strong skater, especially considering how raw the rest of his game is; his athleticism and coordination give him great stride length and agility at top speed. He’s aggressive thanks to his speed, sprinting to join the rush effectively and maintaining a tight gap to pressure opponents at his own blue line.” Joseph Aleong – FC Hockey

Strengths

Under Construction – Improvements to Make

NHL Potential

Wang is a big, physical defenseman with excellent mobility for his size and possesses a strong hockey IQ. Because he has shown significant growth in his game throughout the season, the feeling is that Wang can develop into a two-way top four defenseman in the NHL.

Risk- Reward Analysis

Risk- 2/5, Reward 5/5

Fantasy Hockey Potential

Offense- 7.5/10, Defense 7/10

Interviews/Links

Simon Wang Statistics

Videos