D Haoxi (Simon) Wang - Oshawa Generals, OHL (2025 Draft)

[MHO]

I get your point, but the view of him having an incredibly high ceiling is unfalsifiable and therefore useless.

All the player comparisons brought up here have been of legitimate draft prospects. Like, I agree that it might be worth drafting someone like Rinzel higher than his numbers would suggest. It makes sense.

A 2nd round pick is not by any means worthless. About 1/3 of them become NHLers. If you have 3 2nd round picks, you're bound to end up with 1 career NHLer on average in the long-term. You have to assign a probability to this guy actually panning out to make a decision like this.

Let's imagine a best case scenario for this guy. Can you name some examples of that scenario playing out with some other player of similar caliber in real life? How many such cases exist?

I don't think a 2nd is worthless. Now I thought he started playing hockey much later than most other players which gives him more room for his game to grow.

And we can argue about whether a team should take him at a certain point in the draft but I'm going to guess that a team will take him in the 2nd round because of his traits. I can't think of any true comparables because there really aren't any.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

My opinion is that there’s some middle ground here.

I’m not against the idea of taking a gamble on a player who may never be good enough for pro hockey.

I think it’s important to diversify your drafting strategy so you take gambles with a lot of upside and players with more certainty to fill out your organizational depth. People can feel sure about a player, but the truth is you never really know. You think a player can be something and maybe you even undershoot their potential. They might’ve not even believed they could be as good as they became.

So I’m not against the idea of drafting Wang. The question becomes where is that point where you’re comfortable with the ROI that might be literally 0 return (not getting signed with no comp pick).

And I think it depends on the team. If you are rebuilding and have a million prospects and may still be rebuilding in 3 years, you probably can afford to take that gamble earlier. Teams that only have 4 or 5 picks in a draft with weak organizational depth probably cannot afford to pick a 2nd or 3rd round pick that doesn’t get signed by the team. That might be their highest pick in a particular draft, and you do need to have a constant stream of ELC’s (at least 1 per year) to keep your window open to contend.

I think he may find his way into the second round. That’s a little high for me, given what I view as the skillset. Third round seems more of the middle ground, but I can also see the scenario of a team where they don’t feel they can take the gamble higher than like fifth round.

Not being a draft pick? I think that’s a little extreme. I get that past a certain point you’re just throwing darts at a dart board and lists will look very different. I personally think he’s definitely a draftable player, but I get that the way this works in the NHL sees a lot of disagreements on who is draftable and who isn’t past like the first 50 players on a real NHL team list, so it’s whatever. Not worth fighting city hall about if someone says he’s not worth a draft pick.

 

[BKarchitect]

I see the appeal and don’t doubt he may get selected high as an intriguing long-term project, but…yikes, people want to complain that Rombach and Phillips are just “tall projects”…they look like seasoned 10 year vets compared to Wang.

 

[Namejs]

So you one of those conspiracy nutjobs that see CCCP plans whenever a Chinese dude shows up?



So you're claiming there are 6'5" defensemen that score 40pts in the CHL and that don't get drafted? Can these hypothetical D-men skate like this Wang kid?



Because people disagree with you? When a crap ton of people are peacefully chatting about a person and then you show up stand in a corner and start yelling and calling everyone else stupid well... Maybe the problem is...



So now you're claiming that 6'6" guys are clogging up the Russian junior leagues? Buddy, if you know of any guys like that and can skate like him... Tell a major NHL team. MTL, TOR, NYR they'll send a scout right over to check them out.

Also a 6'6" kid that can skate is a big deal.



He's 6'6" and can skate real good. It begins and ends there. If he pans out man. It's like if you find a 7'4" Basketball player who has great dribbling and footwork but needs work at everything else. NCAA teams will heavily scout him because you can't teach size.



So there are thousands of 6'6" players who can skate well in the CHL/BCHL/USHL according to you?



F*ck Kunlun. This is for the NHL we're talking about man. There's a reason why all these scouts are looking at this kid. Size + skating. They may think him being Chinese is a cute narrative but they don't work in the team's marketing department.

I think I've laid down my points and it would be great if you could focus on that by providing at least a single valid counter-argument. That would be nice.

CCCP stands for USSR, which is a different country that no longer exists. CCP has no relation to this. However, there have been multiple attempts of various desparation levels to somehow expose PRC to the glorious sport of ice hockey in the name of making more money. See Andong Song.

I'm sure there were people seeing rawness and talent in Song 10 years ago on these very same boards.

You clearly did not understand the normal distribution part, but that's OK. Let's approach this whole thing from a different perspective. If they do not exist, we're basically talking about fairy dust.

List some examples of similar types of prospects playing in 2nd tier junior leagues who have panned out and have become career NHL players.

There are plenty of 7'2-7'3 basketball players. Not a single one of them has made the NBA by playing against mediocre junior players on his draft year. That is not a thing that happens.

All of them have been scouted for years precisely because of how rare they are. All of them played pro ball against men before moving over to NBA.

This is still not even remotely valid of a comparison.

 

[Namejs]

Someone mentioned Wang started playing hockey late. That means you haven't even read his bio.

He started playing at 4. His mother owns an ice rink and a hockey school in China. She also literally owns the OJHL team he was playing for.

This isn't some raw gem found in the deserts of Gobi, this guy has been showered with developmental opportunities his entire life.

 

[Albatros]

There are plenty of 7'2-7'3 basketball players. Not a single one of them has made the NBA by playing against mediocre junior players on his draft year. That is not a thing that happens.

All of them have been scouted for years precisely because of how rare they are. All of them played pro ball against men before moving over to NBA.

Shawn Bradley (2nd overall 1993) spent both his draft year and the year before as a traveling missionary for the LDS church playing barely any basketball.

 

[Namejs]

Shawn Bradley (2nd overall 1993) spent both his draft year and the year before as a traveling missionary for the LDS church playing barely any basketball.

Bradley was a standout basketball, football, and baseball player at Emery High School from 1987 to 1990. He was one of the most successful basketball players in Utah high school history, finishing with career averages of 20.3 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.4 blocked shots per game.[8] During his time at the school, Emery compiled a 68–4 record and won two state championships. Bradley was named All-State three times and twice earned the season MVP award. In his senior year, he averaged 25 points, 17 rebounds, and 9 blocks per contest. He was named All-American by several national publications, including Parade Magazine, Street and Smith, USA Today, and others

 

[Albatros]

Sure he was talented, but I wouldn't idealize NBA player paths too much, despite their draft having only two rounds and players being older. If you have size you can make it very high despite having already essentially quit the game or playing against mediocre senior players somewhere in China like Yao (1st overall).

 

[Namejs]

Sure he was talented, but I wouldn't idealize NBA player paths too much, despite their draft having only two rounds and players being older. If you have size you can make it very high despite having already essentially quit the game or playing against mediocre senior players somewhere in China like Yao (1st overall).

Yes, I have no idea why we're continuing to use basketball as a comparable, I guess it tells you something about the lack of any such players existing in hockey. Although they no longer exist in basketball either.

It is true that height and wingspan are key attributes in basketball. Height directly correlates with success. In other words, the only valid take away from that point is that Haoxi Wang is slightly more likely to become a pro basketball player than shorter ice hockey players.

Also, basketball has changed and you can no longer be an impact player without having dexterity, mobility and skill, even if you are 7'3. Wembanyama, Porzingis are examples of that.

All of these modern basketball players: a) have been training their entire lives b) have been on the radar since they were adolescent kids.

So even if we use basketball figuratively here, there are no applicable cases in basketball to be used, which makes that argument extremely weak, because height and your physical dimensions are markedly more important in basketball than ice hockey. Ergo, there should be way more cases of basketball players picking up the sport later in their lives.

We did already establish the fact that this does not apply to Wang in any way, shape or form.

 

[kudla]

Namejs spending his time to prove that some Chinese kid won't get drafted. Classic. Love it.

 

[Namejs]

Namejs spending his time to prove that some Chinese kid won't get drafted. Classic. Love it.

Well, I do have an excuse. I was looking at how Karlis Flugins was doing for the Firebirds and randomly noticed a Chinese kid playing for Oshawa.

Also, they should probably hire me, let's be honest here. If not someone in the NHL, then at least Ms. Willa Wang.

I can still delete all of these posts, you know. I take all sorts of bribes.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Just my opinion:

I don’t see a top 100 kid here. He is very raw, yes but he also leaves a lot to be desired. Has been overwhelmed in his limited OHL action and offensively needs to see major improvements before he sees success in the OHL but NHL too.

I think people need one player to latch onto from the Junior B every year, and frankly it’s a weak year for players from there. Only one I really liked was Aiden Lane.

 

[viceroy]

I think I've laid down my points and it would be great if you could focus on that by providing at least a single valid counter-argument. That would be nice.

CCCP stands for USSR, which is a different country that no longer exists...

And he drones on and on repeating the same points. That there must be something hinky going on or else why would NHL scouts be interested in a 6'6" prospect that can skate real good.

This isn't some raw gem found in the deserts of Gobi, this guy has been showered with developmental opportunities his entire life.

His one gift is being fricking 6'6". He also may be a great skater because his mom had him trained as such. Criminy, who gives a smeg. Just FYI most North American hockey prospects come from Upper Middle Class families and up. Hockey's an expensive sport, I'm talking golf and polo levels of expense.

Also, they should probably hire me, let's be honest here. If not someone in the NHL, then at least Ms. Willa Wang.

Oh noes Evil Chinese millionairess is trying to exert undue control over the purity of Canada's national sport. *clutches pearls* Once again several NHL hockey players' parents have used their monies to give an edge to their kids. Buying Bantam and PeeWee teams to ensure their kids get prime playing time and other things of that nature.

 

[Hinterland]

I watched the games vs Ottawa last weekend and once again he just wasn't very good. Generals used him on the PP and he ruined it completely. What I'm most concerned about are his puck skills. He probably couldn't properly handle the puck to save his dear life. He's a very good and dynamic skater for his size but without hands his NHL upside will be very very limited. Even if you're not expected to drive play you still need hands to make plays in the NHL. If you wanna be more than a 6th stay at home defenseman playing 10mins then you have to make plays and not just throw away pucks. His decision making is still very slow as well but I think it's also impacted by his inability to handle pucks. If you keep on losing control you'll have less time to make decisions.

There's a lot of work to be done here to even put up remotely noteworthy OHL scoring. Not saying he can't make it to the NHL but at this point he's a late round flyer in an NHL draft at best. Among big defensemen with wheels the ones with hands are gonna go first.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

Ranked 23rd among NA skaters by Central Scouting. Probably the ranking that stood out most to me.

 

[Bond]

He’s one of the big = good draftees this year. Taking a flyer on him in the later rounds would be fine but I’d rather go for skill upside in the first three rounds

 

[bigdog16]

Ranked 23rd among NA skaters by Central Scouting. Probably the ranking that stood out most to me.

That is an asinine rating. This kid shouldn't get touched until the 6th or 7th.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

23 seems high.

It seems like the Chinese element is getting added in because some people want a cool story.

He’s not a 7’3 great skater. He’s 6’6. There are other 6’6 great skaters out there. His athletic tools are not unique.

There has to be more than what he is to be a potential first rounder.

 

[ConnorMcMullet]

23 seems high.

It seems like the Chinese element is getting added in because some people want a cool story.

He’s not a 7’3 great skater. He’s 6’6. There are other 6’6 great skaters out there. His athletic tools are not unique.

There has to be more than what he is to be a potential first rounder.

I do think the tools are somewhat unique. Maybe it just stood out more against lower competition, but he’s one of the best skaters I’ve ever seen at that size.

Regardless, he hasn’t done nearly enough to justify a ranking like that at this point.

 

[Hinterland]

23 seems high.

It seems like the Chinese element is getting added in because some people want a cool story.

He’s not a 7’3 great skater. He’s 6’6. There are other 6’6 great skaters out there. His athletic tools are not unique.

There has to be more than what he is to be a potential first rounder.

He's extremely dynamic for his size so he's definitely a unique athlete. Is he a unique hockey player though? I'm not sure. A good athlete or skater doesn't automatically make a good hockey player. If you wanna be a pro hockey player, let alone a regular in the NHL you gotta be able to play as well. And that's where Wang is extremely raw, has a lot to learn and catch up.