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

[bashbros32]

Cool but not unique. Radim Mrtka is 6'6/216lbs and he can make plays as well, is almost PPG on a bad team.

Size is a plus but not particularly helpful if you can't handle/control/play the puck.

Tell NHL GM's that, not me. I'm not particularly horny for big/unskilled players... and big/skilled players are rare...

 

[Namejs]

Try not to laugh watching this one.

Wang is currently the only Generals player sitting at -2 against the worst team in the OHL...with the Generals in a 6-3 lead late in the 3rd.

Why aren't they benching him?

 

[FourQuarters]

I've been reluctant to join this discussion because I felt it was meaningless. However, I think this thread has been increasingly veering off-topic over the past two weeks. The conversation has devolved into two sides—those supporting the kid and those opposing him—each seeking evidence to prove they’re right. It feels like those who oppose him are almost "waiting" for him to fail.
This is no longer about the player's development. Many people don't seem to care about how he progresses but rather hope he does poorly—or well—just to validate their stance over the opposing side.
As a Chinese person, I support him. But whether you like him or not, I think anyone who's watched junior hockey for years should understand the importance of patience. No player should suffer extra hostility because of some foolish "bet"

 

[Namejs]

I've been reluctant to join this discussion because I felt it was meaningless. However, I think this thread has been increasingly veering off-topic over the past two weeks. The conversation has devolved into two sides—those supporting the kid and those opposing him—each seeking evidence to prove they’re right. It feels like those who oppose him are almost "waiting" for him to fail.
This is no longer about the player's development. Many people don't seem to care about how he progresses but rather hope he does poorly—or well—just to validate their stance over the opposing side.
As a Chinese person, I support him. But whether you like him or not, I think anyone who's watched junior hockey for years should understand the importance of patience. No player should suffer extra hostility because of some foolish "bet"

Tldr: this guy is Chinese

As for my posts here, I have been critical of how bad and inefficient NHL franchises are at drafting talent in the lower rounds. That is my entire motivation here. I have written about it extensively especially regarding prospects from 2nd tier countries and how they get systematically overrated/underrated.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about this particular kid, as he is meaningless and will never play pro hockey. He's just walking proof of cognitive biases at play, which I am and will continue discussing here.

 

[FourQuarters]

Tldr: this guy is Chinese

As for my posts here, I have been critical of how bad and inefficient NHL franchises are at drafting talent in the lower rounds. That is my entire motivation here. I have written about it extensively especially regarding prospects from 2nd tier countries and how they get systematically overrated/underrated.

Frankly, I couldn't care less about this particular kid, as he is meaningless and will never play pro hockey. He's just walking proof of cognitive biases at play, which I am and will continue discussing here.

It's kind of weird, "This guy is Chinese," and then what? A lot of the content in this thread is about the discussion of the development system of ice hockey in China, so yeah, if you and other friends want to know more about it, you can ask me.
And congrats, Team Latvia played amazing hockey on the WJC, you have every reason to be more confident, if Simon can't make Team Latvia, it is because you have a good team and many good players.❤

 

[Leafshater67]

How many "physical specimens" with no feel for the game make it in professional hockey? That's the issue. If you want to spend a low round pick on him, fine. A first round selection though? That's big brain thinking.

While I do agree with you, that’s kind of Cody Ceci. Not worth a first or second round pick but after that, it’s not bad. 31 is insane though.

 

[LeProspector]

While I do agree with you, that’s kind of Cody Ceci. Not worth a first or second round pick but after that, it’s not bad. 31 is insane though.

Look at what Ceci did in major junior. Not comparable.

 

[yessir29292]

Oh god.

Yes, I would be questioning why a guy that’s mostly playing jun B in Ontario is ranked in the first round. He isn’t even a regular in the OHL

Why you guys making comments on this prospect when you clearly have no idea what is going on.

First of all OJHL = JrA

Wang is committed to BU. Gens drafted him late because of the commitment. They attempted to to get him to commit to Gens instead of BU for 2 years but he didn’t, instead played the next best hockey in Ontario, OJHL, to maintain NCAA eligibility like many prospects do. When the rules changed this fall, Gens worked as hard as they could to get him in a jersey. convinced him to sign a “B” card, meaning he could play 10 games this year while still playing in the OJHL. They eventually convinced him to sign a full card and he’s played every game since then, on a team that is all on this and traded away all of their picks, they do not care about next year.

This is like saying Makar (I know Wangs not near the prospect) wasn’t good enough for the WHL so he played in the AJHL, so why did the Avs draft him? When really every WHL team wanted him but he stayed in the AJHL to maintain NCAA eligibility.

 

[Dempsey]

I read an interview with him and he seems like a great kid. Really motivated, spoke about how he keeps a list on paper of everything he needs to work on and chooses something new every day. I'd love to see him succeed. But if he's ranked for the end of the first round count me out. He's just too far behind to make it up IMO, but I'd love to be wrong.

It's perfectly reasonable for people to speak out when they see a player with his lack of numbers in the OJHL (this league is extremely poor these days) ranked in the first round.

 

[Namejs]

Why you guys making comments on this prospect when you clearly have no idea what is going on.

First of all OJHL = JrA

Wang is committed to BU. Gens drafted him late because of the commitment. They attempted to to get him to commit to Gens instead of BU for 2 years but he didn’t, instead played the next best hockey in Ontario, OJHL, to maintain NCAA eligibility like many prospects do. When the rules changed this fall, Gens worked as hard as they could to get him in a jersey. convinced him to sign a “B” card, meaning he could play 10 games this year while still playing in the OJHL. They eventually convinced him to sign a full card and he’s played every game since then, on a team that is all on this and traded away all of their picks, they do not care about next year.

This is like saying Makar (I know Wangs not near the prospect) wasn’t good enough for the WHL so he played in the AJHL, so why did the Avs draft him? When really every WHL team wanted him but he stayed in the AJHL to maintain NCAA eligibility.

MOD

Wang ranks 27th among defencemen in OJHL in point production. There are ca. 40 junior leagues globally of similar caliber with thousands of junior players.

What association does Makar have with Wang? There's literally no connection, no parallels to be found.

Wang is literally not good enough for OHL, as evidenced by his play there. How the f*** does Makar play into this?

 

[SoupNazi]

MOVE ON FROM DISCUSSION OF WANG'S RACE. NOW.

 

[cole33]

MOVE ON FROM DISCUSSION OF WANG'S RACE. NOW.

How you felt saying that

 

[yessir29292]

MOD

Wang ranks 27th among defencemen in OJHL in point production. There are ca. 40 junior leagues globally of similar caliber with thousands of junior players.

What association does Makar have with Wang? There's literally no connection, no parallels to be found.

Wang is literally not good enough for OHL, as evidenced by his play there. How the f*** does Makar play into this?

This guy said he wasn’t a regular in the OHL because he’s playing half his games in JrB. Which is far from true

 

[VeteranPresence]

Wang put up one assist yesterday in Oshawa's 3-2 loss to the Petes. That gives him...

1 point on the year. In 12 games.

Anyone seriously looking at this player for the top 3 rounds right now is willfully ignoring reality in favor of a feel-good story they desperately want to exist for... some reason. Otherwise Rio Kaiser should have a first-round grade too, maybe even Evan Passmore. It's hype for hype's sake and really undermines the credibility of so many prospect "experts".

 

[Briser la glace]

Wang put up one assist yesterday in Oshawa's 3-2 loss to the Petes. That gives him...

1 point on the year. In 12 games.

Anyone seriously looking at this player for the top 3 rounds right now is willfully ignoring reality in favor of a feel-good story they desperately want to exist for... some reason. Otherwise Rio Kaiser should have a first-round grade too, maybe even Evan Passmore. It's hype for hype's sake and really undermines the credibility of so many prospect "experts".

It’s unfortunate because there are plenty of people who genuinely like Wang despite all his flaws, but his critics are so aggressive that it makes it not even worth sharing positive or optimistic thoughts. This kind of hostility undermines the purpose of this thread and makes things counterproductive.

Wang is raw. Wang is a project, and a risky one. We can all agree on that. But that doesn't give anyone the right to be disrespectful to those who see things differently. He’s a polarizing figure, and that’s okay. We don’t all have to agree. Some NHL teams will appreciate his potential for what he might become in 6 years, while others will pass on him because they’re more risk-averse. McKenzie even mentioned that one scout had him ranked 18th, while another had him outside their Top-64, a huge difference considering only 10 scouts were polled.

The chances of him becoming a successful project may be slim, but in a weaker draft class, I can understand why some teams might take a chance on him instead of playing it safe with a pick who could end up as a 4th-liner and play 150 games. But let’s not forget, being a “safe pick” doesn’t guarantee success either. Plenty of 1st and 2nd rounders never make it to the NHL.

 

[LeProspector]

He’s the Gabriel Elliasson of this years draft without the mean streak

 

[Hinterland]

Wang put up one assist yesterday in Oshawa's 3-2 loss to the Petes. That gives him...

1 point on the year. In 12 games.

Anyone seriously looking at this player for the top 3 rounds right now is willfully ignoring reality in favor of a feel-good story they desperately want to exist for... some reason. Otherwise Rio Kaiser should have a first-round grade too, maybe even Evan Passmore. It's hype for hype's sake and really undermines the credibility of so many prospect "experts".

Even that one point was just a complete accident. Came against the worst team in the league and the last time Wang touched the puck was in the defensive zone. Then played a pretty standard cross ice pass to Sandhu who carred the puck all the way through the neutral zone, entered the offensive zone and scored the 4vs4 goal after some nice interplay along the boards with Ritchie. Wang was never involved in that play even the slightest bit.

He's an interesting project and will rightfully get drafted but even at OHL level his offensive impact is trending towards zero with plays dying on his stick. Could be a good depth NHLer one day but probably not much more.