- Simon Wang could become the first China-born player in NHL history
- The 6-foot-6 defenseman heads to Boston University this fall after a strong OHL season
- Read below for what the Sharks’ 2025 second-rounder said about chasing that milestone
The San Jose Sharks might have the first China-born player in NHL history sitting in their prospect pool. His name is Haoxi Wang, and everyone calls him Simon.
Wang, who turns 19 on Monday, was San Jose’s first pick of the second round in 2025 at 33rd overall. He’s already built for the league at 6-foot-6 and 215 pounds, and the people around him think the rest of his game is catching up in a hurry.
Dale DeGray, the general manager of Niagara in the OHL, watched Wang up close last season and came away sold, telling NHL.com the big blueliner can do a little of everything.
“If he’s here, he’ll be a key player. He’ll be power play. He’ll be like Mr. Everything.”
Born in Beijing, he moved to Toronto at 12 to chase a hockey career. Last season he racked up 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 57 OHL games split between Oshawa and Niagara. His next stop is Boston University, where he’ll play his college hockey this year.
The Sharks caught up with him about that move in their latest Teal Talk:
Asked what pushes him as he climbs toward the NHL, Wang pointed to something bigger than a roster spot.
“Whether it’s fighting for my heritage, becoming the first Chinese defenseman to ever step in the NHL, that gives me extreme motivation.”
He’d be stepping into a Sharks rebuild that leans on young talent, with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith already lined up for big extensions. Hear Wang lay out his plan before he ever suits up for San Jose:
Wang is already thinking past his own career. He wants the door he’s pushing on to stay open for the kids behind him.
“Getting more Asian people involved in the sport, and hopefully one day there’s more Asian people going into the National Hockey League.”
There’s still a long climb from a college freshman to the San Jose blue line. But a 6-foot-6 defenseman who skates and moves the puck the way Wang does is exactly the kind of bet a rebuilding team is happy to make.
