We could see history at the 2025 NHL Draft.
Last year, Kevin He became the highest-ever drafted Chinese-born player in NHL history when the Winnipeg Jets selected him 109th overall. Now, just a year later, there is another Chinese-born player who is projected to be taken in the first round.
Simon Wang, who was born in Beijing, grew up playing hockey in China before moving to Canada as a teenager. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound defenceman was recently projected by TSN’s Bob McKenzie to be selected 31st overall at the upcoming draft.
“Really interesting story, because not only he is Chinese, but he’s born and bred Chinese,” McKenzie said. “That is, he played hockey in China until he was a teenager and then wanted to come to Canada, ostensibly to play hockey. He’s [6-foot-6], skates like the wind.”
McKenzie said one scout rated Wang as high as 18th, though someone else ranked him outside the top 64 picks. He’s a “borderline first-round prospect,” according to McKenzie.
.@TSNBobMcKenzie has Chinese-born @Oshawa_Generals defenceman Simon Wang in his top 32 mid-season draft rankings 🇨🇳
Wang played hockey in China until he was a teen before moving to Canada. In 2024, the @NHLJets made Kevin He the highest Chinese-born draft pick at 109th overall. pic.twitter.com/DLixVMu0cC
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 22, 2025
Wang began the season in the OJHL with the King Rebellion, where he recorded four goals and 22 points through 38 games. He’s since joined the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, where he’s been held pointless through eight games.
An excerpt from a story written by Wang from The Athletic details how he first got into hockey. The sport wasn’t popular in Beijing, but he had a friend in his kindergarten class who told him he should give it a shot. He agreed and has been hooked ever since.
It was after moving to Canada at just 12 years old that his skills really started to develop. Since then, he’s quickly caught the attention of many higher-ups in the hockey community.
Teams at the junior levels have had their eye on Wang for some time. He was selected 83rd overall by the Generals in the 2023 OHL draft. One year later, he went 131st overall to the Dubuque Fighting Saints in the USHL draft.
While it remains to be seen where he will end up being selected in the draft come late June, his story is a remarkable one that hockey fans will surely want to follow.
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