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NHL Draft Live: What are the Canucks going to do in Round One?

NHL Draft Live: What are the Canucks going to do in Round One?

National Posta day ago

Friday will be a consequential day in the future of the Vancouver Canucks, one way or another.
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As things stand, they hold the 15th overall pick in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft.
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The general feeling is they'll trade the pick — GM Patrik Allvin admitted earlier this week that he's had talks about trading back and he and president Jim Rutherford have also said in the past they recognize they'll likely have to make a trade to grab the second-line centre they covet, which surely will come at the cost of their first round pick.
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain unbeaten with 36-23 win over Edmonton Elks
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain unbeaten with 36-23 win over Edmonton Elks

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Simon Wang becomes highest-drafted player born in China, going 33rd to Sharks in NHL draft
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Winnipeg Free Press

timean hour ago

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Simon Wang becomes highest-drafted player born in China, going 33rd to Sharks in NHL draft

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Wang was proud to become the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him Saturday with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft. The big defenseman is also confident he won't hold that distinction for long. 'It's an unreal moment for my family, for hockey in China,' Wang said. 'Just a really surreal moment, a dream-come-true moment. … I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home.' The 6-foot-5 blueliner was chosen 33rd overall while the NHL concluded its newly decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders kicked off the draft Friday by using the first overall pick on defenseman Matthew Schaefer. Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12 to further the career of a kid who attended the NHL China Games and became fascinated with a sport that has grown steadily in China. Wang is only the third Chinese-born player ever drafted by the NHL, but he knows he won't be the last. Kevin He was drafted 109th overall by the Winnipeg Jets last year, and Andong Song was chosen 172nd by the New York Islanders in 2015. 'Hopefully one day my record will get broken again,' Wang said. 'Someone will go in the first round, even top 10. I think there will definitely be someone that's going to make a huge impact on the game.' His real name is Haoxi Wang, but he plans to go by Simon during his hockey career because 'it's simpler for North Americans,' he said. Wang is a physical specimen who probably isn't even done growing, but he surged forward in his hockey development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks and several other teams. Wang aspires to be an imposing two-way defenseman in the mold of Victor Hedman or Colton Parayko, but he had little draft buzz until the start of last season, when teams began to take notice of his rapidly developing skills. He soon joined the OHL's Oshawa Generals and got even more exposure during their playoff run. 'Seeing so many scouts in the Junior A barn, it just started hitting me,' Wang said. 'The summer before the season, I thought I was going undrafted, to be honest with you. But it happened for a reason, and I worked so hard for this. I deserve to be here.' Wang got into hockey as a child, but he didn't truly embrace the game until his family took a trip to Los Angeles eight years ago. The 10-year-old attended a Kings game right across the street from where he was drafted — although he fell asleep during the game, he recalls with a laugh. Wang then attended that Bruins-Flames game played in Beijing in 2018, and he soon decided to move to Canada to boost his development. Wang walked the red carpet in Los Angeles on Friday with his mother, who propelled his career — and even bought and moved his former junior team. He also got his first chance in nearly two years to see his brother, who studied at Boston University, where Wang might play college hockey starting in 2026 if next year in Oshawa goes well. After minimal player movement Friday, several significant trades were executed Saturday. Longtime Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson was traded to Detroit in a package for Petr Mrazek, while defenseman Jordan Spence went from Los Angeles to Ottawa in a bid for more playing time. Almost every first-round prospect was in attendance in Los Angeles, but the players in the audience dwindled on the second day. The late rounds were still memorable for several attendees — including Alexis Mathieu, who went 136th overall to the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round. Mathieu, a physical defenseman from Baie-Comeau in the QMJHL, knew he wouldn't be a first-round pick, but his family decided to take a vacation to Southern California so Mathieu could attend the draft. His family kept him upbeat with jokes while the draft stretched into the back of the middle rounds Saturday. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The group roared with excitement when Mathieu's name was announced, and he got got to walk down to the stage to pull on the orange sweater and hat. 'When I heard my name called, it was something special,' Mathieu said with a broad grin. 'Like they say, dreams come true. … It was a little vacation for us at the start of the week, but when I arrived downtown, it was draft mode.' The 223rd overall pick was also in attendance: Aidan Park, a product of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings system and the nephew of former NHLer Richard Park. The 19-year-old center got one last big cheer and a walk to the stage when he was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in the seventh round. ___ AP NHL:

Simon Wang makes history at NHL draft
Simon Wang makes history at NHL draft

Global News

timean hour ago

  • Global News

Simon Wang makes history at NHL draft

LOS ANGELES – Simon Wang is still only 17 years old. The journey that brought him to Peacock Theater on Saturday morning had already been long and winding. Then he made history. The San Jose Sharks chose the defenceman from the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals with the first pick of the NHL draft's second round, making the six-foot-six, 222-pound Wang the highest-ever Chinese player selected at No. 33 overall. 'Unreal moment for my family, for hockey (in) China,' Wang said as he sported his new team's teal threads. 'Trying to soak it in.' The teenager started playing hockey in Beijing at age four, but his family decided he needed more competition to develop following conversations with a friend already in Canada. Story continues below advertisement Wang moved to the Toronto area in 2019, and after heading home during the COVID-19 pandemic, returned to Ontario and enrolled in a private school. Wang's mother, Willa, then bought a junior-A team in Brantford, Ont., and relocated it to Nobleton — roughly 125 kilometres away — where her son started to flourish. The two other Chinese-born players drafted to the NHL are 2024 Winnipeg Jets fourth-round pick Kevin He and 2015 New York Islanders sixth-rounder Andong Song. 'I'm just getting started,' said Wang, who's committed to eventually attend Boston University in the NCAA. 'I never really knew this game, how it's supposed to be played, until (age) 14. I'm always the underdog. Always have distance to catch up. I still have hunger in me, still have to drive that I've got to get better every single day. 'That's why I'm probably one of the most unique guys in the draft class.' Story continues below advertisement Wang started this season in junior-A before signing on in the OHL with the Generals, where he put up two assists in 32 games as he continued to grow into his body and learn the sport. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Now he's set a new draft benchmark. 'Definitely special,' Wang said. 'I hope I've inspired a lot of kids back home, and hopefully one day my record gets broken — someone goes in the first round, maybe top-10. That's probably the ultimate goal for Chinese hockey. 'There'll definitely be someone that is going to make a huge impact on the game.' It could very well be Wang. DECENTRALIZED DRAFT The league's first-ever decentralized draft in a non-pandemic scenario — similar to the NFL and NBA, where teams make selections off-site — continued with the Montreal Canadiens trading up to get Alexander Zharovsky at No. 34. The six-foot-one, 163-pound Russian winger had 24 goals and 26 assists for 50 points across 45 games for Ufa on his country's junior circuit this past season. The Vancouver Canucks took goaltender Alexei Medvedev of the OHL's London Knights at No. 47. The Russian went 22-8-2 with a .912 save percentage and 2.79 goal-against average for the Memorial Cup champions. Story continues below advertisement The Calgary Flames picked centre Theo Stockselius at No. 54. The six-foot-three, 196-pound centre put up 51 points (22 goals, 29 assists) in 40 games in 2024-25 for Djurgardens' developmental team in Sweden. The Toronto Maple Leafs made their first pick OF the draft with the second round's final selection, taking Tinus Luc Koblar, also out of the Swedish junior league, at No 64. The Norwegian centre had 21 points (eight goals, 13 assists) in 43 games for Leksands in 2024-25. The Ottawa Senators made a trade with the Los Angeles Kings earlier in the day when they acquired defenceman Jordan Spence for a third-round pick this year and a 2026 sixth-rounder. The Detroit Red Wings made the day's biggest splash, adding John Gibson via trade from the Anaheim Ducks for fellow goaltender Petr Mrazek, a second-round pick in 2027 and a fourth-rounder in 2026. Saturday's third round saw Vancouver take centre Kieren Dervin (No. 65), Montreal grab centre Hayden Paupanekis (No. 69), and Calgary go with defenceman Maceo Phillips (No. 80) before the Canadiens took blueliner Bryce Pickford (No. 81) and goaltender Arseni Radkov (No. 82). The Edmonton Oilers made their first pick of 2025 at No. 83 with winger Tommy Lafreniere. The Leafs then selected Tyler Hopkins at No. 86. The centre from Campbellville, Ont. — just outside Toronto — grew up a fan of both the team and captain Auston Matthews. Story continues below advertisement 'To wear this jersey, I can't even describe the feeling,' said the 18-year-old. 'That was the ultimate dream.' Winnipeg took centre Owen Martin (No. 92) and Ottawa chose winger Blake Vanek (No. 93). Ottawa opened the fourth round by selecting goaltender Lucas Beckman (No. 97), wingers Dmitri Isayev (No. 149) and Bruno Idzan (No. 181), along with netminder Andrei Trofimov (No. 213). Montreal tabbed centre John Mooney (No. 113) and goaltender Alexis Cournoyer (No. 145). The Canadiens then added a trio of defencemen in Carlos Handel (No. 177), Andrew MacNiel (No. 189) and Maxon Vig (No. 209). Edmonton plucked winger David Lewandowski (No. 117), defenceman Asher Barnett (No. 131), goaltender Daniel Salonen (No. 191) and centre Aiden Park (No. 223). Toronto grabbed winger William Belle (No. 137), winger Harry Nansi (No. 153), defenceman Bruno Idzan (No. 185) and winger Matthew Hlacar (No. 217). Vancouver selected centre Wilson Bjorck (No. 143), winger Gabriel Chiarot (No. 175) and centre Matthew Lansing (No. 207). Calgary picked wingers Ethan Wyttenbach (No. 144) and Aiden Lane (No. 176), defenceman Jakob Leander (No. 208) and winger Yan Matveiko (No. 211). Winnipeg wound up with winger Viktor Klingsell (No. 156), defenceman Edison Engle (No. 188) and winger Jacob Cloutier (No. 220). This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 28, 2025. Story continues below advertisement

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