Simon Wang goes 33rd overall to Sharks, making history as highest-drafted player born in China
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Simon Wang became the highest-drafted player born in China when the San Jose Sharks selected him with the first pick of the second round of the NHL draft on Saturday.
Wang's family moved from Beijing to Toronto when he was 12. The 6-foot-5 defenseman surged forward in his development over the past year, showing more than enough potential to entice the Sharks with the 33rd overall selection.
'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.'
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 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.'
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 a Bruins-Flames game played in Beijing in 2018, and he soon decided to move to Canada to further 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.
The NHL is concluding its decentralized draft with the final six rounds at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. After minimal player movement Friday while Matthew Schaefer became the No. 1 overall pick, several significant trades were executed Saturday, with longtime Anaheim Ducks goalie John Gibson going to Detroit while defenseman Jordan Spence went from Los Angeles to Ottawa.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Memphis Grizzlies draft grades for Cedric Coward, Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack
The Memphis Grizzlies did exactly what they set out to accomplish in the 2025 NBA draft. Memphis needed help on the wing, and it wanted players who could provide an edge on defense after the usually strong Grizzlies defense looked below average in the second half of this season. Advertisement The Grizzlies acquired forward Cedric Coward, plus guards Javon Small and Jahmai Mashack in the 2025 NBA draft to help with those issues. This class is mostly about a shift in identity for the Grizzlies. Last season, Memphis prioritized adding a big man after trading Steven Adams and more 3-point shooting. Those problems were addressed with what turned out to be a strong three-man draft class in Zach Edey, Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer. Here are grades for each Grizzlies selection from the 2025 NBA draft. Cedric Coward, No. 11 overall (first round) Cedric Coward is the prize possession of the draft class for Memphis. The Grizzlies traded up to No. 11 from the 16th pick to acquire the 6-foot-6 forward. Advertisement Coward has a combination of production and strong physical traits that are enticing. He averaged 17.7 points in six games at Washington State as a junior. He shot 38.8% on 3-pointers and 72% on shots inside the 3-point line in three years combined at Eastern Washington and Washington State. Oh, he also has a 7-2.5 wingspan and a 38-inch vertical. These traits are enticing, but the six games played at Washington State can be viewed as a concern. Coward is coming off a shoulder injury, and he didn't play much high major basketball. There is risk to the pick, but the Grizzlies needed a wing with high upside, and Coward has that on both ends with his shooting, scoring and defensive potential. Grade: A Javon Small, No. 48 overall (second round) Memphis selected Javon Small in the second round out of West Virginia to add in its guard rotation. Small stands at 6-2, but he's a big-time athlete who had strong production at multiple high major college programs. Advertisement Small averaged at least 15 points and four assists per game in each of his last three seasons at East Carolina, Oklahoma State and West Virginia. He also provided a defensive edge, finishing his college career with 103 steals in 97 games. It's no secret that Grizzlies coach Tuomas Iisalo has had success with twitchy point guards who can get to the rim. Small fits that bill. Overall, Small is a solid prospect, but it's hard to see his fit in Memphis. The Grizzlies have Ja Morant and Scotty Pippen Jr. as a solid tandem of point guards, plus they recently acquired Cole Anthony. Maybe all three of those point guards won't be on the roster when the season starts, and then the Small fit as a two-way developing option would make more sense. Advertisement Small has ability as a scorer, but he shot 35% on 3-pointers in college. Considering that he will be somewhat undersized, Small's shooting and ability to score around the basket will need to improve for this pick to be a hit. Grade: C Jahmai Mashack, No. 59 overall (second round) This pick is a simple one to evaluate. Mashack wasn't drafted because of any particular area of his offensive game. This choice is all about defense. Mashack was arguably college basketball's most disruptive perimeter defender at Tennessee, and it's a skill that should quickly translate to the NBA. His ability to navigate screens defensively and guard bigger players as a 6-4 guard is unique. Advertisement His overall longevity will depend on offensive progression as a shooter. NBA teams will challenge Mashack to knock down open shots. If he can deliver, the Grizzlies hit a home run with the last pick in the draft. Mashack shot 34.3% on 3-pointers in college, so there's a lot of room for growth. However, his defensive potential gives him enough positional versatility to stick around and make an impact. Grade: B Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies 2025 NBA draft grades for Cedric Coward, others
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Wild NHL Draft takeaways: Jonas Brodin out to start season, most interesting pick, stocking up on D
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Wild are preparing for Jonas Brodin to potentially miss time at the start of the 2025-26 regular season after the veteran defenseman underwent surgery a couple of weeks ago for an upper-body injury. Brodin, 31, was dealing with the injury during the regular season, and it 'flared up on him' during workouts following the World Championship, Wild president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin said Saturday. Advertisement 'He could have done it during the season, but it started feeling better,' Guerin said. 'It's one of those things where you can leave it alone and it might be fine. And you can leave it alone, and it might not. … It's not a traditional injury. It's more of a wear-and-tear thing that, if you leave it, it could be OK, but it could be painful.' The fact that Brodin could miss time made one of the Wild's Saturday moves interesting, as they traded depth left-shot defenseman Declan Chisholm and their sixth-round pick to the Washington Capitals for a fourth-round and AHL veteran defenseman Chase Priskie. Guerin said he's not sure if they're going to re-sign Priskie, a pending unrestricted free agent. Guerin called Chisholm one of the better waiver pickups he's seen in a while. The Wild claimed him from the Winnipeg Jets in January 2024, and he played 95 games for them over two seasons, including some stretches in the top four. Guerin said the finances didn't match up in signing Chisholm as a restricted free agent, though, and he felt he'd get a good opportunity with the Capitals. Guerin was OK moving Chisholm in part because he feels good about the depth he already has. Even if Brodin isn't ready to start the season, the Wild have two young defensemen in Zeev Buium and David Jiricek in the mix with veteran Zach Bogosian, as well as locks Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon and Jake Middleton. 'We're pretty comfortable with the seven,' Guerin said. 'We know what they can do.' Trading Chisholm also elevates defense prospects Carson Lambos and David Spacek, among others, in the organizational depth chart. They've each spent a couple of seasons with AHL Iowa. 'They've put in some solid time down there and gotten better,' Guerin said. 'For defensemen, it's usually a bit of a longer road. They've shown improvement every year.' Advertisement The Wild made five picks in this 2025 NHL Draft, and the most intriguing might be fourth-rounder Adam Benak. Benak, a 5-foot-7 center, is one of the smallest prospects taken this year, but he gets rave reviews for his skating, hockey sense and competitiveness. As TSN director of scouting Craig Button, a former NHL GM put it, Benak is a 'very skilled, gifted and competitive player — (Mats) Zuccarello-like.' Benak was the leading scorer for USHL Youngstown last season and should receive a lot of attention from CHL teams this fall, according to Wild director of amateur scouting Judd Brackett. 'At first blush, you see the size, but he's a dynamic offensive player,' Brackett said. 'Great vision, skill, speed, tenacious at that size. He's continued to prove it despite his size. He just has that pedigree for being able to create against bigger players. He's a hard guy to bet against. 'Trust me, the creativity, he's a fun player to watch. He's really exciting.' 'People that look at his size should think twice. He's a special player. Just give him some time.' Adam Benak is one of the smallest players in the #2025NHLDraft. He's also one of its fastest and smartest. My feature: — Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) April 27, 2025 Brackett acknowledged there was more pressure with the Wild's second-round pick this year. With no first-rounder (dealt for Jiricek in November) and none in the third round, No. 52 was probably their best chance at finding an NHL player. Whether they have one in second-rounder Theodor Hallquisth, 18, remains to be seen, but the Swedish defenseman has a pretty good (and fitting) model. He even wore his No. 25 on draft day. 'Jonas Brodin is someone I look at a lot,' Hallquisth said. 'I think we're pretty similar in our games. I love to watch him.' Advertisement The Wild have a lot of defense prospects in their system, especially in AHL Iowa with Lambos, Spacek and Jack Peart. Aron Kiviharju, last year's fourth-rounder, called himself the steal of that draft. Jiricek is in line for a shot at NHL time this year. 'Having depth and having competition is good,' Brackett said. 'If bringing in Theodor creates a little more pressure and stress on other players, that's good for us.' The Athletic's Scott Wheeler, who had the Swede No. 85 on his top 100 list, said Hallquisth plays a 'simple, efficient, effective' game and projects him as a third-pair defenseman in the NHL. 'He's clearly a two-way defenseman,' Brackett said. 'He's got the ability to get back on a puck. Good IQ. He feels pressure. He can find his first read and get it out of the zone. He's got good engagement, too. He plays with some bite, which is nice. He's a good, competitive kid, can separate players from pucks. He takes short routes to pucks, is very assertive. We saw improvement in his skating as the year went on — a testament to what he's made of.' The other defenseman the Wild took was Justin Kipkie in the fifth round (No. 141). The 6-foot-4 left-shot was originally drafted by Arizona at No. 160 in 2023. He's had two strong seasons since then with WHL Victoria. Kipkie, 19, racked up 62 points last season, including 22 power-play assists, and served as team captain. 'We saw great development in the last couple of years,' Brackett said. 'He can handle the puck well, moves it well. It's an opportunity for us, where he's going to buy a little more time and go to college. If he continues this growth, we think it's a good late option for us.' The Wild's other fourth-round picks were forwards Lirim Amidovski (No. 123) and Carter Klippenstein (181). Amidovski, a 6-1, 181-pound two-way winger, had 32 points and 38 penalty minutes in 67 games with OHL North Bay. Advertisement 'The first thing you notice about him is his speed,' Brackett said. 'He plays with reckless abandon and is a real heavy forechecker. A north-south style skater. Physical at the point, gets to the net. He's sort of a heat-seeking missile type of player.' Klippenstein, 18, is a hard-nosed two-way center who is a really good penalty killer, Brackett said. He's 6-3, 181 pounds and has played three seasons with WHL Brandon. 'He plays with an abrasive, physical nature,' Brackett said. 'He will stand up for teammates when he has to. He's a shot-blocker, good penalty killer. He thinks there's more emerging skills as he gets older in the CHL, but that's not going to be the hallmark. This is going to be a rugged, two-way Mason Marchment type of player.' (Photo of Jonas Brodin: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Miami Herald
25 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Bennett's signed. Now, can the Panthers wrap things up with Ekblad, Marchand?
The Florida Panthers, fresh off winning a second consecutive Stanley Cup, took care of their first major order of offseason business Friday when Sam Bennett agreed to an eight-year contract extension. Now, can they do the same with defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Brad Marchand before free agency begins on Tuesday? That's the priority. 'My preference — and maybe I'm hoping — is that there's enough for guys to want to stay to be a part of this and be treated fairly and be happy,' Panthers president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Zito said Saturday. 'That's the most important thing.' Bennett was the first of the three Zito and the Panthers were able to finalize. The second-line center's deal has an average annual value of $8 million. That cuts Florida's remaining cap space to $11 million. That'll be a tight squeeze to fit Ekblad, Marchand and the salaries for a pair of restricted free agents in forward Mackie Samoskevich and backup goaltender Daniil Tarasov. 'We've been discussing all of them,' Zito said of potential deals for Marchand and Ekblad now that the Bennett deal is done. 'Everything is so intertwined. When you spend to the cap and you do it for as many years as we have and commit to as many guys as we have, the wiggle room on little things is really, really difficult. Sometimes you just have to keep at it so that you can fit everybody and keep the team and the core of the team together.' Zito, for his part, has done an admiral job of getting the Panthers' core signed long-term. Eight Panthers players are under contract through at least the 2029-30 season. ▪ Forwards Aleksander Barkov ($10 million AAV), Matthew Tkachuk ($9.5 million AAV) and Anton Lundell ($5 million AAV) plus defenseman Seth Jones ($7 million AAV) are signed for the next five years. ▪ Forward Sam Reinhart ($8.63 million AAV) and defenseman Gustav Forsling ($5.75 million AAV) are signed for another seven years, through 2031-32. ▪ Forwards Carter Verhaeghe ($7 million AAV) and Bennett ($8 million) are inked through the 2032-33 season. 'Obviously, people talk about these players who stay, and the guys who stay generally take discounts,' Zito said. 'Look at our roster and then ask what they could be making other places. It's because they want to be part of it, and they understand it's not a financial decision to take less. Somebody asked me if I was negotiating. No. I'm mediating because we're spending it all. We're trying to get everybody happy and then if guys want to be here, we want to treat you as fairly as we can so that we can stay and we can keep the team together, because teams win.' Bennett easily fits into that category. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs after leading the league with 15 goals — including an NHL-record 13 road goals — this postseason. That came after setting a career-high with 51 points (25 goals, 26 assists) in the regular season and winning a gold medal with Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off. There was speculation that he could have made north of $10 million per year if he tested free agency. But he chose to stay in Florida, where his career has taken off after being acquired at the trade deadline in 2021. Why? 'This is the core that's been here for the last three, four years,' Bennett said Saturday. 'We've had so much success, I don't see why we can't continue it. I think we're all so committed to the same goal of winning and doing whatever it takes, putting in the hard hours to do what it takes to win. This is the core that I want to be with.' Ekblad, who has played for the Panthers his entire career and is coming off an eight-year deal that had a $7.5 million annual cap hit, has said he wants to stay, too. The defenseman has been with the Panthers his entire career since Florida took him No. 1 overall in 2014. His 732 career regular-season games played for the organization are second behind only Barkov. Ekblad also holds the franchise's defenseman records for games played (732), goals (118), assists (262) and points (380). 'That's part of who I am at this point,' Ekblad said on June 21, the day before the team's championship parade. 'I've spent 11 years here, and that's more than I've spent in any home or city in my life. It's home, and I expect it to be home.' Marchand, who Florida acquired as a rental at the trade deadline and whose previous deal had an annual cap hit of $6.125 million, looked like a natural fit with the team during his three-and-a-half months here. On the ice, he logged 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) in the playoffs, including six goals in the Stanley Cup Final, and elevated Florida's third line with Lundell and winger Eetu Luostarinen. Off the ice, he became a central figure in the dressing room with teammates who had been enemies over the past two years. He introduced himself to the team group chat with a flurry of chirps. He became the center of the postgame celebration as the team flung rubber rats at him as they left the ice. He was the leader of Dairy Queen trips on the road during the final two rounds of the playoffs. 'We'll see what happens here soon,' Marchand said after the Panthers clinched the Stanley Cup.
