Haoxi Wang is a 6'6″ defenseman noted for mobility for his size and still developing as a raw prospect. The San Jose Sharks selected him 33rd overall in the 2025 draft. Wang committed to start his freshman season in 2026-27 at Boston University to continue development against older competition. He became the highest-selected NHL draftee born in China and one of only three Chinese-born players ever drafted. Born in Beijing, Wang gained early ice access when his mother started a rink-building company. He moved to Toronto around age 12, advanced from club AAA to the OJHL, played 32 major junior games before the draft, and navigated pandemic disruptions en route to earning an NCAA scholarship and becoming a second-round pick.
One of the more exciting additions to the prospect pool this summer was defenseman Haoxi Wang, who the San Jose Sharks selected in the second round at 33rd overall in the 2025 draft. He is known for his impressive mobility for his 6'6″ frame, but is still a somewhat raw talent. As we mentioned with L eo Sahlin Wallenius in the last post, defensemen take a longer time to develop,
Wang has already committed to start his freshman season in 2026-27 at - you guessed it - Boston University. It will be an excellent program for him to grow his game over the next few years and see how he can adjust to playing against older competition before throwing him in against professionals. What made Wang more notable within the overall NHL draft class was that he became the highest-selected player born in China in NHL history, and just the third to be drafted.
Thankfully, his mother started a rink-building company around the time he was 10 years old, which gave Wang access to ice time at an early enough age to develop good fundamentals. He moved to the Toronto area around the time he was 12 years old, where, within just a few seasons, he moved up from club AAA, to the OJHL and to the OHL during the last season.
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