The Washington Capitals, with their forward prospect pool looking robust, might turn their attention to defense at the 2025 NHL Draft, and one name that stands out is Haoxi "Simon" Wang. Wang, a towering 6-foot-6 defenseman, could address a crucial need for size within the Capitals' defensive prospect ranks.

Currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) with the Oshawa Generals, Wang is quickly gaining attention from NHL scouts. Born in Beijing, China, Wang's journey to the top prospects list is unique. He started playing hockey at age four, and later moved to Toronto to further pursue his hockey dreams.

What makes Wang an intriguing prospect is his rare combination of size, skating ability, and hockey sense. For a player of his stature, Wang demonstrates impressive mobility and agility on the ice. Scouts have lauded his smooth pivots, transitional skating, and gap control, allowing him to effectively defend against both speedy and powerful forwards.

Wang's strengths lie in his defensive game. He maintains composure under pressure, consistently making smart and simple plays. He excels at recovering loose pucks and moving them out of danger, evidenced by his strong takeaways and loose puck recovery rates. While not necessarily a dynamic puck-mover, Wang has shown improvement in his confidence with the puck, walking the blue line and finding seams to create offensive opportunities. He also boasts a functional passing game, completing a high percentage of his passes.

While Wang's offensive stats may not jump off the page, he's displayed flashes of offensive vision and puck-moving ability, suggesting untapped potential in that area. He earned OHL All-Rookie 2nd Team honors in 2024-25.

Several scouting reports highlight Wang's raw talent and project him as a potential top-four defenseman in the NHL with continued development. However, he is considered a long-term project. His pressure tolerance, breakout passing, and playmaking in the offensive zone have been identified as areas for improvement. Some scouts project him as a potential middle-pairing defenseman.

Wang has committed to play for Boston University in the 2025-26 season, where he will have the opportunity to hone his skills under the guidance of head coach Jay Pandolfo, a former NHL forward. This NCAA route will allow Wang to refine his game against top-tier competition while balancing his athletic and academic pursuits.

At the 2025 NHL Combine, Wang showcased his physical strength, placing highly in grip strength and the vertical jump, demonstrating his dedication to improving his athleticism.

If Wang is available when the Capitals make their second-round selection, he could be a valuable addition to their prospect pool. His unique blend of size, mobility, and hockey IQ, coupled with his commitment to development, makes him an intriguing long-term investment for the Capitals.