Alex Huang, born on July 30, 2007, is a Canadian defenseman making waves in the hockey world. Standing at 183 cm (6'0") and weighing 82 kg (181 lbs), Huang is known for his right-handed shot and is considered a mobile and offensive defenseman.
Key Facts:
- Date of Birth: July 30, 2007
- Place of Birth: Rosemère, QC, Canada
- Nation: Canada
- Position: D (Defenseman)
- Shoots: R (Right)
- NHL Rights: Nashville Predators / Unsigned
- Drafted: 2025, Round 4, #122 overall by Nashville Predators
Early Career
Huang's early career saw him playing for the AHM Lorraine-Rosemere youth team. Before that, Huang spent a season playing for the Saint-Eustache Vikings, where he racked up points offensively.
The Fighting Saints decided to take a swing on Canadian defenseman Alex Huang in the 10th and final round. Out of Rosemère, Québec.
“We felt it was the right time for us to take a swing,” said Director of Scouting Dan Shrader. "We felt that selecting Alex, and working to build a relationship with him and his family, meant that we could get incredible value at that point in the draft,” Shrader added.
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"He's just a phenomenal player," Shrader said excitedly. "The kid can flat out play. He's a dynamic skater, has high end hockey sense, high end poise. Huang also is very strong academically which is where the draw to play in the USHL comes from.
"The thing is that Alex is an incredible student too," Shrader said.
Playing Style and Strengths
Alex Huang is a skilled, puck-moving right-shot defenseman who plays with control, intelligence, and a clear offensive mindset. Huang’s game is driven by excellent skating, elite passing accuracy (92%), and high-end offensive anticipation (1.8 pre-shot passes/game). He consistently pushes the pace and contributes in transition and on the power play (3:00 PP TOI/game). He handles heavy minutes (22:24 TOI) and is trusted in offensive-zone starts (11:01 PIA/game).
Strengths Highlighted:
- High-End Puck Movement and Vision: Huang’s 92% passing accuracy and 1.8 pre-shot passes per game are elite for junior defenders. He distributes cleanly from the blue line and generates offense with purpose and deception.
- Strong Skating and Offensive Transitions: He skates with ease and efficiency, allowing him to escape pressure and join the rush.
- Power Play Quarterback Potential: With 3:00 per game of power play time and a shooter’s mentality (4.9 shot attempts/game), Huang shows clear PP upside.
- Reliable Under Pressure and Willing to Block Shots: Despite lacking strength, Huang is responsible in his own end. He averages 1.23 blocked shots per game and rarely takes penalties (just 16 PIMs in 64 QMJHL games, zero in six U18 games).
Huang’s deception, passing, and agility combine to make him a highly effective puck-mover. Handling the puck at his hip, in a multi-threat position, he fakes opponents, uses teammates, changes direction, and explodes out of his moves, leaving the opposition behind and creating a high volume of controlled offensive zone entries.
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Areas for Improvement
Despite his strengths, Huang has areas where he needs to improve to reach his full potential.
Weaknesses Highlighted:
- Lacks Physicality and Strength to Win Defensive Zone Battles: Huang isn’t physical (0.63 hits/game) and can be overpowered down low or net-front.
- Shot Efficiency and Offensive Conversion Needs Work: He converts only 7% of his scoring chances and has over 50% of his shot attempts blocked or missed the net.
- Uneven Usage in High-Stakes Settings: At the U18 Worlds, Huang’s minutes fluctuated dramatically, peaking at 19:47 and dipping to 8:00.
- Narrow Role Profile at Present: Huang is not yet a three-zone defender.
Huang lacks a physical dimension (0.63 hits/game) and can be exposed when pressured physically or forced into defensive-zone puck battles (59% win rate in QMJHL; only 48% in U18s).
Development Track: One more season in the QMJHL to build strength, improve shot accuracy, and refine defensive-zone engagement.
NHL Draft and Future Plans
Selected by the Nashville Predators in the 2025 NHL Draft (Round 4, #122 overall), Huang's future looks promising. In June 2025, Alex Huang became a member of the Nashville Predators.
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Huang has committed to Harvard University for the 2026-27 season. It is unlikely he will be NHL-ready by then, so it is a fair bet he will lace up the skates for Harvard for at least two seasons. Look for Huang to improve on his offensive output in 2025-26 in the QMJHL as he works to establish himself as an offensive provider from the back end. The 17-year-old will play his third straight season with Chicoutimi in the QMJHL, where he produced 40 points in 64 games last year, for the 2025-26 season before heading to play for Harvard in the 2026-27 season.
Verdict: Huang is a clear draftable defenseman with a modern skill set built around skating, puck movement, and offensive reads. While his physical game and defensive-zone strength need work, his offensive IQ, vision, and ability to drive play give him real NHL upside as a puck-distributing third-pair defenseman or second-unit power play option.
Statistics
Huang produced 40 points (7 goals, 33 assists) in 64 games for Chicoutimi, finishing second among team defensemen in all three scoring categories. Huang also represented Canada at the 2025 U18 World Championships, posting 4 assists in 6 games and finishing with a +3 rating while playing mostly in a secondary role.
Key Stats:
- QMJHL: 40 points (7 goals, 33 assists) in 64 games
- U18 World Championships: 4 assists in 6 games, +3 rating
Huang has been doing plenty of playmaking from the blue line this year. His performance Wednesday gave him 30 assists on the year, just two shy of matching his total from the 2024-25 regular season.