Austin Wagner

Austin Wagner (born June 23, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Los Angeles Kings in the National Hockey League (NHL). Wagner was drafted by the Kings in the fourth round, 99th overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

Austin Wagner
Born (1997-06-23) June 23, 1997
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 179 lb (81 kg; 12 st 11 lb)
Position Left wing
Shoots Left
NHL team Los Angeles Kings
NHL Draft 99th overall, 2015
Los Angeles Kings
Playing career 2017–present

Early life

Wagner was born on June 23, 1997, in Calgary[1] to parents Kevin and Linda and older brother Tyler.[2]

Playing career

Although Wagner began playing hockey at the age of three, he also played lacrosse before fully committing to hockey.[3] Wagner began his hockey career with the Blackfoot Minor Hockey Association before joining the Calgary Northstars.[4] Although he played for the Calgary Northstars on the Bantam AA Blazers during their 2010–11 season, his playmaking ability and skill earned him a promotion to Midget AAA.[5] During his AAA years, Wagner played for Team Calgary North at the 2012 Alberta Cup[6] and Team Alberta at the 2012 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup.[7]

Major junior

Wagner was drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats at the age of 16.[8] After attending the Pats training camp, he signed agreed to a contract with the team.[9] He scored his first WHL goal in the first period of a 4–3 shootout loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers on December 15, 2013.[10]

After his rookie season, in which Wagner scored 2 points in 42 games, the Pats changed coaches to John Paddock which Wagner says contributed to his production increase in his sophomore season.[3][11] His sophomore year proved to be his breakout season with the Pats, as he scored 39 points in 61 games and was drafted 99th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft.[12] Leading up to the draft, Wagner's final ranking by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau was 35th overall amongst North American skaters[13] and third in Anaerobic Fitness: Peak Power Output.[14] He attended the Kings training camp prior to the 2015 season but was returned to the Pats on September 24, 2015.[15] Upon his return, Wagner once again had a breakout season and set new career highs with 62 points in 70 games.

Wagner again attended the Kings training camp prior to the 2016 season but was returned to the Pats on October 1, 2016.[16] The 2016–17 season was another breakout season for Wagner, as he set new career highs in goals and assists. That season, the Pats qualified for the WHL playoffs. Wagner scored a goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Championships against the Lethbridge Hurricanes to help push the Pats to the WHL Championship round for the first time since 1984.[17] He ended the playoffs with 21 points in 22 games as the Pats ended up losing the WHL Championship Finals series to the Seattle Thunderbirds 4–2.[18] As a result of his breakout season, Wagner was selected to attend the Canadian National Junior Team camp prior to the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships but he failed to make the final roster.[19]

Professional

On March 6, 2017, Wagner signed an entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings.[20] During the off-season prior to the 2017–18 season, Wagner required shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and dislocated bicep tendon.[21] After he was medically cleared to play, Wagner was assigned to the Kings American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Ontario Reign.[22] Upon joining the AHL for his first season, he scored his first professional goal on December 9, 2017, in a 4–2 loss to the Texas Stars.[23]

Wagner attended the Kings 2018 training camp, where he earned praise from teammates and coaches including Coach John Stevens who said, "He’s [Wagner] an explosive athlete, so he’s got extreme quickness and speed."[24] Having made the Los Angeles Kings opening night roster for the 2018–19 season, Wagner made his NHL debut on October 5, 2018, in a 3–2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks.[25] After playing in seven games for the Kings, Wagner and teammate Sean Walker were reassigned to Ontario Reign.[26] During the first two months of the season, Wagner played 11 games with the Kings and five with the Reign.[27] Following a rash of injuries, Wagner scored his first career NHL goal on November 21, 2018, in a 7–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.[28] Although he missed four games due to a lower body injury, Wagner recorded 10 goals and seven assists within his first 50 games.[29] Prior to the trade deadline, he played alongside Nate Thompson, who he considered a mentor, before joining Trevor Lewis and Kyle Clifford as their winger.[30] At the end of the season, he was awarded the team's Jim Fox Community Service Award.[31]

On September 1, 2020, as a restricted free agent, Wagner was signed by the Kings to a three-year, $3.4 million contract extension.[32]

Personal life

In April 2020, Wagner, Adrian Kempe, Ben Hutton, and Blake Lizotte joined FaZe in an eSports gaming event to raise money for charities affected by COVID-19.[33]

Career statistics
Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2012–13 Calgary Northstars AMHL 28 7 3 10 30 2 0 0 0 15
2012–13 Regina Pats WHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2013–14 Regina Pats WHL 42 1 1 2 18 2 0 0 0 0
2014–15 Regina Pats WHL 61 20 19 39 53 9 1 2 3 8
2015–16 Regina Pats WHL 70 28 34 62 84 12 3 6 9 12
2016–17 Regina Pats WHL 64 30 36 66 94 22 16 5 21 29
2017–18 Ontario Reign AHL 50 10 7 17 62 3 0 0 0 2
2018–19 Los Angeles Kings NHL 62 12 9 21 16 — — — — —
2018–19 Ontario Reign AHL 9 3 0 3 16 — — — — —
2019–20 Los Angeles Kings NHL 65 6 5 11 39 — — — — —
NHL totals 127 18 14 32 55 — — — — —

References
  1. "Ontario Reign vs Tucson Roadrunners Media Kit" (PDF). ontarioreign.com. 2017. p. 47. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  2. Vanstone, Rob (December 16, 2013). "Calgarian Wagner pumped about playing in the Saddledome as he visits with the Regina Pats". Calgary Herald. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  3. Ryan McKenna (June 19, 2015). "Prospect of Interest: 411 on Austin Wagner". sportsnet.ca. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  4. "Austin Wagner". NHL.com. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  5. "CNHA Alumni sign NHL Contract, Wagner, Strand and Mitchell". calgarynorthstars.ca. January 1, 2018. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  6. "2012 Alberta Cup NORTHWEST TEAM ROSTER" (PDF). hockeyalberta.ca. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  7. "TEAM ALBERTA U16" (PDF). hockeyalberta.ca. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  8. "Draft Day Recap". reginapats.com. May 3, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  9. "Pats Sign Six Prospects". reginapats.com. September 4, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  10. "Nick Schneider Brilliant in Pats Shootout Loss". reginapats.com. December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  11. Zupke, Curtis (November 28, 2018). "Austin Wagner's speed has helped him make a quick rise in Kings organization". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  12. "Austin Wagner Drafted 99th Overall". reginapats.com. June 27, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  13. "NHL Central Scouting's 2015 final rankings". NHL.com. April 8, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  14. Chiari, Mike (June 6, 2015). "NHL Combine 2015: Full Results, Measurements, Highlights and Top Prospects". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  15. Harder, Greg (September 24, 2015). "Pats' Wagner was treated like a King at NHL training camp". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  16. "Austin Wagner Returns from L.A. Kings". reginapats.com. October 1, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  17. "RECAP: Pats Win Eastern Conference Championship". reginapats.com. April 30, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  18. "Thunderbirds claim WHL Championship for first time in franchise's 40-year history". WHL.ca. May 15, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  19. Farrell, Sean (December 13, 2016). "Canada reduces WJC roster to 27". NHL.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  20. "Austin Wagner Signs Contract With LA Kings". reginapats.com. March 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  21. Harder, Greg (July 12, 2017). "Pats' Wagner faces long road to recovery from shoulder surgery". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  22. "KINGS PROSPECT AUSTIN WAGNER MEDICALLY CLEARED AND ASSIGNED TO REIGN". ontarioreign.com. December 2, 2017. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  23. "WAGNER NETS FIRST GOAL AND MOULSON NABS FIRST POINT IN 4-2 SETBACK IN TEXAS". ontarioreign.com. December 9, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  24. Morales, Robert (September 27, 2018). "Kings' Austin Wagner not short on speed or personality". Daily News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  25. Zupke, Curtis (October 5, 2018). "Kings' rally falls short against Sharks in 3-2 overtime loss in season opener". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  26. "Rookies Austin Wagner and Sean Walker Assigned to Ontario Reign". NHL.com. October 31, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
  27. Harder, Greg (November 25, 2018). "Austin Wagner savours first NHL goal". Regina Leader Post. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  28. Elliott, Helene (November 21, 2018). "Kings' standing on Thanksgiving doesn't bode well for their playoff chances". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  29. Morales, Robert (March 15, 2019). "Kings rookie Austin Wagner grades out well through his 1st 50 games". Daily News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  30. Zupke, Curtis (February 11, 2019). "Austin Wagner recalls value of Nate Thompson's mentoring after shining in Kings' loss". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  31. "2018-19 LA Kings Award Winners Announced". NHL.com. April 6, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  32. "Kings sign Austin Wagner to three-year deal". The Sports Network. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  33. Silbert, Jake (April 1, 2020). "FaZe Clan Joins LA Kings for Collaborative Merch, Charity Tournament". hypebeast.com. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
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