Rookie watch: Wagner on fast track to success with Kings

Austin Wagner was always a threat in junior hockey to average at least one breakaway a game with his incredible speed.

Now that he's added a power element to his repertoire as a rookie with the Los Angeles Kings, there's no telling the potential impact he might have when he puts it all together in the near future.
"I'm trying to learn as much as I can from the older guys and take it day by day," Wagner said. "I need to continue to do the things that made me successful in juniors. I have to skate, hit and be kind of like a pest out there. The big thing I'm learning is I don't need to go 100 percent all the time, and that's a big learning curve for me.

"I'd always be skating full speed and now I know there are times where I need to slow down, read the play."
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound left wing has earned everything he's achieved to this point in his career. After being selected in the fourth round (No. 99) of the 2015 NHL Draft, Wagner spent two more seasons with Regina of the Western Hockey League. A shoulder injury sustained during the 2017 WHL playoffs required surgery to repair a torn labrum and dislocated bicep tendon June 7, 2017.
The timing couldn't have been worse, particularly after Wagner led all scorers with 16 goals and three shorthanded goals in 22 playoff games to help Regina advance to the WHL championship against Seattle, which won the best-of-7 series in six games.
Wagner made his professional debut for Ontario of the American Hockey League on Dec. 3, 2017, six months after surgery. He had 17 points (10 goals, seven assists) in 50 games.
"Austin is a good example of a guy who had a real tough final season in junior with the fact he had shoulder surgery and missed a lot of time," said Ontario coach and former NHL defenseman Mike Stothers. "He came a long way for a kid who missed most of training camp and the early part of the 2017-18 season, but just continued to improve.
"I don't think we've even come close to witnessing the ceiling for him, but, man-oh-man, he's certainly fast-tracking."
The 21-year-old native of Calgary, Alberta, scored three goals in nine games for Ontario before being recalled by the Kings for good Jan. 31. Wagner has 18 points (10 goals, eight assists) in 54 games and ranks third on the Kings with 123 hits while averaging 8:50 in ice time. He's sixth among all NHL rookies who've played at least 12 games and first in Points Per 60 Minutes (2.26) for Los Angeles (27-39-8), which has been eliminated from Stanley Cup Playoff contention.

"I've been around a winning culture my whole life, so it does bother me that we're struggling for wins this season," Watson said. "We had a winning culture in Regina all four years I played there, and then we were a winning team in Ontario (AHL) again. I spent time in Ontario earlier this year just to find my game again, trying to get back to what I do."
Stothers said Wagner never hesitated to ask questions in attempt to get better.
"The first thing that jumps out at you is his speed because he was flat out one of the fastest guys in the AHL and now he's getting to show that speed in the NHL and it puts teams on their heels and makes him a threat 5-on-5, 4-on-4 or even on the penalty kill," Stothers said. "The other thing is he does play a little bit on the edge, but that's not a bad thing because obviously he gets under the other team's skin and is one of those guys who can kind of irritate and hopefully draw a few penalties."
Wagner is seventh on the Kings in minor penalties drawn (11) this season.
"Coming out of junior, where he was a 20-year-old playing against 17-year-olds, he was the big man on campus type," Stothers said. "Now he's playing in the NHL where you have a lot of big, strong, powerful men, so if you're going to play that way, every once in a while, you'll have to answer the bell when challenged."
Wagner said he doesn't worry about how many minutes he plays each game but that he'll do whatever it takes to remain in the lineup to assist the Kings.
"Austin creates a lot of chances through his speed, but he also has size and has grit," coach Willie Desjardins said. "Sure, he lacks in experience and that's the one thing he'll have to gain as he moves on, but his work ethic is good and his desire to get better is there. We're very encouraged."