Introducing: Austin Wagner

Fourth Round, 99th overall: Austin Wagner
Position: Forward
Shoots: Left
DOB: 6/23/97
Height: 6’1
Weight: 178
Hometown: Calgary, AB

NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 35 (North American skaters)
NHL Central Scouting midterm ranking: 43 (North American skaters)
Stats (WHL – Regina): 61 GP, 20 G, 19 A, 39 Pts, 53 PIM, +13

@lakingsinsider Wagner had a great showing in combine testing.

— Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak) June 27, 2015

@lakingsinsider Kid can fly.

— Randy Sportak (@SUNRandySportak) June 27, 2015

On his first reaction to getting drafted and putting on a Kings jersey:
It’s an unbelievable experience. I never thought I’d be at this place last year, a couple of months ago. It’s a good time for me, and I’m just excited to hear my name called and excited to get the work started.

On what worked for him on a strong WHL-Regina team:
We’re a hard team to play against. We use our speed well and we forecheck hard and we have an awesome coach in John Paddock. We were a good team and we’re getting even better in the next couple years, and we develop our players, and I think we’re going to be a strong team in the next few years.

On the type of player he is:
I call myself a two-way forward. I’m a big, fast guy that uses his speed and penalty kills really hard, so I think I can contribute to the L.A. Kings organization, and I’m really excited to get it started.

On whether his skill set fits well with the Kings’ systems:
Yeah, for sure. L.A.’s a fast team, and my speed’s really going to contribute, I think, and it’s going to take me a while to develop my full game to get there. I think right now it’s a road I’ve got to take slowly and to work hard at it, and I think it’ll be a good experience for me, and I’m excited for the ride.

On his strong NHL Combine testing (stick tap to Randy Sportak):
I would say it’s an exciting experience, obviously. It’s a good time, and you get to meet a lot of new guys and make some friends, but at the same it’s a business. Thought I had really good testing. Did well, and my meetings went really well. I thought I made good impressions. I guess I made a good one on LA. I’m pretty excited about that, and then my testing, I think I did great. I did my best, and that’s all I can do.

On the number of times he met with the Kings:
Probably three or four times this year. I talked to them quite a few times. I kind of had a mindset that this would be a place I’d want to go, and I think the organization accepts me, and I accept them pretty well.