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Ontario Reign 2017/2018

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Prospect Austin Wagner Ready to Make Pro Jump

Joey Zakrzewski November 30, 2017http://lakingsinsider.com/2017/11/30/prospect-austin-wagner-ready-make-pro-jump/#disqus_thread
Ontario Reign Insider wrote;

Forward Austin Wagner is ready to make his professional debut.
Since his off-season surgery to repair a torn labrum and dislocated bicep tendon, Wagner has quietly been rehabbing with the Ontario Reign. At first, he was restricted to isolated on-ice workouts and eventually graduated to limited drills in a red “no contact” jersey. Another couple weeks passed and he is now ready to challenge for a roster spot.
There are still two more hills to climb before fans could potentially see No. 26 twirling around Citizens Business Bank Arena. He 1.) needs to be medically cleared and 2.) needs to be assigned by the LA Kings powers-that-be.
The Situation:
This season, Wagner is eligible to return to his junior team, the Regina Pats, for his 2o-year-old campaign and join the club as they host the 2018 Memorial Cup. As a host team, you are automatically entered into the premiere tournament. Certainly a tantalizing option with a chance to claim junior hockey supremacy in his final season.
OR
He has the opportunity to fast-track his professional career after signing with the Kings this past spring and battle for a roster spot. His speed and scoring ability certainly gained attention around the ranks and are attributes both the Reign and Kings need in their lineup.
What would you do?



 
Whoa Gravel! Ties it up with 22 seconds left.

Then... they let SD score with 3 seconds left. Jeez.
 
Fishhead said:
Whoa Gravel! Ties it up with 22 seconds left.

Then... they let SD score with 3 seconds left. Jeez.
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Yeah that hurt. It was actually Mersch that tipped Gravel's shot in, but they gave the goal to Gravel in the box score. Then the Gulls pushed back and scored with a couple seconds left. I have not seen the replay yet, so not sure about the break down. We didn't play well at all in this game, so we didn't deserve to win. Still to lose a point that way hurts.
 
regulate said:


Sorry Regina Pats, but Wagner is now a member of the Ontario Reign. Welcome Austin.
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Yes !!!!!...... I feel the need for SPEED !!!!
It will take him some games to adjust and get his timing back but we just got a whole lot faster......
 
Wagner needs to pull a Luff and make it impossible for them to send him down. It's a little different as the season is underway, but he'll be given some time to impress.
 
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Raccoon Jesus said:
There's our deadline addition top-sixer :sarcasm:
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He sees the writing on the wall about the end of his NHL career. Nice of the Kings and Buffalo to allow him to come out and play in the AHL closer to his family on loan. A free veteran player for the Reign to bring some experience into that locker room who will likely help the offense. I'd imagine a buy-out is in his off-season future for his last year.
 


Sad day. Joey Z is leaving to do play by play for the Rockford Ice Dogs. Joey was doing analyst work and was the communication director for the Reign this season, along with his duties as the Reign Insider. Following his dream. Good luck to Joey.
 
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Welcome to the Ontario Reign Jordan!

LA Kings Acquire Subban; Send Nic Dowd to Canucks

Vancouver Canucks defenseman Jordan Subban joins LA Kings in exchange for forward Nic Dowd

by LA Kings @LAKings / LAKings.com
December 7th, 2017
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The LA Kings have acquired defenseman Jordan Subban from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Nic Dowd, Kings Vice President and General Manager Rob Blake announced today.
The 22-year-old Subban (born March 3, 1995) is a 5-9, 175-pound native of Rexdale, Ontario who has played in 16 games with the Utica Comets (AHL) this year, recording five points (0-5=5) and 13 penalty minutes.
Drafted in the fourth-round (115th overall) by Vancouver during the 2013 NHL Draft, Subban has appeared in 148 regular-season games over three seasons with Utica, posting 77 points (27-50=77) and 87 penalty minutes. He has also played in four playoff games with Utica, recording three points (2-1=3) and two penalty minutes.
Jordan is the younger brother of Nashville Predators defenseman P.K. Subban and Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Malcolm Subban.
Dowd appeared in 16 games this season with the Kings, posting one point (0-1=1) and 12 penalty minutes.
 
I am more excited aboot this than most (but then I also like shiny new toys....lol).

I think once the Kings/Reigns developmental guys and trainers get a hold of him to shore up his defensive game and bulk him up some (add 15 to 20 lbs. of muscle here...ha ha ha) then we could have something. The kids only 22 years old and defenseman can take longer to develop....plus it's not like we need to rush him. He just needs to work hard, listen and learn the defensive side of his game. They say he has great offensive instincts and is already a really good skater.

Look at players like Brian Rafalski, Kimmo Timonen, Tobias Enstrom, Ryan Ellis, Torey Krug, etc..... these guys have all been successful at the NHL level. The game seems to be changing every year these days and smaller guys are being successful.
 
Rekingsfan17 said:
I am more excited aboot this than most (but then I also like shiny new toys....lol).

I think once the Kings/Reigns developmental guys and trainers get a hold of him to shore up his defensive game and bulk him up some (add 15 to 20 lbs. of muscle here...ha ha ha) then we could have something. The kids only 22 years old and defenseman can take longer to develop....plus it's not like we need to rush him. He just needs to work hard, listen and learn the defensive side of his game. They say he has great offensive instincts and is already a really good skater.

Look at players like Brian Rafalski, Kimmo Timonen, Tobias Enstrom, Ryan Ellis, Torey Krug, etc..... these guys have all been successful at the NHL level. The game seems to be changing every year these days and smaller guys are being successful.
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I think it's a pipe dream, but hey, let's see what happens. He's just not gonna get any taller, and 5'9" is really, really small for a D man. Walker is taller than him.
 
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Nice play (which you don't see in this frame) by Mike Amadio to steal the puck and push the rush the other way with a pass to Moulson who sets up Gravel's game winner in OT. Amadio also had two goals in the game.
 
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Jon Rosen‏@lakingsinsider wrote;

Jordan Subban’s debut with the Reign will have to wait probably another two weeks due to an upper-body injury. Team was aware of the injury when it acquired him. Not expected to be a serious/long term thing.
 
It's safe to say that Spencer Watson's first season of professional hockey isn't going as planned. Thru 7 games in the ECHL he has 4 assists. His game so far has yet to translate and possibly never will. Hopefully his season will improve and he can earn himself a good AHL career.
 
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Fat Elvis said:
It's safe to say that Spencer Watson's first season of professional hockey isn't going as planned. Thru 7 games in the ECHL he has 4 assists. His game so far has yet to translate and possibly never will. Hopefully his season will improve and he can earn himself a good AHL career.
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Yeah, I noticed that too. Hopefully, the kid finds his game. He's gotta be close to a point-per-game ECHLer to have any realistic chance of succeeding in the AHL. And even then, things don't always work out (Kitsyn).
 
Fat Elvis said:
It's safe to say that Spencer Watson's first season of professional hockey isn't going as planned. Thru 7 games in the ECHL he has 4 assists. His game so far has yet to translate and possibly never will. Hopefully his season will improve and he can earn himself a good AHL career.
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When you consider that he already played out his overage year last year in junior when most players are making the pro debuts, it's not looking so pretty for Watson. He has 1.5 years left in his ELC but it is looking like a real long shot that he will ever get a 2nd contract.
 
Let's keep in mind that Watson was the 2nd to last pick in his draft. Doesn't mean you can't have an NHL career, but it's unlikely. Doesn't help that the only guys from the 6th or 7th rounds that year that have done anything so far play for the Sharks and Ducks though.
 
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