Follow me on Twitter: @BenShelley_20 Follow HockeyBuzz Kings on Twitter: @HB_LAKings
This article will be another in my series of player profiles, where I’ll look at each player on the Los Angeles Kings and assess how their season went. This piece will focus on Austin Wagner.
Wagner’s production was down from last year’s pace of 16 goals and 28 points per 82 games, scoring just six goals and 11 points in 65 games this season, a pace of eight goals and 14 points per 82. Essentially, his goal and point paces were both down by 50 per cent.
It was disappointing to see his production slide, especially considering he averaged nearly three minutes per game more than he did last year. Some of this can be attributed to his massive drop in shooting percentage, from 17.9 per cent last season to just 4.8 per cent this season. We can expect it to be somewhere in between those numbers going forward.
Though his production was down, this was still an alright year for Wagner but next season, it’ll be interesting to see where he fits in the lineup, with many other forwards battling for a spot. The departure of Nikolai Prokhorkin certainly helps Wagner’s chances but that won't guarantee him a permanent role. One advantage that Wagner does have is not only his NHL experience, but the fact that he has the size and plays with grit, making him a good fit for a fourth line.
Wagner's production is likely to recover next season, though whether or not he retains a permanent spot in the lineup remains to be seen.
***NOTE: We've launched a HockeyBuzz Kings Twitter account! For anyone interested, you can follow @HB_LAKings for updates on articles, Kings news, etc. We're starting right from scratch, so any followers would be appreciated!***
Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted in a future article):
Reviewing the season: Joakim Ryan SHORT READ: Nikolai Prokhorkin signs in KHL Reviewing this week's polls (July 19): Kings Edition Reviewing the season: Matt Roy Reviewing the season: Jonathan Quick Reviewing the season: Nikolai Prokhorkin Reviewing the season: Trevor Moore Reviewing the season: Kurtis MacDermid Reviewing this week's polls (July 11): Kings Edition Reviewing the season: Matt Luff Reviewing the season: Blake Lizotte Reviewing the season: Trevor Lewis