by Daniel Fink | AHL On The Beat
The American Hockey League is hard to play in. Simply ask any participant who has suited up for video games on the circuit. It’s a league that forces gamers to study rapidly and adapt their sport to seek out success.
Need to attempt including to the diploma of issue? Attempt transferring to a brand new continent and, for good measure, becoming a member of the league practically 15 video games into the schedule. That was Fabian Wagner’s state of affairs this fall when he stepped onto the ice with the Manitoba Moose on Nov. 23 in opposition to the Chicago Wolves.
The Winnipeg Jets chosen Wagner within the sixth spherical of the 2022 NHL Draft. Whereas the ahead was a point-per-game participant within the Swedish junior ranks, Wagner tallied only one aim and 6 factors in 87 video games over components of 4 seasons within the top-level Swedish Hockey League.
Feeling the very best subsequent steps for his improvement could be within the AHL, the 20-year-old Wagner made the bounce to North America after enjoying 16 video games with Linköping HC to begin this season. It was a dramatic change for Wagner, however he had assist ready when he arrived with the Moose.
“If I needed that improvement, I want to return over right here,” defined Wagner. “In fact it’s a brand new nation, new sort of hockey and new teammates. It’s one thing new, however the Swedes have helped me quite a bit and different guys on the crew additionally.”
Sure, it actually helps when your new crew in North America options three of your countrymen to assist get you acclimated. There are many changes to make in a brand new nation. Even simply determining the native grocery shops generally is a problem. Fortunately Wagner had skilled gamers like Axel Jonsson-Fjällby and Simon Lundmark, together with fellow rookie Elias Salomonsson, to assist him settle in.
“It’s actually precious,” he mentioned. “Axel and Simon have helped me quite a bit. It’s nice, they’ve been right here some years now so it helps me quite a bit to have them by my facet. I’m actually grateful for them.”
With assist getting his off-ice state of affairs sorted, Wagner might hold his give attention to the ice with the Moose. His first goal when becoming a member of up with the Moose was simply to have enjoyable. Wagner knew there could be challenges getting used to a brand new fashion however needed to get pleasure from each second of this new alternative in Winnipeg.
Whereas offense didn’t instantly stream, Wagner introduced a stable two-way sport, the type of play coaches can depend on. It didn’t take lengthy for Wagner to earn the belief of his teammates and training employees.
“You may inform as quickly as he came visiting, he wasn’t dishonest the sport in any respect,” recalled Moose middle Jaret Anderson-Dolan. “He performed laborious, he was good in puck battles. I keep in mind enjoying with him earlier within the season and he has the inspiration to be a extremely stable participant.”
Early on, the Moose teaching employees acknowledged Wagner had some pure offensive skill. These expertise centered round a heavy and correct shot, however he earned alternative along with his accountable play and laborious work.
“Every thing that Fabian’s obtained, he’s earned, whether or not that’s transferring up the lineup or enjoying particular groups,” detailed Moose assistant coach Morgan Klimchuk. “It was evident early he needed to be a participant that may very well be trusted. He took lots of delight in his play with out the puck. That has afforded him the chance to play all of the video games he did early and proceed to climb.”
Whereas Wagner’s two-way sport earned him constant reward from the teaching employees, the offensive outcomes hadn’t but adopted. The Nyköping, Sweden, product had three assists in his first 31 video games. A few these helpers had been impactful – Wagner assisted on a pair of game-winning targets – however he was nonetheless ready for that first tally.
That combat to generate offence was one thing his coach might relate to. Klimchuk appeared in 274 video games with Stockton, Toronto and Belleville throughout his AHL profession. Whereas the previous winger went on to place up 133 factors (62 targets, 71 assists) in his AHL tenure, he didn’t rating in his first 16 video games and solely posted 9 factors in 55 video games of his rookie season.
“I’ve made the bounce to this league. It’s not a straightforward league to attain in and it takes time. It’s a must to determine play the sport. Often, it begins with out the puck and you then begin to end up in conditions with a bit of bit extra time and area. That is the place it’s worthwhile to go to get probabilities, to get appears to be like.”
Wagner wasn’t letting it present in his play, however there was some angst setting in as he went deeper into the season with no aim.
“In fact there’s some frustration,” Wagner admitted. “You all the time wish to rating and if you’re searching the primary aim and the video games are ticking, there’s going to be some frustration. I feel I used to be enjoying fairly good hockey. I used to be simply attempting to have that in my thoughts and proceed enjoying my sport. Don’t attempt to suppose a lot in regards to the first aim.”
After which, on March 5 in opposition to the Grand Rapids Griffins, Fabian Wagner scored his first AHL aim. Defenseman Dylan Anhorn stole the puck within the offensive zone and fed Wagner lurking within the slot. Wagner tucked a one-timer simply previous the outstretched pad of Sebastian Cossa.
Then one thing exceptional occurred. Wagner scored once more the following sport.
And the following sport.
After which twice the following sport.
And another the next sport for good measure.
Within the span of 5 video games, Wagner scored six targets to take over the Moose rookie goal-scoring lead. It was the longest goal-streak by a Moose skater because the 2022-23 season, and the longest by a rookie since Kyle Connor racked up 10 targets in six video games through the 2016-17 marketing campaign. The streak got here to an finish on March 16 in Iowa, however Wagner was proper again at it for his seventh aim in as many video games on March 19 in Rockford.
“It was superior,” laughed Wagner, wanting again on the run. “It’s all the time enjoyable to attain targets. Additionally, I feel I additionally discovered one thing from it. In fact, you rating targets in entrance of the online, however I discovered get to the aim and get the alternatives.”
The rookie ahead wasn’t the one one reveling in his explosion of scoring. His Moose teammates had been ecstatic to be part of the journey together with Anderson-Dolan, who was on a line with Wagner for 4 of the 5 video games.
“Everybody is aware of how laborious it’s to undergo a droop,” Anderson-Dolan mentioned. “It seems like the online is tremendous small and there’s nothing to shoot at. Then one goes in, and it seems like a soccer web. When you see that one go in, you’re completely happy for him to have the monkey off his again. It’s humorous how when you get one, often the floodgates open up.”
Wagner wrapped up March with seven targets and one help in 13 video games, main the Moose in targets through the month. His seven tallies additionally completed the month tied for second amongst all AHL rookies.
Whereas the variety of targets is thrilling, Klimchuk is fast to level out it’s not simply what number of, however how Wagner is scoring.
“We had been actually pleased with him persevering with to develop his sport and add layers. Quite a lot of these targets had been discovering quiet ice or scoring areas on the proper time. Actually good, completely different releases and scored a bunch of targets in a bunch of various methods. He isn’t one-dimensional in how he generates offense.”
It’s been a season of change and studying for Fabian Wagner. The Winnipeg Jets prospect embraced the problem of coming to a brand new league and nation. He devoted himself to placing within the work to construct on a robust basis and is now beginning to see it repay with new success.
