Austin Wagner Bio
Austin Wagner is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger born on June 23, 1997, in Calgary, Alberta. He currently plays with the Shanghai Dragons in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), having signed with the team in late September 2025. Wagner previously spent time in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves, the Ontario Reign, and briefly appeared in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Los Angeles Kings and Chicago Blackhawks. Drafted 99th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, he has built a professional career known for speed, work ethic, and steady playmaking.
Early Life and Background
Austin Wagner was born on June 23, 1997, in Calgary, Alberta, to parents Kevin and Linda Wagner. He grew up alongside an older brother named Tyler in a household that encouraged sport from a young age. Wagner began playing hockey at the age of three and quickly developed a love for the game on Calgary rinks.
Before fully committing to hockey, Wagner also played lacrosse with the Calgary Axemen of the Alberta Lacrosse Association. The blend of hockey and lacrosse helped shape his hand-eye coordination and athleticism, traits that became trademarks of his later skating and puck skills. His early multi-sport background laid a strong foundation for a competitive mindset.
Path to Hockey
Wagner began his organized hockey career with the Blackfoot Minor Hockey Association before advancing to the Calgary Northstars. During his time with the Calgary Northstars Bantam AA Blazers in the 2010–11 season, his playmaking ability and overall skill earned him a promotion to the Midget AAA level. He went on to represent Team Calgary North at the 2012 Alberta Cup and Team Alberta at the 2012 Western Canada U16 Challenge Cup.
At the age of 16, Wagner was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft by the Regina Pats. After attending the Pats training camp, he signed a contract with the team and began his major junior path. The Western Hockey League (WHL) circuit would prove to be the launchpad for his professional prospects.
Austin Wagner Career
Early Career (2013–2015)
Wagner scored his first WHL goal in the first period of a 4–3 shootout loss to the Medicine Hat Tigers on December 15, 2013. After his rookie season, in which he posted 2 points in 42 games, the Pats changed coaches to John Paddock. Wagner later credited that coaching change with helping him elevate his production in his second campaign.
His sophomore season was a true breakout. Wagner scored 39 points in 61 games and caught the attention of NHL scouts. The Los Angeles Kings selected him 99th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, with Wagner ranked 35th among North American skaters and third in Anaerobic Fitness: Peak Power Output by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau.
Regina Pats Breakthrough (2015–2017)
After attending Kings training camp in 2015, Wagner was returned to Regina on September 24, 2015. He responded with new career highs of 62 points in 70 games. The following preseason, he again attended Kings camp before being returned to the Pats on October 1, 2016, where his 2016–17 season became another breakthrough.
Wagner set new career highs in goals and assists as the Pats qualified for the WHL playoffs. He scored a key goal in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Championships against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, helping push Regina to the WHL Championship round for the first time since 1984. Wagner finished the playoffs with 21 points in 22 games before the Pats fell to the Seattle Thunderbirds 4–2 in the WHL Championship Finals. He was later invited to the Canadian National Junior Team camp ahead of the 2017 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships but did not make the final roster.
Los Angeles Kings Era (2017–2023)
On March 6, 2017, Wagner signed an entry-level contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Following off-season shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum and dislocated bicep tendon, he was assigned to the Kings AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, where he scored his first professional goal on December 9, 2017, in a 4–2 loss to the Texas Stars.
Wagner earned a place on the Kings opening night roster for the 2018–19 season and made his NHL debut on October 5, 2018, in a 3–2 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks. He scored his first NHL goal on November 21, 2018, in a 7–3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche and finished with 10 goals and seven assists within his first 50 games. At season’s end, he was awarded the team’s Jim Fox Community Service Award. On September 1, 2020, he was signed to a three-year, $3.4 million contract extension.
Chicago Blackhawks and European Stint (2023–2024)
During the 2022–23 season, Wagner notched nine goals and 12 points through 24 games with the Ontario Reign before the Kings traded him to the Chicago Blackhawks for future considerations on March 3, 2023. He returned to the NHL and recorded a goal and an assist through seven regular-season games with the Blackhawks.
Following that stint, Wagner signed a professional tryout deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on August 30, 2023, but ultimately joined IK Oskarshamn of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) for the 2023–24 season. The European experience broadened his game against a different style of competition.
Chicago Wolves and Shanghai Dragons (2024–Present)
After leaving Sweden, Wagner returned to North America and joined the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for the 2024–25 season. On September 30, 2025, he signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL, marking his latest chapter abroad.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wagner is widely described as an explosive athlete with extreme quickness and speed, traits that have defined his identity as a winger. His lacrosse background sharpened his hand-eye coordination, and his conditioning ranked among the top North American skaters at the draft. Throughout his career, teammates such as Nate Thompson have served as mentors, helping him refine the pro habits that keep him effective at every level.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wagner’s most memorable milestones include his first NHL goal against the Colorado Avalanche, his Jim Fox Community Service Award with the Kings in 2018–19, and his role in pushing the Regina Pats to the 2017 WHL Championship round. His transition to the KHL with the Shanghai Dragons in 2025 represents another major step in a journey that has spanned Canada, Sweden, the AHL, and the NHL.
Austin Wagner Career Wins
Austin Wagner’s career is defined less by championship trophies and more by steady offensive contributions and key playoff moments. Across his WHL, AHL, NHL, SHL, and KHL stops, he has consistently produced points while adapting to new leagues and roles.
WHL Highlights
Wagner’s WHL tenure with the Regina Pats peaked in 2016–17, when he set career highs in goals and assists and helped lead the team to the WHL Championship Finals. He accumulated 21 points in 22 playoff games that spring and earlier posted a 62-point regular season in 2015–16.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond junior hockey, Wagner’s performances include a 39-point sophomore season with the Pats, a productive NHL rookie year with the Kings in 2018–19, and steady AHL output with the Ontario Reign and Chicago Wolves. His move to the Shanghai Dragons in 2025 continues a pattern of embracing new challenges.
Austin Wagner Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wagner was raised in Calgary by his parents, Kevin and Linda Wagner, alongside his older brother, Tyler. The family’s support of athletics played a meaningful role in shaping his career from minor hockey onward.
Personal Life
Off the ice, Wagner joined Kings teammates Adrian Kempe, Ben Hutton, and Blake Lizotte in a FaZe eSports gaming event in April 2020 to raise money for charities affected by COVID-19. He is known for his community involvement, including the Jim Fox Community Service Award he received from the Kings.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year marks a clear turning point for Austin Wagner. After spending the 2024–25 season with the Chicago Wolves in the AHL, he signed with the Shanghai Dragons of the KHL on September 30, 2025, beginning a new chapter in one of Europe’s top professional leagues.
The move to Shanghai reflects Wagner’s continued willingness to compete at the highest level available. With a track record of quick adaptation and durable production, he is positioned to be a regular contributor for the Dragons while bringing a North American style of speed and physicality to the KHL.
Looking ahead, Wagner’s familiarity with international play, gained during his 2023–24 season in Sweden, should ease his transition. As the 2025–26 KHL season unfolds, his progress in China will be a key storyline for fans tracking his career abroad.
