Chris Wagner

For other people named Chris Wagner, see Chris Wagner (disambiguation).

Chris Wagner
Wagner with the New York Islanders in 2018
Born (1991-05-27) May 27, 1991 (age 33)
Needham, Massachusetts, U.S.
Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
NHL team (P)
Cur. team
Former teams		 Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Eagles (AHL)
Anaheim Ducks
New York Islanders
Boston Bruins
NHL draft 122nd overall, 2010
Anaheim Ducks
Playing career 2012–present

Christopher Wagner (born May 27, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey forward for the Colorado Eagles of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League (NHL). Wagner was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the fifth round (122nd overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Early career

As a youth, Wagner played in the 2004 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the South Shore Kings. Attended and played hockey at Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, Massachusetts.[1]

Amateur

Wagner as a Massachusetts native played junior hockey in the Eastern Junior Hockey League with the South Shore Kings where he and his family lived. In his second season with the Kings in 2009–10 as an 18-year-old, Wagner matched an EJHL single-season scoring record with 83 points in only 44 games. He captained the team to the Southern Division Championship before committing to play collegiate hockey with the Colgate Raiders of the ECAC conference in the NCAA. Wagner's development promise gained notice and as a result was he was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.[citation needed]

In his freshman season with the Raiders in 2010–11, he led rookies in team scoring with nine goals and 28 points in 41 games. Wagner continued his upswing in potential the following season by leading Colgate and placing second in the ECAC in scoring. His 51 points in 38 games led all NCAA underclassmen and he was selected in the Second All-Star Team.[2] His two-way presence was noticed as he finished as a finalist for the ECAC's best defensive forward. On April 3, 2012, Wagner ended his collegiate career prematurely when he was signed to a three-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks.[3]

Professional

Wagner made his professional debut with the Ducks' AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals to open the 2012–13 season, in a contest against the Worcester Sharks on October 12, 2012.[4] In remaining with the Admirals for the duration of the year, Wagner appeared in 70 games with 8 goals and 21 points. In his second season, Wagner continued his development in Norfolk, ending the 2013–14 season, as the only player to appear in every game.

Wagner at the 2015 AHL All Star Game

Approaching the final year of his entry-level deal, Wagner was amongst the last cuts to make the Ducks opening night roster for the 2014–15 season. Wagner immediately responded in Norfolk to earn AHL player-of-week honors to open the season.[5] He was soon recalled by the Ducks from the Admirals and made his NHL debut in 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild on October 17, 2014.[6][7] Wagner was recalled on several occasions during the season, used in a physical checking-line role finishing scoreless over 9 games. He increased his scoring presence in the AHL with the Admirals, earning a selection to the AHL All-Star Game. At the conclusion of the Admirals season he was recalled for the Ducks post-season and made his playoff debut in the opening round victory over the Winnipeg Jets.[8]

As a restricted free agent, Wagner was signed by the Ducks to a one-year extension on July 17, 2015.[9] Wagner was amongst the Ducks' most impressive during the pre-season, and made his first NHL opening night roster to begin the 2015–16 season.[10] As the Ducks extra forward, he featured in one game before he was exposed to his waiver eligibility, upon being assigned to new AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls on October 21, 2015. He was recalled to Anaheim after three games with the Gulls and played in a further 10 scoreless games with the Ducks as their fourth-line center before he was again placed on waivers. On November 15, 2015, Wagner was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Avalanche.[11] He made his Avalanche debut two days later on the November 17, in a 5-1 road loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.[12] In his fifth game with the Avalanche, Wagner scored his first NHL goal in a 5-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on November 25, 2015.[13] Wagner remained on the Avalanche in a rotating role on the fourth-line. After 26 games posting 4 goals, Wagner was placed back on waivers by the Avalanche on February 24, 2016. The following day he was re-claimed by the Anaheim Ducks and directly assigned to AHL affiliate in the Gulls.[14]

On February 26, 2018, the day of the trade deadline in the 2017–18 season, Wagner was traded to the New York Islanders in exchange for Jason Chimera.[15] Wagner played out the remainder of the season, posting just 1 goal in 15 games as the Islanders finished out of playoff contention.[citation needed]

On July 1, 2018, having left the Islanders as a free agent, Wagner signed a two-year deal worth $2.5 million with his hometown club the Boston Bruins.[16] In returning home, Wagner quickly found his role in the Bruins bottom six forwards for the 2018–19 season, establishing career highs with 12 goals and 19 points in 76 regular season games. Adding depth to the Bruins in the post-season, Wagner recorded 2 goals in 12 games before suffering a season ending injury which rendered him unavailable to participate in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals where the Bruins fell to the St. Louis Blues in seven games.

On November 27, 2019, Wagner (in the final year of his contract) signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract extension with the Bruins.[17]

On October 9, 2021, Wagner was placed on waivers and cleared.[18]

Wagner was called up for the final game of the 2021–22 season in order to rest key Bruins players ahead of the playoffs. In his sole regular season game, Wagner registered 11 hits, winning him a spot on the roster for the upcoming playoffs.[19] Wagner made his playoff debut that year in Game 3 of the Bruins first round series against the Carolina Hurricanes.[20]

Wagner was once again assigned to Providence at the beginning of the 2022–23 season.[21] After an injury to Jake DeBrusk, Wagner was recalled to the NHL team on January 5, 2023.[22] He played one game before being sent back down to the AHL, where he spent the rest of the season.[23]

Following five seasons within the Bruins organization, Wagner left as a free agent and was signed to a one-year, two-way contract in a returning to former club, the Colorado Avalanche, on July 1, 2023.[24] During off-season training, Wagner ruptured his achilles tendon, ruling him out indefinitely into the 2023–24 season.[25] He missed the first half of the season rehabilitating his injury before he was placed on waivers and re-assigned to AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles, upon his return to health on January 11, 2024.[26]

Career statistics

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2008–09 South Shore Kings EJHL 38 20 14 34 72 2 2 0 2 0
2009–10 South Shore Kings EJHL 44 34 49 83 70 4 3 6 9 8
2010–11 Colgate University ECAC 41 9 10 19 26 — — — — —
2011–12 Colgate University ECAC 38 17 34 51 69 — — — — —
2012–13 Norfolk Admirals AHL 70 8 13 21 65 — — — — —
2013–14 Norfolk Admirals AHL 76 14 14 28 68 10 2 3 5 10
2014–15 Norfolk Admirals AHL 48 15 13 28 65 — — — — —
2014–15 Anaheim Ducks NHL 9 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Anaheim Ducks NHL 17 0 2 2 19 2 0 0 0 0
2015–16 San Diego Gulls AHL 15 6 4 10 22 7 2 2 4 4
2015–16 Colorado Avalanche NHL 26 4 0 4 9 — — — — —
2016–17 Anaheim Ducks NHL 43 6 1 7 6 17 3 0 3 6
2016–17 San Diego Gulls AHL 30 12 7 19 18 — — — — —
2017–18 Anaheim Ducks NHL 64 6 9 15 35 — — — — —
2017–18 New York Islanders NHL 15 1 0 1 2 — — — — —
2018–19 Boston Bruins NHL 76 12 7 19 51 12 2 0 2 2
2019–20 Boston Bruins NHL 67 6 4 10 47 12 2 1 3 4
2020–21 Boston Bruins NHL 41 2 3 5 24 11 0 0 0 2
2021–22 Providence Bruins AHL 62 15 12 27 39 — — — — —
2021–22 Boston Bruins NHL 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0
2022–23 Providence Bruins AHL 62 19 12 31 69 3 0 0 0 2
2022–23 Boston Bruins NHL 1 0 0 0 0 — — — — —
2023–24 Colorado Eagles AHL 21 8 6 14 20 3 1 0 1 0
2023–24 Colorado Avalanche NHL 13 1 1 2 9 2 0 0 0 0
NHL totals 373 38 27 65 204 61 7 1 8 14

Awards and honors

Award Year
EJHL
MVP 2009–10
Offensive Player of the Year 2009–10
College
All-ECAC Hockey Second Team 2011–12
Boston Bruins
NESN Boston Bruins 7th Player Award 2019 [27]

References

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "2011-12 All-ECAC teams". ECACHockeybog.com. March 8, 2012. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  3. ^ "Colgate's Wagner signs with Ducks after 51-point season". USCHO.com. April 3, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  4. ^ "Admirals double up Sharks to open season". American Hockey League. October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  5. ^ "Wagner named AHL player of the Week". American Hockey League. October 12, 2014. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  6. ^ "Former Xavier star Wagner makes NHL debut". Boston Herald. October 17, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  7. ^ "Chris Wagner to make NHL debut against Wild". National Hockey League. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 17, 2014.
  8. ^ "Perry leads Ducks to comeback win over Jets". National Hockey League. April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  9. ^ "Ducks sign centers Wagner, Sgarbossa to one-year deals". Anaheim Ducks. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  10. ^ "Three things to keep an eye on tonight". pucksofafeather.com. October 1, 2015. Retrieved October 1, 2015.
  11. ^ "Avalanche claim Wagner". Colorado Avalanche. November 15, 2015. Retrieved November 15, 2015.
  12. ^ "Avalanche special teams falter in loss at Toronto". Denver Post. November 17, 2015. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "Avs struggles continue in loss to Senators at home". Denver Post. November 25, 2015. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  14. ^ "Chris Wagner claimed from Avalanche by Anaheim Ducks". Denver Post. February 25, 2016. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  15. ^ "Islanders Acquire Wagner". NHL.com. February 26, 2018. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  16. ^ "Bruins announce 7 transactions on July 1". Boston Bruins. July 1, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "Coyle, Wagner sign contracts with Bruins". National Hockey League. November 27, 2019. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Bruins place John Moore and Chris Wagner on waivers". October 9, 2021.
  19. ^ "Chris Wagner in Playoff Roster Mix for Boston Bruins". April 30, 2022.
  20. ^ "Wagner in, Frederic out for Bruins in Game 3 against Hurricanes - TSN.ca". May 6, 2022.
  21. ^ "Wagner sent to AHL as Bruins finalize roster". bostonhockeynow.com. October 11, 2022. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  22. ^ "Bruins place Jake Debrusk on LTIR, recall Wagner". Boston Bruins. January 5, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
  23. ^ "Koppanen called up by Boston Bruins, Wagner sent down". bostonhockeynow.com. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.
  24. ^ "Avalanche signs five players to two-way contracts". Colorado Avalanche. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
  25. ^ "Avalanches's Chris Wagner suffers ruptured achilles". CBS Sports. September 21, 2023. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  26. ^ "Forwards Wagner, Foudy re-assigned to Eagles". Colorado Eagles. January 11, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Chris Wagner Receives NESN's 7th Player Award". NHL.com. March 30, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2019.
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