Wagner won’t be back with Pats for Cup run

The Los Angeles Kings have slammed the door on Austin Wagner’s return to the Regina Pats.

The Regina Leader-Post has learned that Regina was officially informed Friday that Wagner will turn pro this season instead of rejoining the WHL club.

The 20-year-old forward is currently skating with the Kings’ AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, as he completes his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery.

“He’s not coming,” confirmed Pats head coach/ GM John Paddock. “(The Kings think) he’s ready to play pro. It’s probably pretty hard to argue that.”

Wagner has been practising without restrictions this week, which forced L.A.’s brass to make a decision on whether to keep him or return him to Regina for his final junior season — and a chance to be part of the 2018 Memorial Cup in Regina.

As recently as last week, it appeared that Wagner’s return was imminent. Then something changed. “I heard before that they’ve had some injuries where some guys were up in L.A. that weren’t supposed to be,” said Paddock.

“As we experienced (last season), you can lose guys and things change. That’s one important part of it. And they’ve been watching him close in hand for, let’s just say, the last month.

“There’s no games being played but, when you’re seeing Austin skate unimpeded, it’s eye-popping. I don’t know that there’s five or six guys in the game who can skate better than him in a straight line. If you’re them you’re thinking, ‘Wow, what are we doing (sending him back)?’ It’s just how it unfolded. I don’t think it could be categorized as a surprise. It was always a possibility and it went that way.”