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***sve7en*** · 09-15-2020, 05:52 PM

[Presser, ready for grading. 334 word introduction + 0.5 * 1318 words in answers = $993k base payout]

Note -
I intend for this to be player focused and won't really look to answer anything on the ongoing interim GM work, my future as Carolina Co-GM, or the possibility of me applying for the Los Angeles job. I'll have more media about that stuff in the near future, and you're more than free to ask me those questions on Hockey Talk Tonight as well.

The mood is always somewhat somber on exit interview day, and the overcast afternoon in Charlotte was delivering on all counts. Jimmy Wagner's normally bright smile was subdued as he walked down the hallway to the locker room, pausing in front of the trophy case. His hand rested on the glass as he scanned from the team award plaques to the captaincy memorial and finally to the 54 Four Star cup display, recently reworked with the removal of the cup. His eyes flicked around reading the names of the people who had become his family for the last 4 years of his life, lost to the world as some local reporters passed by on the way to the locker room. Their offerings of hands on shoulders and knowing smiles briefly reaching the young man they've watched grow up in front of them. "See you when you're ready Wags, take your time."

While this season didn't end the way he wanted it to, Wagner achieved most everything you could expect or want to as a J player. Originally the 6th overall pick in season 52, being captain for 3 seasons, scoring 57 goals among 140 points, winning an MVP and a Four Star title is quite a legacy to leave behind. Eventually he pulls his attention from the treasures and wills his legs to move again, steps echoing a bit as they reflect off the massive logo at the end of the hall. Reaching the tunnel, he turns to look out towards the open arena where he can see across to the seats where Sara and his dad would sit when they came out, this last season accompanied by his girlfriend Kate. He smiled, remembering the first time he stepped out that tunnel, and the last time he came back the other way. At least content, he turned to the locker room, where he saw Hutton looking over at him. With a nod, he moves toward the locker room as a player one last time.

09-15-2020, 06:05 PMACapitalChicago Wrote: How on Earth do you expect anyone to follow your legacy?

Do you feel like you left it all out on the ice?

What do you think of the competition you'll be facing in the SHL?

What words of wisdom would you give to those just joining the Kraken?

Best BBQ place near the arena?

How do you feel you influenced the rest of the team in the locker room?

If you could do it all again over, would you?

I don't want people to follow my legacy, much like I didn't want to follow yours or anyone else's legacy - at least directly. There are some people still in Carolina who are in the process of doing incredible things, and regardless of if their numbers surpass mine or not I hope their legacies are free from being directly compared to mine. Outside of the numbers, I expect more titles and more teams to do outstanding things in postseason runs, and those stories will be just as good as the ones we told these last few years. On the leadership side, I only hope that I was able to teach a bit by example and that the lessons continue to be passed down. From what I've seen, they absolutely will be.

Absolutely left it all on the ice. Every single one of us does, but sometimes it doesn't go your way. No qualms about that, but it's disappointing none the less.

The competition next season in the SHL is gonna be insane. I've tried following the paths of some recent guys to go up and I can't pin down anything specific that is really changing how rough some of the growing pains can be for guys making the jump. I'm hopeful my legs can at least make the transition a little easier, but I fully expect my fair share of "welcome to the show" moments next season. I'm excited to see some familiar faces in the big league, guys like Keith that I shared a line with and guys like Jukka that I was competitive with, and to really show what I'm capable of.

I would tell them of course to embrace it and to really lose yourself in the experience. It's surreal to be paid to play hockey, and yeah sometimes it's work and it's painful, but the times where you can realize what all you're doing - seeing different cities, having a blast with teammates - don't lose sight of the dream that you're living, and don't take it for granted. Outside of that, don't forget to be a person. You're coming in at 18 years old, don't cut your fun years entirely off. Something I had trouble with was finding that right work - life balance my first season and a half, it was hard to cut loose sometimes.

Not quite downtown, but Midwood out east past the highway is phenomenal. I haven't had a bad thing from there, the chicken is super flavorful, the pork is excellent, and the sides have to be some of the best I've had anywhere. When my sister and dad came to town the first time, I took them there to show them what the hype about barbecue is. There's a place in LA called Bludso's that Sara found last week that isn't Carolina barbecue but she says is also really good, so you can expect me to be there pretty quick off the plane.

I like to think that I showed them you can put everything out of this game if you put enough in. They know how to channel themselves into improving and how to both set goals and succeed at them. There's something about winning a cup that changed how the guys on the team look at themselves and I like to think that will carry both them as individuals and the Kraken as a whole pretty far these next two seasons.

Absolutely.

09-15-2020, 06:06 PMoverdoo Wrote: Wagner, what is one piece of advice you would pass on to the players remaining on the Kraken for the upcoming season. Possibly anything for the rookies specifically?

What is the one play, or game that you will always remember as defining your career as a Kraken player?

You get the chance to do one thing different. Would you take that chance, and if so what would you change?

The advice is slightly different than the words of wisdom actually. Advice for this season to the older gang is to keep doing what you do, and don't lose sight of the endgame when things might break the wrong way. "It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life" said Picard and that holds true both in life and hockey. That applies to the rookies as well, but I want to give them specific advice as well: "Don't be afraid to reach out." The league and existence as a player can be overwhelming, but you're surrounded by people that can help you learn and adjust.

The game that stands out, outside of the obvious cup winning game and game 6 against St. Louis in that same run, was probably the first home win as captain. We had a very young team and lost 5 of our first 7, and to have everyone rally around Keith and I, from the fans to the staff to the rookies and older guys, in that game was really a turning point in how I saw myself as a leader. Winning in overtime like that was the first step in to turning our team into what was to come for the next two and a half years.

Only thing different I would do was that last game against Newfoundland. Some people would probably want to run back the whole season, and it makes sense that I could have probably done more if everything was done differently, but I don't really think about that much or have too much concern about how a regular season went. Getting another shot at that single game 7 would be fun though.

09-15-2020, 06:49 PMMazatt Wrote: How do you feel you SMJHL career would've played out had you gone to any other team?

Ideally, how do you see your Carolina legacy playing out/how do you want it to play out now that you are off to Los Angeles?

What lessons learned in Carolina will you take forward in your journey ahead?

I think a different team would have changed some things and not others. I like to think I'd still be the player I am right now but the path to this point would be wildly different, and I don't know where things would have gone in the J or with the SHL. I probably still put up the points, but shaking up the J's drafts and rosters like that over the next four seasons could radically change the last 4 Cups.

Like I said before, I don't want it to be followed or to have "shoes left to fill", but I think it's a solid legacy of someone who was passionate for his team and backed that up with some leading by example. I don't know how long it'll last, especially with it being a Junior career legacy, but I hope that it remains at least as the first part to the longer story if anything. I'm proud of what I've done in and for Carolina, and hope that the effects of that work remain for a while longer.

Biggest lesson is probably learning how important the community, locker room, and organization are to supporting the team that goes on the ice. Before starting in the J it was a much more solitary thing to play hockey and now I see a much more collaborative and team oriented thing where the game on the ice is only part of the picture. Still a super important part obviously, but there's more going on.

09-15-2020, 08:35 PMFestinator Wrote: Where do you see the LA Panthers in 3 seasons?

Favourite team outting with your Carolina teammates?

Newfoundland defenceman Jonas Kahnwald, and one of your newest teammates on the Panthers, claims that you grew up a Berserkers fan. Is there any truth to these claims?

3 seasons, we should be in a great spot. Lee and I are ready to take the league by storm, and I think that the organization just needs about that long to pull in a few free agents and let the prospects develop. We should be competing for a western conference title by that point if it all goes right.

Favorite outing was and will always be the local clubs for some dancing. It was the first thing that struck me when I came over here, to the point where I wrote about it in one of my first Player's Tribune pieces. Hockey players aren't the most graceful people, but they have good body control and know what they're doing with their feet and it's fun to go out with teammates and just enjoy moving for something other than work for once.

Hah, I don't know where he got that from really. I didn't follow the SMJHL at all when I was growing up back home, I loosely knew the SHL teams and that was about it. I'm sure he'd like to think so given our team allegiances but I didn't know of Lethbridge or Newfoundland before I came over for the entry draft.

ACapitalChicago · 09-15-2020, 06:05 PM

How on Earth do you expect anyone to follow your legacy?

Do you feel like you left it all out on the ice?

What do you think of the competition you'll be facing in the SHL?

What words of wisdom would you give to those just joining the Kraken?

Best BBQ place near the arena?

How do you feel you influenced the rest of the team in the locker room?

If you could do it all again over, would you?

S66 Damian Littleton

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overdoo · 09-15-2020, 06:06 PM

Wagner, what is one piece of advice you would pass on to the players remaining on the Kraken for the upcoming season. Possibly anything for the rookies specifically?

What is the one play, or game that you will always remember as defining your career as a Kraken player?

You get the chance to do one thing different. Would you take that chance, and if so what would you change?

Mazatt · 09-15-2020, 06:49 PM

How do you feel you SMJHL career would've played out had you gone to any other team?

Ideally, how do you see your Carolina legacy playing out/how do you want it to play out now that you are off to Los Angeles?

What lessons learned in Carolina will you take forward in your journey ahead?

*Festinator* · 09-15-2020, 08:35 PM

Where do you see the LA Panthers in 3 seasons?

Favourite team outting with your Carolina teammates?

Newfoundland defenceman Jonas Kahnwald, and one of your newest teammates on the Panthers, claims that you grew up a Berserkers fan. Is there any truth to these claims?

Bongo · 09-15-2020, 08:56 PM

Jimmy - What is your plan with the call-up? Championships? Captaincy?

***sve7en*** · 09-17-2020, 01:50 PM

Answered @ACapitalChicago and @overdoo. Smatt, Fest, Bongo, and any others still to come.

suavemente · 09-23-2020, 11:13 AM

Absolutely rockstar video! Another reason why S53 is best class.

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