The Flames went to the hockey factory of Seal Beach, California for their second choice in the 2008 draft, a pick they reaquired from Los Angeles in the Mike Cammelleri trade (they returned the 2nd round picked up from Montreal in the Tanguay trade to L.A. in the 2009 draft).
That’s right … California.
When Wayne Gretzky was traded to Hollywood in August of 1988 many felt that their would be a boom of hockey interest in the Southern California area. Celebrities started showing up at hockey games, and then 20 years later you see what we see today; California born and raised hockey players entering the NHL draft.
“I started playing when I was about six and I think it was just mainly when Gretzky came down to play for the Kings,” Wahl told Sportsnet. “It kinda got big down there and it opened some organizations.”
A 6′ 175 pound center, Wahl is at his best setting up his linemates, a mature kid that makes players around him better.
His selection will be interesting to watch, as the 2008 list was a deep draft and the Flames headed into Friday’s first round without a second round pick as it was surrendered to Los Angeles in the Craig Conroy deal.
Futures are key in the NHL, they always have been, but they are imperative in the new salary capped NHL, where cheap talent is the driving force in moving from an average team to elite.
So hang ten surfer dude!
Hockeysfuture:
“A tireless worker, Wahl is effective at both ends of the rink and has been successful in maintaining consistent production.”
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