Mitch Wahl

History

2006-07: The center tallied 16 goals and 48 points in his first full season in the WHL.

2007-08: In 67 games with the Chiefs (WHL), Wahl tallied a personal best 20 goals and 73 points in 67 games. He excelled in the postseason, netting six goals and 14 points in 21 games, as well as a WHL title and CHL Memorial Cup Championship.

2008-09: The Spokane Chiefs (WHL) center tallied a career-high 32 goals and 67 points in 63 games in his fourth season with the club. He again produced in the playoffs, netting two goals and 13 points in 12 postseason games. He also competed with the US National U20 squad, tallying a goal and four points through six games.

2009-10: Wahl improved on his playmaking skills in his fourth full season with the Spokane Chief. He scored 30 goals (nine of the power play) along with 66 assists and a plus 32 rating in 72 WHL games. The skilled two-way centerman was signed by the Calgary Flames on October 6, 2009 to an entry level contract.  The Chiefs were knocked out of the first round WHL playoff in overtime of a tough seven games series against the Portland Winterhawks. Wahl scored four goals with five assists and a plus five rating in the seven playoff games.  Wahl impressed the Flames with his play that they called him up to Abbottsford as a replacement player in the last four games of the AHL Heat's regular season. He scored his first professional goal along with four assists and had a rating of plus one.  The playmaking centerman played well enough to stay in the Heat's line-up for the AHL Calder cup playoffs. Wahl scored two goals with four assists but had a minus one rating in 12 AHL playoff games.

2010-11: Wahl started his difficult rookie professional season being assigned to the AHL Abbottsford Heat. He initially missed 11 games with broken bones around his eye along with a broken cheekbone, which was surgically repaired, and a concussion from a vicious headshot on November 27, 2010 by Aaron Volpatti (VAN). The two-way centerman tried to return but he would miss the rest of season with a neck injury and symptoms from his earlier concussion. The 21-year-old rookie struggled scoring one goal along with four assists and had weak minus two rating in only 17 AHL games. The talent centerman was never able to show the Flames or Abbottsford his solid two-way play and offensive skill which he displayed the previous seasons with the WHL Spokane Chiefs.

2011-12: Wahl returned from his injury issues in 2010-11 to play in 65 games – splitting the year between the AHL and the ECHL. He opened the season with the Flames' AHL affiliate Abbotsford and after being sent down to Utah was loaned to the AHL's Hamilton Bulldogs for 22 games before returning to the Flames' organization in January. In five games with Abbotsford he was minus-two with no points nor penalties. He scored 2 goals with 3 assists and was plus-one with 6 penalty minutes in 22 games with Hamilton. Wahl was a point-per-game scorer for Utah – scoring 20 goals with 20 assists and was plus-three with 95 penalty minutes. He was scoreless and minus-one in three ECHL playoff games.

Talent Analysis

Wahl has good offensive vision, playmaking skills and a good accurate shot. The smooth skating center plays a solid two-way game but he excels at controlling the puck on the power play and kills penalties with good defensive positioning in his own zone. The second rounder hasn’t played up to expectations since suffering that vicious headshot in late 2010. The talented center needs to regain his offensive game at the AHL level as his NHL entry level contract finishes at the end of this season.

Future

Wahl will start the season in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies and hopes to get off to a good offensive start to his year. The third year pro needs to play well enough to have the chance to be re-assigned to Abbotsford if the Heat suffers injuries or call-ups to the Flames should the NHL lockout eventually be settled. Time could be running out on the Flames' 2008 second round draft pick's pro career.