Justin Auger

History

2009-10: Justin Auger skated for the Waterloo Wolves minor midget AAA team in Ontario. He scored 20 goals with 11 assists in 30 games and had 16 penalty minutes. Auger was selected by Guelph in the sixth round (112th overall) of the 2010 OHL Priority Draft.

2010-11: Auger moved up to Canadian junior A hockey, playing for the Waterloo Siskins in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League. He scored 22 goals with 15 assists and had 57 penalty minutes in 42 regular season games and in four playoff games had 2 goals with 5 assists and 7 penalty minutes.

2011-12: Auger played 58 games for Guelph in his first OHL season. Seeing limited ice time at times, he scored 7 goals with 7 assists and was -9 with 39 penalty minutes. Guelph reached the playoffs after finishing fourth in the Midwest Division. Auger played in all six games in the first round series with Plymouth and was -1 with no points nor penalty minutes. He was ranked 107th amongst North American skaters in Central Scouting’s final rankings prior to the 2012 NHL Draft but was not selected.

2012-13: Auger was one of five players to skate in all 68 games for Guelph and played a key two-way role for the Storm in his second season. He scored 16 goals with 17 assists and was +5 with 39 penalty minutes. Guelph was once again fourth in the Midwest Division despite finishing with 16 more points than in 2011-12. Auger had no points nor penalty minutes and was -1 in the five-game playoff series with Kitchener. In his second year of draft eligibility, Auger was not among the 210 North American skaters listed in Central Scouting’s final rankings. He was selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.

2013-14: Auger returned from an early season case of mononucleosis to provide muscle and strong two-way play for Memorial Cup runner-up Guelph in his third OHL season. He scored 11 goals with 12 assists and was +8 with 61 penalty minutes in 53 regular season games for the Storm. Guelph finished first in the Midwest Division with the OHL’s top record and defeated North Bay in the OHL Finals. Auger scored 2 goals with 5 assists and was -5 with 15 penalty minutes in 20 OHL playoff games. The Storm won their first three games at the Memorial Cup before falling to Edmonton, 6-3 in the championship game. Auger had no points nor penalties in four Memorial Cup games. 

2014-15: Auger attended training camp with the Kings, signing a three-year entry-level contract with Los Angeles in October 2014. He skated for AHL Calder Cup champion Manchester in his first pro season. Auger scored 13 goals with 16 assists and was +15 with 59 penalty minutes in 70 regular season games. The Monarchs finished first in the Atlantic Division and rolled through the playoffs, defeating Utica in the Calder Cup finals. Auger scored 1 goal with 1 assist and was -4 with 8 penalty minutes in 19 playoff games. 

2015-16: Auger skated for new Kings’ AHL affiliate Ontario in his second pro season.

Talent Analysis

Auger is most notable for his tremendous size and he puts his body to good use and has strong puck possession skills. He has a limited offensive upside and an average skating ability but you cannot teach size and he has a decent and developing defensive-zone game.

Future

Auger has developed into a hard two-way forward with some scoring ability at the AHL level. Skating for the Kings' new California-based AHL affiliate, the Ontario Reign, he is playing a more prominent role in his second pro season. Auger's combination of size and physical play with some offensive skill suggests he can be a valuable lower line forward.