After trading a decorated NCAA captaincy for a professional contract, Lucas Wahlin’s impressive late-season debut suggests the undrafted forward is ready to seize a starring role in Manitoba.
One of the most surprising breakouts for the Manitoba Moose toward the end of this past season was a relatively unknown college free agent in Lucas Wahlin.
After a standout four-year career in the NCAA, the last three of which he spent as captain of the University of St. Thomas, Wahlin finished his college career with 56 goals and 75 assists for 131 points in 137 games.
His breakout came over his final two collegiate seasons, where Wahlin put together 80 points across 74 games to close out his time with the Tommies on a high note. That production earned him the CCHA's Student-Athlete of the Year and Defensive Forward of the Year honors in his senior season, along with a spot on the All-CCHA First Team for the second consecutive year, before he signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Winnipeg Jets as an undrafted free agent in March.
Wahlin joined the Moose on an amateur tryout for the final stretch of the regular season and made an immediate impact, recording a goal and two assists for three points in six games.
He carried that momentum into six playoff games with Manitoba, and while he didn't register a point in the postseason, he stood out on a line with Brayden Yager and Brad Lambert, showing he could hold his own physically and didn't look out of place against pro competition.
After that kind of hot start to his professional career, fans should be excited to see what a full season in Manitoba could look like for Wahlin. Elite Prospects already has him projected for the Moose's roster next season, and with Brad Lambert, one of Manitoba's top performers a season ago, now expected to stick with the Jets full time, there could be an opening for players like Wahlin to see extra minutes and a bigger role up front.
It should be an interesting season for the Woodbury, Minnesota, native as he looks to make his mark in his first full professional campaign. Wahlin figures to be one of the more intriguing storylines to follow for the Moose heading into next season.
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