Players

Farewell, Nathan Walker!

(Caps Outsider)

Free Agency can bring fresh talent to bolster teams and reinvigorate rosters. But with that comes the inevitable departure of some favourite names. Australian fan favourite (and the first Australian drafted to the NHL back in 2014), Nathan Walker, has departed the Capitals organisation, signing a 2 year deal with the St. Louis Blues during the 2019 Free Agency period.

Walker has become a familiar face in Hershey with the Capitals’ AHL affiliate, recording 300 career regular season games since debuting with the Bears in 2013-14 and appearing in three playoff campaigns. He debuted with the Capitals in October 2017, recording a goal in his first career game against the Canadiens as part of the Opening Night roster. After being placed on mid season waivers he found himself in an Edmonton Oilers jersey for all of two games before ‘boomeranging’ back to the Capitals and eventually being a part of the 2018 Stanley Cup winning roster.

The 2019-20 season will see Walker on a new adventure with the St. Louis Blues but the Capitals will hold a piece of history as the first franchise to draft an Australian, hopefully paving the way for many others to follow in his footsteps.

Although Walker played minimal ice time for the Capitals, his professional hockey growth has been headline news in Australia with Walker being the first Aussie to conquer the unknown frontier of Ice Hockey in North America.

Hockey still remains a novelty sport to many Australians but there is a growing fan base who are just as passionate as die hards in North America and Canada. Walker has never forgotten his roots, returning to Australia several times since being drafted. He has played in the exhibition style USA vs Canada Ice Hockey Classic in the past and this year acted as the event’s ambassador. There is no doubt that Walker will continue to prove a role model both on and off the ice during his time with St. Louis.

Walker’s speed and physical presence on the ice is a feature of his game and he will no doubt get a chance to shine in St Louis and with their AHL affiliate in the San Antonio Rampage.

Thanks for the memories Nathan Walker and we hope you continue to make Aussie hockey fans proud every step of the way!

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