How did defenseman Sean Walker wind up with Carolina Hurricanes? It was a ‘whirlwind’

Sean Walker once played for the Newmarket Hurricanes.

As of Monday, he’s a member of the Carolina Hurricanes, signing a free-agent contract.

But Walker’s path from Newmarket to Carolina has been a challenging one, a proving ground of how much the sport meant to him and how relentlessly the defenseman was willing to work to earn a living in it and compete at the highest level.

“Definitely one of the more unconventional paths to the NHL,” Walker said Tuesday on a media call.

Walker, 29, isn’t a big guy. A native of Keswick, Ontario, he went undrafted by Ontario Hockey League teams. He was undrafted by any NHL team.

What he did do was go to Bowling Green, where he played college hockey for four years and was the team captain the last two. A strong senior season earned him a call from the Los Angeles Kings, whose management group included two Bowling Green alumni, Rob Blake and Nelson Emerson.

The Kings liked his skating and competitiveness. They offered Walker the chance to play with the Ontario Reign in the American Hockey League — his only pro offer.

“It was a great opportunity for me and I took it and ran with it,” Walker said.

He played his way onto the Kings roster and was with Los Angeles for five NHL seasons before being traded last summer to the Philadelphia Flyers.

“A little whirlwind there.” Walker said of his time with the Kings. “Some injuries came up and some people took some ice time.”

Walker was hit in the face by a Matt Dumba slap shot, fracturing an orbital bone and requiring five hours of surgery. He also tore an ACL after a collision with David Perron of the St. Louis Blues.

“The trade to Philly was really a second chance for me to show the league I could still really play in this league and be effective,” he said.

When the Colorado Avalanche was looking to make a move before the trade deadline this past season, the Avs picked up Walker from the Flyers. After the Stanley Cup playoffs ended for Colorado, the Avs losing to the Dallas Stars, Walker soon was a free agent.

Then came another call — from the Carolina Hurricanes, offering a five-year contract that will pay an average of $3.6 million a year. Just like that, the 5-11, 191-pound D-man had a new home, a new team.

After the Canes lost defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei in free agency Monday, they added Walker and Shayne Gostisbehere, and at a reasonable price. Gostisbehere, 31, had 10 goals and 46 assists last season with the Detroit Red Wings, and Walker 10 goals and 19 assists with the Flyers and Avs.

That could be the Canes’ third pairing next season — Walker a right-shot D and Gostisbehere the lefty — although that will be sorted out in preseason camp.

“I think their style of play is really going to fit what I can bring to the team – aggressive, fast,” Walker said Tuesday. “I think that’s something I have in my game. I think I’m a pretty good skater and definitely offensive minded. At the same time, I think I’ve really grown with my defensive game.”

Walker chuckled, saying, “The team is so competitive. I’m really looking forward to not playing against all those guys anymore.”

In a sport where everyone seems to know everyone, Walker said he has had an association with just one Hurricanes player: forward Brendan Lemieux. He said he would use Lemieux as a sounding board for some intel on the team.

Walker played under coaches John Stevens and Todd McLellan in Los Angeles. Then came John Tortorella in Philly and, briefly, Jared Bednar in Colorado.

Now, it will be Rod Brind’Amour. New coach, new team, new system.

Walker said he’s ready for it.

“I’m eager to meet the group,” he said. “I think my style fits the group, as well, so I hope the transition is as easy as possible. I’m excited to be on a team that has a chance to win.”