With the Islanders one of eight teams in a very competitive East Division, the team was in need of a few breakouts to put themselves over the top. Noah Dobson has begun to take the mantle as a young piece to the defense, but another piece has recently burst onto the scene. Oliver Wahlstrom, another Islanders draft pick from Dobson’s draft class, has also emerged as a solid option to their offense, an area of concern for the past few years.

After spending the end of the 2018-19 season and most of 2019-20 in Bridgeport and the AHL, the 20-year-old out of Boston College is taking the next step as a pro. Although he saw a stint with the big club in November 2019, Wahlstrom has found a way to stick with the regulars, earning four goals and four assists in his first 15 games this season. With the success the winger has enjoyed this year, what has he shown to be given this opportunity?

Willingness to Shoot:

The main calling card for Wahlstrom in his career has been his shot. Before he was drafted, Wahlstrom was emerging as a pure goal-scorer, clocking 22 goals and 45 points in 26 games in the United States Hockey League (USHL) and 48 goals and 94 points in 62 games with the United States Development Program. Most coaches tell their players that something can happen when you shoot the puck, and Wahlstrom embraces that mentality with the Islanders today. His shot is a bullet, and it forces the opposition to stay on high alert, wherever he is in the offensive zone.

His shoot first mentality has helped him in several situations, primarily his first NHL goal. Wahlstrom had the puck on the left wing side and sent it toward the net, and the puck found a Capitals defender to deflect its way in. Another example came recently against the Buffalo Sabres. With the Islanders on the power-play late, Wahlstrom took a one-timer from the left wing side, and it generated a rebound for Brock Nelson to bang home to put the Islanders ahead. However, his one timer was indeed rewarded two games later with a bullet of a shot on the power-play.  As a result, although the situations are fairly different, anything can happen when a puck goes on net, whether it is an odd deflection or rebound for a net-front presence.

Maturity:

While the talent was there for Wahlstrom when he first came up, most of the Islanders’ concern came on the other side of the puck.

“He’s a young player who’s got loads of skill and he’s gotten this far on loads of skill,” Trotz said after Wahlstrom’s stint with the Islanders last season. “Now he’s got to learn the game… no one has really taught him the game for the most part.”

As a former Jack Adams Award winner, Trotz has placed an emphasis on structure and defense since his hiring in the summer of 2018. However, Trotz made it clear that in order to find success, you have to stick with the system, and Wahlstrom didn’t do that in his first stint. Scoring all the goals you can is great, but it can only do so much if he can’t play defense.

However, over the past 16 months, Wahlstrom has indeed learned the game as Trotz alluded to. Unlike his last NHL stint, Wahlstrom is now committing to his position in the defensive zone. He isn’t afraid to go after the puck on the boards and is holding his own at the point against defensemen. His skating is also noticeably better as well, whether it is joining his linemates on the rush or getting back on the play.  With his adjustments, Wahlstrom’s plus-minus rating jumped six points from a -2 to +5, showing that he he’s been on the ice for more goals for than against. Combine his scoring touch and improved defensive play, and that has the makings for a successful NHL player.

Chemistry:

One final thing that has contributed to Wahlstrom’s success is the group of players around him. While he may have underwhelmed in his first games as an NHL’er, some of it may have fallen on the group around him. His linemates in his first games weren’t necessarily the greatest, with Cole Bardreau and Ross Johnston playing with him regularly. With the third line not having much talent and skill, Trotz used his first, second, and fourth lines too much, giving the third line very little time on ice. With this coaching style, Wahlstrom’s ice time took a major hit with Trotz favoring the vets. However, since his demotion, the Islanders’ bottom-six options have been noticeably better.

The addition of Jean-Gabriel Pageau helps matters, and Dal Colle has enjoyed a strong year in a buzzsaw role. Playing alongside Pageau, Wahlstrom has developed strong chemistry with him and whoever is on the left side. It has primarily fluctuated between Dal Colle and Leo Komarov, but it hasn’t mattered as the two have been together since Wahlstrom cracked the lineup. He has even developed chemistry with guys like Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey and Pageau on the team’s power-play as well. As a result, Wahlstrom had the chance to earn extra minutes and has taken the chance and run with it so far.

As a result, Oliver Wahlstrom is starting to emerge as a future threat for the Islanders’ offense. Although he may not be at the point of playing with the likes of Mat Barzal or Nelson at this point, the work he has put in with Pageau on line three has been fun to watch. He is never afraid to shoot the puck, and he has accepted more responsibility at his position. Although the goal totals haven’t been through the roof, if Oliver Wahlstrom sticks to his game he can be the franchise goal scorer the New York Islanders desperately need.

Matthew Page

I am a first year student at Hofstra University and an avid Islanders fan. I have been writing for Drive4Five since March 2020. My family has been season ticket holders for the team since 2016, and hockey is my favorite sport. As I expand my knowledge in the field of Journalism, I am writing to express my love for the Islanders and the NHL.