Oliver Wahlstrom Goal Predictions For 2021-22 NHL Season
As we enter the 2021-22 NHL regular season, a serious talking point surrounding the New York Islanders will be how Olive Wahlstrom performs with a new role. As the expectation is for him to be the new right-winger on the top line with Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee, Wahlstrom’s goal tally is expected to increase this season.
Coming off a solid rookie season, Wahlstrom is looking to increase his impact on the Islanders. In his rookie year, Wahlstrom put up 12 goals and nine assists in 44 games playing mostly on the third line. In the playoffs, his time in the lineup was cut short after five games due to a lower-body injury. However, in those five games, Wahlstrom recorded a goal and two assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Wahlstrom’s impact on the team was a shot of young blood for a lineup that has a lot of age to it.
Wahlstrom is being discussed alongside Kyle Palmieri as the two players who are competing for the first-line right-wing position. Whoever does take that spot, they will be filling the shoes of Jordan Eberle. Eberle never scored more than 25 goals in a season for the Islanders, but was very creative and had a lot of chemistry with Anders Lee and especially Mathew Barzal. With the grit and strength of Anders Lee in front of the net to go alongside one of the best players in the league in Mathew Barzal, Wahlstrom will have all the chances to get goals out of the top line.
Do not expect Wahlstrom to immediately become a 40 goal scorer. That is not feasible for Wahlstrom and should not be the expectation or reality. What should be expected is for him to score more goals than Jordan Eberle ever did with the Islanders. That means at least 25 goals for Wahlstrom this season. That is a realistic goal tally for him to hit this season if he ends up playing on the first line, and one I believe, and many others, believe he can accomplish and maybe even exceed.
Hi, my name is Jack Kobil. I am currently attending Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington DC. I am a huge Islanders fan and I love to share my passion for this team.
