The Bruins should take a shot on this Islanders forward.
New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom has been discussed as a potential trade candidate for quite some time. Nearing the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, there were questions about his future with the Islanders, mainly because of his down year. Now, that is carrying over to this offseason.
Noting that the Bruins have several free-agent forwards and are looking for more secondary scoring, Wahlstrom is a young forward they should consider taking a shot on.
Oliver WahlstromWahlstrom, 24, was selected by the Islanders with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The former top prospect has shown signs of promise in the past. For example, he had 12 goals and 21 points in 44 games as a rookie in 2020-21. He also had seven goals and 16 points in 35 games in 2022-23, but a torn ACL took away much of his year.
This season was tough for Wahlstrom, as he had just two goals and six points in 32 games. His offensive struggles led to him falling down the Islanders' depth chart and being scratched numerous times. As a result, the Maine native could benefit from a change of scenery, and the Bruins could offer him a good home in their bottom six.
Wahlstrom has shown in the past that he has the potential to be a quality secondary scorer, which the Bruins need. Furthermore, he was a former top prospect for a reason. The skill is there, and the 6-foot-2 winger also offers a bit of bite.
Overall, Wahlstrom is a bounce-back candidate for 2024-25 and is still young enough that he may not have hit his ceiling. Therefore, he's an under-the-radar guy who Boston should keep on their radar.
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