One Year For Wahlstrom: Development &  Decisions

There are so many questions surrounding this New York Islanders team heading into the 2023-24 campaign. But the biggest question of them all is Oliver Wahlstrom.

There are so many questions surrounding this New York Islanders team heading into the 2023-24 campaign. But the biggest question of them all is Oliver Wahlstrom and if he can live up to the expectation of becoming the sniper Long Island has long for since the beginning of mankind.

READ MORE: Islanders RFA Forward Oliver Wahlstrom Agrees to Qualifying Offer

Yes, that's clearly an over-exaggeration, but since Mike Bossy was potting 50 in 50, the Islanders have not had a lethal sniper. And with the lack of salary-cap growth and cap flexibility, Wahlstrom becoming that player for the organization would allow for other areas to be addressed. 

But after 161 NHL games over four NHL seasons, the jury is still out on Wahlstrom's ceiling. 

Buckle up, even if you are sitting in the back seat, and let's dive into everything, Wahlstrom.

Wahlstrom's growth at the NHL level hasn't been a quick one.

His first stint showcased a lethal shot but a one-dimensional game that limited his ability to be an X-Factor for New York and then head coach Barry Trotz.

The new general manager of the Nashville Predators was rather hard on Wahlstrom from the get-go. There was no holding back in the media when Wahlstrom made a mistake on the ice, even if it was a game where the Portland, Maine native found the scoresheet. 

While Trotz took much of the blame for not giving Wahlstrom enough of a chance, specifically in the top six, it's hard to disagree with Trotz.

That may rub people the wrong way, but Wahlstrom didn't clearly understand Trotz's system and just how important a 200-foot game truly was.

Two dates, in particular, spoke volumes about Trotz's opinion of his young scorer. 

On Mar. 5, 2022, following an Islanders' win over the St. Louis Blues, Trotz was as vocal as he's ever been about Wahlstrom.

"He's got lots of talent. Don't be impatient," Trotz said. "He's going to be good. He's going to be fine. You guys are like McDonald's. You guys want everything like right now."

On Apr. 12, 2022, after the Islanders defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 in a shootout, Trotz was open and honest about Wahlstrom's game after benching the youngster after just 8:27 minutes of action. 

"Just got to be better," Trotz said following that game. "I'm not going to give you any details."

Following that season, Wahlstrom spoke about the "tough love" Trotz gave him that season. 

"It was good," he said of his relationship with Trotz. "I need tough love sometimes. It's part of the game; it's part of the business. It was just ups and downs for me, obviously, this year. I love the game, and I take information in and try to use that." 

Wahlstrom came into 2022-23 training camp on a mission. He was bigger, stronger, and showed well during camp, but Kieffer Bellows slotted into the opening night lineup for some reason. 

That quickly changed as Wahlstrom was back in the lineup for Game 2 and stayed there, while Bellows never played another shift for New York.

On Nov. 26 against the New York Rangers, first-year head coach Lane Lambert slotted Wahlstrom alongside Mat Barzal for 30 games. 

More on their play together later. 

Whether Wahlstrom was with Barzal or not, we saw a player finally grasp the understanding of that two-way game Trotz had been trying to get him to play. 

He was making defensive plays. He was laying the body, and standing up for his teammates any chance he had, truly embodying a team-first aspect.

At times, his physicality was over the top, leading to his season-ending knee injury in late December.

Although the stat sheet wasn't shining, Wahlstrom saw his season come to a close with seven goals and nine assists in 35 games. 

On the defensive side of the puck, the young forward recorded 15 blocks and 50 hits. 

However, Wahlstrom was on pace (hockey is a streaky sport, so tough to gauge) to set career highs across the board with over 16 goals and 21 assists, for 37 points and 35 blocks, and 117 hits in an 82-game campaign. 

"I thought I was making strides," Wahlstrom said during his end-of-the-season media session. "Obviously, the first month was awesome. And then obviously a little bit of a dip, and then it got right back up to where I was, again, when the injury happened.

And he was. 

"I look at it as a blessing," Wahlstrom said. "I'm working on the nutrition a lot now, obviously, not skating, so calories are gone. So I'm working on that side. And so it's been good."

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said that Wahlstrom will be ready for training camp when we spoke to him in Nashville. 

"I’m excited to see him play consistently with the same (quality) line-mates for a stretch," a league source shared regarding Wahlstrom. "He appears to be at least a second power-play unit guy, and if the power play is run properly, he could score 10-plus power-play goals.

"He’s got a deadly quick and accurate release that surprised me. He’s a weak side nightmare for the penalty kill."

The issue now is that any player coming off a knee injury and not having appeared in an NHL game in what will be 10 months will have rust, and it will take some time, as we saw with Anders Lee a few seasons ago.

That leads us to where Wahlstrom could slot in. 

Before we dive into where Wahlstrom fits, I think it's worth mentioning that there will be much more competition in training camp this year for Wahlstrom compared to years past. 

While Wahlstrom did have competition last summer -- competing with Kieffer Bellows and some youngsters for a spot --  the Islanders do have depth players and youngsters who have taken that next step that will challenge Wahlstrom, like Simon Holmstrom, Arnaud Durandeau, William Dufour, and Matthew Maggio, along with Hudson Fasching, who inked a two-year extension following the season. 

Wahlstrom should earn a starting job, but it's worth mentioning it won't be a walk in the park. 

Many of you want to see Wahlstrom up on the top line with Barzal and Horvat, either on the right side, flipping Barzal to his off-side, or vice versa.

The more logical situation is having Barzal switch to the left wing because he would be catching passes on his forehead, allowing him to dish the puck more effectively coming up the left side as a righty.

After seeing Wahlstrom take those strides after a few years, placing him on his off-wing would likely be too much.

Personally, I don't think playing Wahlstrom in the top-six to start the season is that smart of a move. And this has nothing to do with his play alongside Barzal, which I promise I will get to.

Wahlstrom isn't the strongest skater, and even though he will be healthy for training camp, it will be a grind for him to be truly 100 percent ready for NHL action.

Having a veteran like Jean-Gabriel Pageau at his center, who does so much that goes unnoticed, and someone Wahlstrom's had chemistry with may be the smarter move until Lambert believes he's ready and can skate with Barzal and Horvat. 

Not that Wahlstrom is a defensive juggernaut, but because of his physical style and his understanding of what he has to do defensively, he could play on that line. 

Where Wahlstrom slots in also depends if Zach Parise is back on Pageau's left or not, as he's still contemplating retirement. 

Now to Barzal and Wahlstrom.

The duo played 30 games before Wahlstrom's injury. 

Over those 30 games, when these two were on the ice, the Islanders outscored their opponents 15-3 and were sound defensively, per NaturalStatrick.com.

But, as usual, statistics only tell part of the story.

When you play with Barzal, as we have seen as Bo Horvat spoke about immediately after his first game with No. 13 in Pittsburgh, is that you have to not only find space but be ready for the puck to find you.

Wahlstrom struggled with reading Barzal, as many do, which is why it's been tough for Barzal to have consistent linemates at the NHL level. 

Can Wahlstrom prove, at some point in 2023-24, that he is a top-six NHLer and can be that elite scorer the team has been longing for

Because if Wahlstrom can't be that consistent scorer and shows to be a bottom-six forward, his future with the Islanders may not be a long one with how many bottom-six players they have at their disposal.