The Islanders Shift in Handling Oliver Wahlstrom

When Oliver Wahlstrom made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders in 2019-20, he was just a 19-year-old kid. Now, four years later, we've seen a shift in the organization's handling of their former first-round pick.

When Oliver Wahlstrom made his NHL debut with the New York Islanders in 2019-20, he was just a 19-year-old kid. 

Taken 11th overall in 2018, the expectations for the Portland, Maine native were rather high. The Islanders desperately needed an NHL sniper, and the organization believed that Wahlstrom could be that player for a very long time. 

Starting his career under the tutelage of Barry Trotz, now the general manager of the Nashville Predators, Wahlstrom had to earn every minute of ice time.

Over the next two seasons under Trotz, Wahlstrom struggled to take strides in his game. particularly in his own zone.

Trotz demanded that each one of his players play a 200-foot game, and Wahlstrom, whose biggest weapon was his shot, struggled to do what was asked, leading to in-game benches often enough for it to become a story.

When Trotz would answer the media's questions regarding his handling of Wahlstrom or something the young forward did or didn't do on the ice, it seemed the veteran head coach was talking to Wahlstrom through us. 

In March of that season, Trotz gave us this iconic line when asked about Wahlstrom getting a chance in the top six after playing in Trotz's bottom six since his arrival. 

"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."

Thinking back, that might have been the most positive thing Trotz ever said about Wahlstrom to us. And before that season wrapped up, Wahlstrom, who was playing a bottom-six role, got his chance on the top line with Mathew Barzal.

It was tough love, Wahlstrom said, following the 2021-22 season, where he scored a career-high 13 goals with 11 assists in 73 games. 

"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."

That summer, Trotz left the organization as his associate Lane Lambert was elevated to head coach for the first time in his career.

Although Lambert knew the organization and the players well, having come to Long Island with Trotz in 2018, a newer voice and a newer structure proved to be beneficial to Wahlstrom. 

Wahlstrom showed up to training camp as confident as ever, and although he didn't start opening night  (we think due to an apparent injury), Wahlstrom got into the lineup for Game 2 alongside Jean-Gabriel Pageau on New York's third line. 

On Nov. 26, when the Islanders played the Rangers, Lambert placed Wahlstrom on Barzal's wing, keeping him there for 30 games through ups and downs, giving the young forward an extended chance, something that hadn't happened much under the former bench boss. 

That's not to say Trotz was wrong to not give him that chance, as it's the NHL, and ice time must be earned. 

Wahlstrom got that extended chance because, for the first time in his career, he showed a keen understanding of a two-way game. We saw his confidence rise game by game, even if mistakes were made. 

Regardless of Wahlstrom's age, playing in his age 22 season, we saw him take on more of a leadership role on the ice, standing up for his teammates every second he could. 

He earned the respect of his teammates and his coach. 

That's not to say that Trotz didn't respect Wahlstrom, but life seemed different for the sniper under Lambert. 

Some players need tough love. Others needed positive reinforcement. Some benefit from both. 

Unfortunately for Wahlstrom, after seven goals and nine assists in 35 games, an ACL injury in December put an end to his best season as a pro. 

It was tough for Wahlstrom to sit and watch, but he's incredibly excited to get back on the ice for training camp.

The now 23-year-old signed a one-year prove-it deal worth $874,124 on July 17. 

Lambert is eager to see what Wahlstrom can do this season, back healthy. 

"I'm excited. I knew the game where he went down that we were going to miss him, and we did," Lambert said at the Islanders annual golf outing. "He's coming off, I guess what you would say, is a significant injury. He's had a great summer. The timeframe for him has been good. And so I'm looking forward to seeing him."

Positive reinforcement.

The Islanders' biggest area of improvement needed is on the power play, which operated at 15.8 percent in the regular season (third worst) and scored just once on 18 tries in the postseason.

Lambert was asked about seeing Wahlstrom's potential pay dividends on the power play this season. 

"Potentially, it is crucial, but at the same time, if you've watched the Ovechkin's of the world and those guys, teams take those guys away too," Lambert said. "So what that does is it opens up other areas, and when other areas open up, you have to use those areas."

Sounds like Lambert sees Wahlstrom's shot on the power play as not just a weapon but a distraction that can lead to more chances for his teammates. 

Because of the number of depth options the Islanders have, Wahlstrom being an everyday player in 2023-24 isn't automatic. That opportunity must be earned through a strong training camp and preseason. 

While it's impossible to look back on Wahlstrom's career and not say Trotz played a vital part in his development, it just seems that Wahlstrom reacted significantly better to the coaching of Lambert. 

It's time for Wahsltrom to take all the lessons learned through his first four NHL seasons and become the player the organization expected here in year five.