Here's what New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said regarding pending restricted free agent Oliver Wahlstrom.
Here's what New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said regarding pending restricted free agent Oliver Wahlstrom.
ELMONT, NY -- On Feb. 4, New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello made remarks about 23-year-old forward Oliver Wahlstrom after waiving Julien Gauthier.
"We had to make a decision on one player because of the cap situation," Lamoriello said. "And we're going to give Wahlstrom a good look. Fasching is certainly a versatile player, so we made that decision."
Wahlstrom got that look, playing nine games under Patrick Roy, with one assist and eight shots, playing on the third line.
With the way Kyle MacLean had been playing, Roy elected to keep him in the lineup as the fourth-line center, moving every forward up in the depth chart, placing Brock Nelson on the top-line as the left winger.
Wahlstrom found himself out of the lineup again, as he will serve as a healthy scratch for a fourth straight game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night.
The Hockey News asked Lamoriello Tuesday morning about Wahlstrom:
“For Oliver, a lot has to do with confidence," Lamoriello said. "He did get prime time, so to speak, but we still believe in him. Every game, every shift that we have, and every game that we play is important. So we have to go with the best lineup."
Wahlstrom, who has two goals and four assists in 31 games, is a pending restricted free agent after signing his $874,125 qualifying offer.
He missed significant time last season after suffering an ACL injury on Dec. 29 and has struggled to find his game this season when given the opportunity.