Stefen Rosner and Rachel Doerrie of The Hockey News discuss New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom as he has signed his qualifying offer. The 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase begins Saturday in Plymouth, Michigan, and the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-free-agents-lou-lamoriello-long-island-taxes-mathew-barzal] have five prospects in attendance. QUINN FINLEY, USA, LW An 18-year-old from Suamico, Wymong, Quinn Finley [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=238180] just finished his second USHL season. The third-round pick (78th) in 2022 potted 25 goals with 40 assists in 55 games, split between the Madison Capitols and the Chicago Steel. This will be Finley's third time representing Team USA, as he participated in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in 2021-22 and the World Junior A Championship in 2022-23. Finley is headed to the University of the Wisconsin in the fall. Draft Day Quotes: "I just think my high IQ, playmaking ability, I think just creating those scoring opportunities for myself and for my teammates (are my strengths). I'm super proud. I can't wait to hopefully someday be a New York Islander." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DANNY NELSON, USA, C Chosen with the Islanders' second-round pick (49th) at the 2023 NHL Draft, Danny Nelson [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/664635/danny-nelson] is gearing up to play alongside Finley at the University of Wisconsin. In 62 games with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), the six-foot-three forward scored 21 goals with 26 assists. The Minnesota native played 23 games in the USHL, with eight goals and nine assists. Nelson did get a chance to represent the United States at the World Junior Championships this past season, scoring four goals with three assists in seven games. Draft Day Quotes: "I'd say Brock Nelson is a guy that I really tried to model (my game) after. "I feel like he's a big guy. He gets to the front of the net and scores a lot of goals from there. He's also responsible in the backend." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ZACH SCHULZ, USA, LD An 18-year-old stay-at-home defenseman, Zach Schulz [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/603138/zach-schulz] is also committed to playing at the University of Wisconsin in the fall. This past season, the Michigan native scored a goal with nine assists in 52 USDTP games, with three assists in 19 USHL games. Schultz has played in 52 U.S. National U 18 games, with a goal and nine assists. In 2022, he captained Team USA at the 2022 U 18 World Junior Championships, with a goal and two assists in seven games. Draft Day Quotes: "I'm pretty much a stay-at-home defenseman. I can provide a little offense, but I like to play hard, physical, play against those top guys and shut them down and then provide my offense and make that good first pass and set my teammates up for success." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JESSE NURMI, FIN, LW An 18-year-old left winger, Jesse Nurmi [https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/618610/jesse-nurmi] was selected by the Islanders in the fourth round (113th) of the 2023 NHL Draft. The five-foot-10, 165-pound Finnish forward scored 21 goals with 29 assists in 41 games for KooKoo's U-20 team in Finland before one assist in nine games for KooKoo's Liiga team. Fun fact: KooKoo is pronounced Cocoa. Nurmi represented Finland at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup with an assist in five games. He cannot come to North America until after the 2025-26 season, as he will continue to play for KooKoo. Draft Day Quotes: "I think I'm pretty good with the offensive game, like making little passes, good shots, doing little passes with the guys [...] Just being like little nervous all the time thinking about in the back (of my mind), it's going to come one day, and today... it's like dream come true. It's so amazing." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALLE ODELIUS, SWE, LD Drafted in the third round (65th) by the Islanders in 2022, Calle Odelius [https://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=245661] will be playing for Sweden for the second time. At the 2023 U-20 World Junior Championships, Odelius had a goal in seven games. In 43 games with Djurgardens IF of the Swedish Hockey League, the left-handed defenseman recorded a goal with 10 assists. Odelius has one year left in Europe before he comes to North America. Draft Day Quotes: "I'm so happy that I ended up an Islander. And yeah, I know some things about Islanders like Long Island…like Noah Dobson, Mathew Barzal, so, yeah." Join Stefen Rosner's New York Islanders page on Bunches [https://www.onbunches.com/$rosnerislandershockey], a new app that connects sports fans. Also, you can listen to Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYN7JIgdHnM&t=956s] with co-host Sean Cuthbert [https://twitter.com/seanyhockey] Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season.
