Stefen Rosner and Rachel Doerrie of The Hockey News discuss New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom as he has signed his qualifying offer. Former New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/anders-lee-new-york-islanders-2023-stanley-cup-playoffs-28-goals-captain] prospect Bode Wilde [https://www.capfriendly.com/players/bode-wilde] has signed with HC Banská in Slovakia, per Matej Deraj [https://twitter.com/MatoDeraj/status/1687075798090383360]. The now 23-year-old defenseman was a second-round selection by New York in 2018, but personal decisions negatively impacted his career. Following the breakout of COVID-19 in 2020, Wilde decided against getting the vaccination ahead of the 2021-22 season. Although the NHL did not force players to get vaccinated, all but a few NHLers opted not to. However, when you play for Hall of Famer Lou Lamoriello [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/new-york-islanders-lou-lamoriello-josh-bailey-nhl-draft-2023], you follow his rules, and his rule was that all his players must be vaccinated or he will find them a new home. Wilde was the only player in the organization that went against Lamoriello's wishes. For that reason, Wilde was loaned to Vasterviks IK, a club in Sweden's second-tier league, to continue his development. Putting aside the vaccination situation, Wilde heading to a lower-tier league should have been a glorious opportunity for him to shine and essentially force the hand of the Islanders to either allow him to play in Bridgeport or move him to another NHL squad. However, shine he did not, as in 40 games in Sweden, Wilde scored just one goal with nine assists. The NHL updated their COVID-19 policies ahead of the 2022-23 season, which included a clause that said: "No player shall be denied opportunities to participate in Club Activities on the basis of their vaccination status." When we spoke with Lamoriello at the 2022 NHL Draft in Montreal, he was asked about Wilde's status. The Hall of Fame general manager said things were still in limbo and that it all had to do with Wilde's vaccination status, as the longtime NHL executive was unwilling to budge on his decision. Wilde failed to adhere to Lamoriello's rules again and played the 2022-23 season with the ECHL's Atlanta Gladiators. It was yet another chance for the former second-round pick to show something, but he scored just four goals with 10 assists in 56 games. Wilde headed into the summer as a restricted free agent five years after signing his three-year entry-level contract due to what is called an Entry-Level slide. Because Wilde was 18 when he signed his ELC and did not play an NHL game in 2018-19, his first year was slide eligible. His contract was eligible for another side because he was 19 to start the following season. The Islanders elected not to tender Wilde a qualifying offer as he became an unrestricted free agent. Given his drop-off from once a top prospect to an afterthought due to his play, there were no NHL suitors this summer, which is why he will continue his career in Europe. 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.
