Ilya Sorokin chat On Sunday, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] will face Oliver Wahlstrom for the first time since the Boston Bruins, his favorite team growing up, claimed him off waivers on Dec. 14. Wahlstrom, 24, had struggled mightily to provide offense consistency. And with Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair returning from long-term injuries, the Islanders needed to create a few roster spots. Placing their 11th overall pick from 2018 on waivers on Dec. 13 was their route. Wahlstrom has zero points with eight shots in six games with Boston and has served as a healthy scratch a few times. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExOTAzMjg2Mzg5Nzc3OTU1/usatsi_25030296.jpg] He was ejected for boarding in their 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals on Dec. 23. While Wahlstrom never panned out on the island, he donned the blue and orange for the better part of seven years. He meant a lot to the guys in the room. On Dec. 17, I caught up with Islanders captain Anders Lee to discuss Wahlstrom: Stefen Rosner: Many only know Wahlstrom from how he was on the ice. What kind of kid was he when the cameras weren't rolling? Anders Lee: “Wally is a good kid. He’s great, funny and, loves to joke around. He had a great sense of humor and was a pretty easygoing kid. It was pretty cool to see him throughout the years grow up a little bit. He was really young when he came with us, and just to see him grow and figure all of his stuff out and grow into the person that he is today is pretty cool. And it was definitely special being a teammate of his." Rosner: He was dealt a tough hand with the ACL injury. I know you guys had similar injuries. How excited are you just for him because of the work he has put in to get back, and maybe find his game in Boston? Lee: "I'm excited for him. I know the guys are in here, too. You're always pulling for someone that you spent a lot of time with. You've seen everything they've gone through and the work they put in. I hope he gets a great opportunity there and gets to show Boston what he's got. That room's getting a really good guy." Rosner: Just how tough was it to see him go on waivers? Lee: "It is tough. Unfortunately, it's part of this business in the process of everything. But at the end of the day, you want the best for each other and the best for him. Hopefully, that's the case with this, and he can go out there and play some great hockey." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is my interview with Lee after Wahlstrom returned from the ACL injury in 2023. Rosner: You and Wahlstrom went through the same injury. How tough is it to come back from? Lee: "It's a hard road for anyone that goes through [ACL rehab], but for him, it's just taken all his focus and effort, and it's great to see when the fruits bear." Rosner: What have you noticed from Wahlstrom since he's returned? Lee: "I think he's just continuing to grow. I think the biggest thing is him being strong on pucks, working the corners, and getting the puck to the net. And when he's doing that, he's having success. He's got...I kind of call it monkey strength, a little bit, where it's just like he's a strong guy, and he doesn't necessarily have a big build, if that makes any sense. He's got that man strength, and so when he uses that in the corners and digs out pucks and lets go of that shot, it's really effective."
