Stefen Rosner and Rachel Doerrie of The Hockey News discuss New York Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom as he has signed his qualifying offer. On July 4, the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/cal-clutterbuck-new-york-islanders-milestone-1000-games-300-points-500-blocks] brought aboard depth forwards Julien Gauthier, Karson Kuhlman, and Brian Pinho. Gauthier was the only one of the three that was offered a one-way contract, as well as a two-year commitment, worth $1.575 million. READ MORE: Importance of Islanders Signings & What Could Happen Next [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-gauthier-kulhman-pinho-parise-wahlstrom-clutterbuck] That's not to say Gauthier will make the roster out of training camp, but it does give a glimpse into the likelihood of that coming to fruition. Whether he is filling in the role that Zach Parise [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/new-york-islanders-zach-parise-undecided-about-future-teammates-react] potentially leaves behind or filling in on the fourth line if injuries arise, there will be a use for him at some point in 2023-24. How often Gauthier plays may not be up to him ultimately, but if he shows well, then he may force the hand as we saw with Hudson Fasching [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/hudson-fasching-new-york-islanders-lane-lambert-siblings-cooper-malloryhttps://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/news/hudson-fasching-new-york-islanders-lane-lambert-siblings-cooper-mallory] a year ago. It's been a shaky start to the career for the 25-year-old forward, who has made stops in Raleigh, New York City, and Canada's capital throughout his four years in the league. We spoke with writers from each pit stop to discuss what the six-foot-four, 220-pound right winger brought to give you a glimpse of what he can bring to the Islanders this season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CAREER STARTS IN CAROLINA Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5OTQwNjI4NjAyMTY4NDIz/usatsi_13498863.jpg] After a promising junior career in the QMJHL, the Carolina Hurricanes [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/] selected Gauthier 21st overall at the 2016 NHL Draft. After a few seasons with the Charlotte Checkers, Gauthier made his NHL debut on Oct. 11, 2019 against the Islanders, playing 8:23 minutes while taking a penalty. "He's a terrific athlete. Big and strong but was also a really fast skater despite that, which leads to a good amount of rush chances for him," Hurricanes beat reporter Ryan Henkel [https://twitter.com/RyanHenkel_] relayed. "However, he has struggled at the NHL level to create sustainable offense. He was never a great playmaker, and his strongest attribute was his ability to drive to the net and finish, but that hasn't translated for him. "He looked promising in the AHL, being able to get in tight and finish, but it hasn't been able to carry over to the NHL." Gauthier would play another four games with Carolina over a span of two months before being flipped to the New York Rangers for defenseman Joey Keane in February of 2020. He had one assist and one shot over those five games. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BROADWAY BOUND Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5OTQwNjA3Mzk1NzY3OTM2/usatsi_20021263.jpg] Gauthier would spend the better part of the next four seasons playing for the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers/], showcasing speed and a nose for goal, but finishing became his downfall. In 131 games with New York, Gauthier only scored 11 goals with 15 assists, averaging 9:24 minutes per game. "Gauthier never really found consistent ice during his tenure as a Ranger," Rangers reporter Jonny Lazarus [https://twitter.com/JLazzy23] shared. "He had all of the tools in the toolbox to be successful with his speed, size, strength, and shot. He's a guy that is a perfect role player." The Islanders have many role players, but with injuries last year, it became clear that they needed players with NHL experience to fill in, and not just prospects in an already weak pipeline. "Obviously, the Islanders have their established fourth line, but Gauthier could be the perfect third liner," Lazarus said. "He certainly makes the Islanders a faster team. The knock on Gauthier would probably be his lack of consistency, but he isn't fully to blame because he wasn't an every-night guy. It's hard to really find your confidence as a player when you know that you're one or two mistakes from being taken out of the lineup." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SENT TO SENATORS Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk5OTQwNTU2OTI5OTAyMjA4/usatsi_20220622.jpg] On Feb. 19, the Rangers flipped Gauthier to the Ottawa Senators [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/ottawa-senators/], along with a 2023 conditional seventh-round pick for forward Tyler Motte. In 17 games with Ottawa, who for a long stretch of the season were eying one of the two wild-card spots, Gauthier potted three goals with two assists, averaging 9:19 minutes per game. "Gauthier was used sparingly and sometimes a healthy scratch in his time in Ottawa," Senators beat reporter Steve Warne [https://twitter.com/SteveWarneMedia] said. "He was never given the linemates or ice time he needed to make much of an impact. But he's such an excellent skater with a powerful stride and good size that continually make you wonder how he might fare in better circumstances. "Senators defenceman Thomas Chabot clearly has a loud voice with Ottawa management. In the past 16 months, the Senators have brought in four of Chabot's Saint John junior teammates into the organization – Gauthier, Mathieu Joseph, Matthew Highmore, and Bokondji Imama." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While the Islanders haven't made many eye-popping changes to their roster over the last few years, there's undoubtedly been some transitioning from grit to speed on both sides of the puck. The acquisition of Alexander Romanov went against the Islanders' grain of just physical defenseman, as the young Russian is relatively mobile. Bringing in Pierre Engvall -- albeit a move to get speed when Mathew Barzal went down with a long-term injury -- was offered and signed a seven-year deal as his raw speed changed everything for the Islanders' transition game. And now, with Gauthier coming aboard, the Islanders added more of that speed element that all the top teams in hockey seem to have. The common thing amongst the Gauthier analysis is that he's fast but fails to finish. And I know what you are thinking. Finishing is something the Islanders have struggled with for years, and bringing in speed doesn't matter if it doesn't lead to the opponent's goalie fishing pucks out of his net. True, but speed adds tremendous pressure to the opponents and may lead to more chances for linemate success, as regardless of finishing, Gauthier can open up the ice and draw players to him (which is what Barzal and Engvall do). Maybe Gauthier doesn't pan out for New York and serves as a healthy scratch rather often or even finds himself playing for Bridgeport. But to have a speed option at a cheap price tag for a few seasons was a low-risk and potentially high-reward move.
