At 11th Overall Islanders take Oliver Wahlstrom

[steveat]

Wahlstrom has a great shot but Boesers shot might be top5 in the world. Imo Wahlstrom is the more skilled player as far as far as stick handling and making plays. He gets accused of floating a lot and at times he has but so does OVI every once in a while.

For years we’ve taken forwards who are pass first playmakers. Now we have 2 true blue Snipers loaded with .50 cal rifles in Bellows in Wahlstrom.

From my understanding, Boesser has a better 200 foot game (2-way player) and has better IQ, but I've honestly not seen either enough to make a judgment.

What I do know is that Wahlstrom's one-timer is top notch..something we are missing. We have guys on our team that take weeks to wind-up and others are just too slow...I find Pulock's one-timer to be average. Watch next year..I know some people here think I'm crazy, but his one timer is average..I can see it coming from a mile away. On the other hand..holy shit..Wahlstom's is light-out!

Regarding Ho-Sang..don't forget...he's not a career right winger.. He can play all forward positions..we just never used him in those roles.

About Dobson..wow..I don't know what to say. When I hear (from the EXPERTS), that he can be the second best dman in the draft behind Dahlin...I'm like WTF? We don't get this kind of luck...

 

[MattMartin]

 

[Duanesutter12]

I think Ho Sang is what he always has been- a crap shoot that we're not sure which way he's going to land! Talent has never been the issue. Can the new regime actually bring out his potential and get him to play within the system? Will they ship him out the first opportunity they get? The hell if I know but whatever happens I won't be surprise because he is the ultimate enigma!

As unfortunate as it is to type this, the addition of Wahlstrom is causing Ho-Sang to be more and more of an afterthought by the minute.

Personally, I’d like to see the organization ‘play the long game’ with him, unless he’s a piece that can be parlayed (in a package of course) for a top four defenseman or a goaltender.

The upside of having someone like Ho-Sang on your third line generating offense like he can do is much higher than say a 2nd rounder or another questionable prospect.

 

[Duanesutter12]

Hahaha, well at least he was being nice!

and also the Isles are no powerhouse organization....haha

 

[Isles Junkie]

fun breakdown comparison between 2 of the top prospects taken at the draft.

 

[saintunspecified]

WOW! I did a couple of drafts over at Draftwired where we got both Wahlstrom and Dobson and I couldn't believe it then and I can't believe it now!

Yeah, I thought those were wacky. Lol.

 

[Wanderson]

Wahlstrom is a high end skater, Boeser isn't. Similar skillset otherwise. Wahlstrom might be meaner, throws his body around more.

... and he is 50% Swedish. He has lost the ö in his surname. Reminds me of Nystrom in that case.

 

[WinhallVT124]

Is James Neal a good player comparison for Wahlstrom?

 

[PWJunior]

Wahlstrom was over the moon, he got emotional in his interview for NHLN. Great interview, very candid.

 

[saintunspecified]

Wahlstrom was over the moon, he got emotional in his interview for NHLN. Great interview, very candid.

I got the impression that he likes to score goals.

 

[Macch]

Still don’t tbink Ho-Sang is the type of player we should offload.

He’s got special skills that are hard to find. Needs coaching and leadership to put his game together.

Dal Colle on the other hand...

 

[Tres Peleches]

fun breakdown comparison between 2 of the top prospects taken at the draft.

Tkchachuk only passed the puck 23 times in 40 games? What a puck hog

 

[Instant]

Tkchachuk only passed the puck 23 times in 40 games? What a puck hog

He needs Eberle!

 

[MJF]

Wahlstrom is a high end skater, Boeser isn't. Similar skillset otherwise. Wahlstrom might be meaner, throws his body around more.

Is Chris Kreider a fair comparison to Wahlstrom?

 

[Isles Junkie]

Tkchachuk only passed the puck 23 times in 40 games? What a puck hog

lol, yeah I hope that was just a language barrier thing and he meant like primary assists or something?

 

[PWJunior]

Is Chris Kreider a fair comparison to Wahlstrom?

Don't know, skillset wise it's a match. Maybe it's my burning hatred for Kreider clouding my judgement, but I can't agree fully to that comp.

Wahlstrom is a bit lazy defensively, he's going to have to commit to a 200-foot game. Otherwise, the kid has impressive tools and is not a blockhead. Probably going to BC, a good choice for him.

Isles have 2 snipers in waiting now, on each wing with Bellows trending well.

 

[Tres Peleches]

lol, yeah I hope that was just a language barrier thing and he meant like primary assists or something?

It probably was, though he describes it correctly as assists in the video

Regardless, it was a good breakdown and I couldn’t be happier with either of our picks in this draft thus far

 

[MJF]

Don't know, skillset wise it's a match. Maybe it's my burning hatred for Kreider clouding my judgement, but I can't agree fully to that comp.

Wahlstrom is a bit lazy defensively, he's going to have to commit to a 200-foot game. Otherwise, the kid has impressive tools and is not a blockhead. Probably going to BC, a good choice for him.

Isles have 2 snipers in waiting now, on each wing with Bellows trending well.

Enter Barry Trotz and his staff. He got Alex Ovechkin to buy into playing defense.

 

[CupHolders]

Still don’t tbink Ho-Sang is the type of player we should offload.

He’s got special skills that are hard to find. Needs coaching and leadership to put his game together.

Dal Colle on the other hand...

Agree, Bellows and Wahlstrom have made Dal Colle completely redundant (I’d say his performance thus far has done more so).

I’m hoping some team still values Dal Colle at a 2nd round pick level. Also hoping the Isles, package him and another 2nd for a stopgap goalie.

 

[Hammer Slammer]

Shift by shift from March

Oliver Wahlstrom vs Chicago | Mar 23 2018

 

[eoin92]

I like that he models his game after Ovechkin. Also, we are an elite organization now! Committed ownership, Lou, Trotz, elite training facility, elite new arena incoming. The perception of this team has changed dramatically in one month.

 

[SI90]

Wahlstrom was over the moon, he got emotional in his interview for NHLN. Great interview, very candid.

Speculation on my part but I’m wondering if he lost his birth mother? He kept saying his dad had been through a lot with him and his sister and he mentioned his step mother.

Happy for the kid and his family to have this special moment. Welcome to Long Island to the Wahlstrom family!

 

[Islesfan22]

Any chance this kid makes the team? Physically he looks ready and his shot teamed with Barzal yikes that could be a deadly combo.

 

[PWJunior]

Any chance this kid makes the team? Physically he looks ready and his shot teamed with Barzal yikes that could be a deadly combo.

Let's let him work on his complete game at BC, he will be playing with big boys. Bellows is more NHL ready and brings similar skills.

 

[scott99]

Haven’t been around to post the last few days, so giving it a go right now. I absolutely LOVE this pick. Wahlstrom really is a great sniper. He may actually turn out better than Bellows, in that, he can create better on his own, better skater and stick handler. He does remind me of Bellows in that he has sandpaper added to his sniper like game. Just a fantastic pick at 11.

I was watching the draft with my uncle, who is a huge Ranger’s fan. He so wanted Wahlstrom at 9, and was really disappointed they picked Kravstov instead. I actually think Kravstov is gonna be a great player. Tried to console about the pick. And everything I said I believed, I was very high on Kravstov. But even the next day, he redid the Ranger’s draft, and picked Wahlstom at 9, he truly thinks we got the best sniper in the draft. And I’m super high on Wahlstom as well, his performance at the U18’s really sold me on him. Thrilled we got him. The back to back picks of Wahlstrom and Dobson may go down as a legendary draft.