MarchysNoseKnows
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Confirmed with Link: Oliver Wahlstrom Claimed by Bruins
- Thread starter Mr. Make-Believe
- Start date
Boston Bandit
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- Aug 2, 2005
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Bruins claim RW Oliver Wahlstrom from Islanders
Whether Wahlstrom is the answer to the Bruins’ prayers is another question. A one-and-done at Boston College after being chosen by the Islanders in the 2018 draft, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Wahlstrom has not been able to produce at the NHL level as the Islanders had hoped. His most productive season was in 2021-22, when he had 13-11-24 totals. He has 36-35-71 totals in 220 NHL games. He played 35 games in 2022-23 before he tore his ACL, an injury that ended his season. He was limited to 32 games last season. He has two goals and two assists in 27 games this year.
At the time of the team’s morning skate in Vancouver, coach Joe Sacco did not know when Wahlstrom would be joining the team. It sounds like he’ll be used to help the team’s 32nd-ranked power play.
“Just from knowing the player a little bit… the one thing that sticks to my mind is a good shot, a guy that can probably score some goals and pretty good on the elbow or the bumper on the power play because of that shot that he has,” Sacco told reporters in Vancouver.
It also sounds like he he’ll get a look somewhere in the top nine forwards.
“If he’s going to be a guy that can help us offensively, he’s going to have to be put in a role where he has an opportunity,” said Sacco. “Maybe that’s somewhere up in the lineup, we’ll see. Could be the third line with (Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic). I just don’t know yet. And then maybe one of the power play (units). I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself here, but certainly when you pick up a player like that, you want to give him the best opportunity to succeed when he joins us.”
Wahlstrom’s skating and shot made him the high draft pick that he was. Now he has to find a way to utilize those tools.
“He’s got to find his ice out there, whether it’s off the rush or in-zone,” said Sacco. “He’s got to be able to create some space for himself, just like goal-scorers do in this league. And I’m not comparing him to other people, but if he’s going to be a guy who can help us offensively, he’s got to find his ice in the offensive zone, he’s got to make that off the rush he’s putting the puck towards the net. Any opportunities he has, we want to see if we can build confidence for him offensively as well.”
Whether Wahlstrom is the answer to the Bruins’ prayers is another question. A one-and-done at Boston College after being chosen by the Islanders in the 2018 draft, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Wahlstrom has not been able to produce at the NHL level as the Islanders had hoped. His most productive season was in 2021-22, when he had 13-11-24 totals. He has 36-35-71 totals in 220 NHL games. He played 35 games in 2022-23 before he tore his ACL, an injury that ended his season. He was limited to 32 games last season. He has two goals and two assists in 27 games this year.
At the time of the team’s morning skate in Vancouver, coach Joe Sacco did not know when Wahlstrom would be joining the team. It sounds like he’ll be used to help the team’s 32nd-ranked power play.
“Just from knowing the player a little bit… the one thing that sticks to my mind is a good shot, a guy that can probably score some goals and pretty good on the elbow or the bumper on the power play because of that shot that he has,” Sacco told reporters in Vancouver.
It also sounds like he he’ll get a look somewhere in the top nine forwards.
“If he’s going to be a guy that can help us offensively, he’s going to have to be put in a role where he has an opportunity,” said Sacco. “Maybe that’s somewhere up in the lineup, we’ll see. Could be the third line with (Charlie Coyle and Trent Frederic). I just don’t know yet. And then maybe one of the power play (units). I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself here, but certainly when you pick up a player like that, you want to give him the best opportunity to succeed when he joins us.”
Wahlstrom’s skating and shot made him the high draft pick that he was. Now he has to find a way to utilize those tools.
“He’s got to find his ice out there, whether it’s off the rush or in-zone,” said Sacco. “He’s got to be able to create some space for himself, just like goal-scorers do in this league. And I’m not comparing him to other people, but if he’s going to be a guy who can help us offensively, he’s got to find his ice in the offensive zone, he’s got to make that off the rush he’s putting the puck towards the net. Any opportunities he has, we want to see if we can build confidence for him offensively as well.”
BigGoalBrad
Registered User
- Jun 3, 2012
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Has to be better than what we have but doubt he'll get a fair shot.
Koepke was the only new addition that is good at forward and he never plays above the fourth line.
Koepke was the only new addition that is good at forward and he never plays above the fourth line.
HooperDrivesTheBoat
2010-2011 CHAMPS!!!
Yeah this was a no-brainer move for the Bruins. Hope it works out for both parties.
Mike C
Registered User
Me too man. Isles fans buried him but I always liked him. He's one of the few guys that had his teammates back on the ice. He's feisty and can actually be an enforcer type I feel. His skating and hockey IQ are weak but I feel he can make something of himself if given a chance without fear of being yanked out of lineup all the time
He may never live up to high expectations but on Bruins, he may fit in well. One thing Boston has over Isles is a guy like Marchand who sets the tone on and off the ice. Isles have what fans term a "country club atmosphere " in the locker room
I'm hoping a fresh start helps. I'll be rooting for him!
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My thoughts exactly. The Rob Zamuner and Andrei Kovalenko eras are also what came to mind.
Not a savior but a better option than Johnson and Mclaughlin...can hit can fight lethal shot tone of talent but cannot translate to the nhl...change of scenary can give him some juice
ON3M4N
Ignores/60 = Elite
So it looks like he's played most of his time this season with Kyle MacLean, Casey Cizikas & Matt Martin.
Personally I like the claim. It's a low risk move and if it pans out great. If it doesn't then it's no worse than what we already have.
Personally I like the claim. It's a low risk move and if it pans out great. If it doesn't then it's no worse than what we already have.
Mr. Make-Believe
The happy genius of my household
MarchysNoseKnows
Big Hat No Cattle
- Feb 14, 2018
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Not as much this year especially lately due to my life being completely consumed by youth hockey. Hes definitely doing better than a month ago.
Yeah why not? Give him a go. Never lived up to his potential but there's some talent there. The Bruins need whatever offensive help they can get. Slot Wahlstrom in for a bit and see what happens. Change of scenery and all that.
LouJersey
Registered User
I’m assuming Boston watches him. Seems like they may have a strong opinion about him
Lysell not being in Boston is his own doing. He’s not getting a call up just because fans think he’s the savior.
TCB
Registered User
I feel wahlstrom just might be the poster boy for why you shouldn’t leave college to early. I mean it’s hindsight now and we’ll never know what his career path would have took if he would have stuck at BC for more than his freshman year.
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MarchysNoseKnows
Big Hat No Cattle
- Feb 14, 2018
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- 20,086
Was he frustrated, this past summer when he could have been here working with his team that he is trying to make ? The fans, teammates, and management, are the ones who should "frustrated" if not just pissed off, especially for those of us who were looking forward to seeing this kid Boston.
Maybe, but he made the league as a 20 year old, and did ok, he improved some his second year, and was improving his 3rd year, and tore his ACL. Given his career progression up to that point it is reasonable to assume that had he not gotten hurt he'd be a 20-20 player now by his age 24 season.
Maybe he could have developed more than if he stayed in BC?
If he fails a lot cheaper fail, than the one they signed in the summertime.
Spot on, could be the high reward that saves Sweeneys job.
VANCOUVER — Their goal-scoring mine all but stripped to rubble, the Bruins on Saturday panned for gold on the waiver wire by claiming Oliver Wahlstrom, the 24-year-old former Boston College forward, from the Islanders.
Wahlstrom, best known for a dazzling goal he scored on Garden ice in his pre-teen days, was not here for the Bruins’ game in the evening against the Canucks.
Per coach Joe Sacco, the club by early afternoon had no definitive fix on when Wahlstrom will join his new teammates. But logic, in tandem with the Bruins’ desperate need for goals, would suggest he’ll meet the club in Calgary ahead of Tuesday night’s game — stop No. 4 on the club’s five-game road swing.
It remains in question where Wahlstrom, with his modest bounty of 36 goals in 220 NHL games, fits into the lineup. Sacco hinted that the club’s newest puck slinger will get a shot at playing high in the order.
If that means filling a spot at right wing, Wahlstrom’s natural position, it could mean subbing in for Justin Brazeau (two goals since Nov. 3) on a top-six line with Brad Marchand and Elias Lindholm. Another option could be the third line, on which Mark Kastelic was scheduled to open vs. the Canucks at right wing with Charlie Coyle at center and Trent Frederic at left wing.
“Just from knowing the player a bit, watching him the last few years,” said Sacco after the morning workout, “we’ve had a lot of games against the Islanders … the one thing that sticks in my mind is that he has a good shot, you know, a guy that can score some goals.”
By Sacco’s memory, Wahlstrom has been an option at the elbow and bumper on the power play with the Islanders. The Bruins for weeks now have ranked last, or next to last, in the league’s PP stats. They’ve toggled back and forth with the Islanders for that spot.
“If [Wahlstrom’s] going to be a guy that can help us offensively, he’s going to have to be put in a role where he has an opportunity — maybe that’s somewhere up in the lineup — we’ll see,“ said Sacco. ”It could be the third line with Coyle and Freddy. I don’t know yet. And maybe play on [the second] power-play unit. I just don’t know yet — I don’t want to get ahead of myself here. But certainly when you pick up a player like that you want to give him the best opportunity to succeed when he comes in and joins us.”
In the 5½ years since, Wahlstrom has struggled to play into the promise. He has NHL speed and skills, but none of that has translated into substantive production, either at the AHL or NHL level.
The sticking point: at the NHL level, Wahlstrom’s failure to work within the offensive structure put in place by Islander bench bosses Barry Trotz, Lane Lambert, and most recently, Patrick Roy.
Having waited what he felt was long enough, Islanders president of hockey operations Lou Lamoriello on Friday put Wahlstrom up for waiver grabs. Nearly half the league, including bottom feeders Chicago, Nashville, San Jose, Anaheim, and Montreal, didn’t think it was worth putting in a claim. By the time the Bruins hit the ice for their morning workout (2:30 p.m. ET), Wahlstrom had a new team.
The Bruins, with a meager two goals in losses at Winnipeg and Seattle, made the claim hoping a change of scenery and fresh start will rejuvenate the 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound Wahlstrom. It cost them nothing other than cap space to fit Wahlstrom’s modest $1 million salary. Perhaps as early as Tuesday, they’ll begin to find out if there is any payoff.
