RW Oliver Wahlstrom - Boston College, NCAA (2018, 11th, NYI)

[Sens of Anarchy]

I think Oliver is a very good skater, but he doesn't use it as much as he could. I don't know what it is. He could score more points if he used his skating to generate odd man rushes, but he usually just stands around and lets everyone else skate with the puck, unless he's in a situation where he absolutely has to.

True enough.. Has nice hands, great shot ,, needs to drive more, pick up his pace and just plain work harder imo. He is a top 10 talent but I am not taking him top 5 , not because he doesn't have the skill.

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Wish the Avs were in a position to draft this kid. Think he's a sniper that we could really use.

 

[Frk It]

I've made that comparison before.

I think they are very similar. I think there's a misconception by some about the type of player that Wahlstrom is. Some have asked if he can play center, some claim he's a good assist guy.

He's a pure sniper, doesn't give much effort in any zone, not the highest hockey IQ, not much of a playmaker, but he'll put the puck in the net. Is that a player who can be a star and how much value does a player of that skill-set have? Most of the best snipers in the league, whether its Ovechkin or Laine or Tarasenko or Stamkos, are much better at other parts of the game than Wahlstrom. I see Wahlstrom as like a 30-30 guy in his prime, but maybe 25-25 with regularity. I think he'll be a good player, I don't think he has enough besides the shot to his game to be a star.

I think Oliver is a very good skater, but he doesn't use it as much as he could. I don't know what it is. He could score more points if he used his skating to generate odd man rushes, but he usually just stands around and lets everyone else skate with the puck, unless he's in a situation where he absolutely has to.

I like his hockey IQ better than Tippett. I think he finds the soft spots on the ice incredibly well. I don't think the kid would be nearly as productive or impactful as he is if he lacked these things to the extent you are saying, personally.

Please tell me you don't still have Wise over him...

 

[Vachon23]

I like his hockey IQ better than Tippett. I think he finds the soft spots on the ice incredibly well. I don't think the kid would be nearly as productive or impactful as he is if he lacked these things to the extent you are saying, personally.

Please tell me you don't still have Wise over him...

the best for MTL will be to have the 2

 

[Hfbsux]

the best for MTL will be to have the 2

Umm no.. the best for Montreal is to have a top 3 pick. Dahlin, Svechnikov and Zadina are way better fit than Wahlstrom for the Habs. If we don't have a top 3 pick, I'd like them to pick one of Hughes, Dobson or Boqvist. I agree for Wise, would love to pick him with one of our 2nd.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I like his hockey IQ better than Tippett. I think he finds the soft spots on the ice incredibly well. I don't think the kid would be nearly as productive or impactful as he is if he lacked these things to the extent you are saying, personally.

Please tell me you don't still have Wise over him...

I don't like his hockey IQ. I think its below-average, at best. Occasionally I see him find a soft spot in the defense, but most of the time when he scores, its because he has time and space. Most of that goes away as you move up to better leagues. I think he'll be able to score at the NHL level, but I'm not convinced he's an elite NHL scorer, I think he'll be more in the good-range. And you can also judge hockey IQ on the defensive side of the game where he's often in the wrong spot, and makes bad plays with the puck in his own zone.

I don't know whether I'd have him higher or not than Wise. I believe I had Wahlstrom 3 spots higher my last rankings. I've not made once since the beginning of March. Next one will be in May, so I'll wait until May until I figure out where I have players ranked. But I think judging Wise on his points this tournament would be unfair. He's been snakebitten with points. Missed an open net, missed a breakaway. I think he's been pretty good from a shift to shift perspective, but the points are not necessarily there, like they've been this season. Its 4 games, short tournaments aren't a great judge of players, especially only on points. Besides, most of the high profile players on this team have been a lot worse than Wise has been.

 

[Frk It]

I don't like his hockey IQ. I think its below-average, at best. Occasionally I see him find a soft spot in the defense, but most of the time when he scores, its because he has time and space. Most of that goes away as you move up to better leagues. I think he'll be able to score at the NHL level, but I'm not convinced he's an elite NHL scorer, I think he'll be more in the good-range. And you can also judge hockey IQ on the defensive side of the game where he's often in the wrong spot, and makes bad plays with the puck in his own zone.

I don't know whether I'd have him higher or not than Wise. I believe I had Wahlstrom 3 spots higher my last rankings. I've not made once since the beginning of March. Next one will be in May, so I'll wait until May until I figure out where I have players ranked. But I think judging Wise on his points this tournament would be unfair. He's been snakebitten with points. Missed an open net, missed a breakaway. I think he's been pretty good from a shift to shift perspective, but the points are not necessarily there, like they've been this season. Its 4 games, short tournaments aren't a great judge of players, especially only on points. Besides, most of the high profile players on this team have been a lot worse than Wise has been.

I don't think he is very engaged when his team doesn't have the puck, I won't disagree with that at all. I would also agree with you that at this time I do not consider him a well-rounded player.

But I do disagree with your take on his hockey IQ, at least in regards to play in the offensive zone. I don't see any issues there. I like Wise, but if we are going to lament Wahlstrom for a lack of playmaking, shouldn't excuse Wise for a bigger lack of goal scoring. That goes back a little while too, not just this U18 tournament.

Just curious... if you think he has these slew of issues, why do you think he is generally considered a top 10 prospect? Do you just think he is overrated?

 

[Whalers Fan]

Umm no.. the best for Montreal is to have a top 3 pick. Dahlin, Svechnikov and Zadina are way better fit than Wahlstrom for the Habs. If we don't have a top 3 pick, I'd like them to pick one of Hughes, Dobson or Boqvist. I agree for Wise, would love to pick him with one of our 2nd.

I'm all in on taking a defensemen with the Habs first round pick, but I would actually like to see Bergevin bundle a couple of those 2nd round picks to move up and take Wise, as I'm not sure he will last until that 2nd round pick. Quality over quantity.

 

[danyhabsfan]

I see a bit of Boeser in him.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think he is very engaged when his team doesn't have the puck, I won't disagree with that at all. I would also agree with you that at this time I do not consider him a well-rounded player.

But I do disagree with your take on his hockey IQ, at least in regards to play in the offensive zone. I don't see any issues there. I like Wise, but if we are going to lament Wahlstrom for a lack of playmaking, shouldn't excuse Wise for a bigger lack of goal scoring. That goes back a little while too, not just this U18 tournament.

Just curious... if you think he has these slew of issues, why do you think he is generally considered a top 10 prospect? Do you just think he is overrated?

I think a player with a better hockey IQ would be more involved with the play in the offensive zone. I realize he tries to look for his shot, but how often per game is it going to really materialize that he gets a chance to shoot at ES. I think he'd better serve his line-mates to try to help them out in digging for pucks, cycling the puck, keeping plays alive, being willing to make passes that open up better lanes and chances for teammates. Is that approach or hockey IQ? Maybe its approach. I don't lament Wahlstrom's lack of playmaking, he's a sniper. Thats his game, he's good at it. I just don't agree with the assessment of some that "he can do it all" offensively or that he's a complete player.

I think he's slightly overrated, maybe like 5 or so slots. I've started to like his game more this season because he's scoring goals. Last season he had the same weaknesses, but wasn't putting the puck in the net. I don't dislike him, I think he's good. He's an American, so I'll root for him over most other prospects, but I do think he's overrated compared to what some others think. And frankly, I don't want my team picking him. We have a very-similar style player in Zibanejad whose more well-rounded and also plays center. We are also signing Kovalchuk whose a sniper. Maybe if my team desperately needed a sniper, I'd be a bigger fan of Wahlstrom. Wise has a good shot, but doesn't use it enough. He beats goalies from the perimeter more than most forwards do, so its not an issue of ability to score goals, more of an issue of learning to shoot more. I think thats very fixable.

 

[Hfbsux]

I'm all in on taking a defensemen with the Habs first round pick, but I would actually like to see Bergevin bundle a couple of those 2nd round picks to move up and take Wise, as I'm not sure he will last until that 2nd round pick. Quality over quantity.

I was thinking about this too but when I see some of the talents in that second round, I would tend to keep those picks. Personally, I would trade our 35th and a 3rd or 4th to improve a few spot tho, if him or Bergrren are still available.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I don't think he is very engaged when his team doesn't have the puck, I won't disagree with that at all. I would also agree with you that at this time I do not consider him a well-rounded player.

But I do disagree with your take on his hockey IQ, at least in regards to play in the offensive zone. I don't see any issues there. I like Wise, but if we are going to lament Wahlstrom for a lack of playmaking, shouldn't excuse Wise for a bigger lack of goal scoring. That goes back a little while too, not just this U18 tournament.

Just curious... if you think he has these slew of issues, why do you think he is generally considered a top 10 prospect? Do you just think he is overrated?

I think he's just one dimensional.. single minded offensive player that looks for opportunities and becomes engaged when he see's one. He doesn't battle .. He has good size and good jump when he wants to but if that means engaging in a puck battle he just doesn't. If he thinks he can get to a loose puck , he'll go for it. Like Button says if he has a play making center. If he has a C like Hughes or like Barzal who has the vision and can hang on to the puck... maybe he can be Brett Hull .. he needs his Janney or Oates to feed him. I'd like to see him work harder to get the puck back when his team doesn't have it. I'd like to see more drive but in the right situation I think he'll succeed.

 

[seafoam]

Someone I can imagine Jim Benning fawning over.

 

[My3Sons]

Does any team pass on him because of the Harvard commitment? Putting aside the free agency issue, even having to wait four years for a player to migrate to the pro game is a long time. A GM on a bad team may not last long enough to see him sign.

 

[Thebesthockey]

Does any team pass on him because of the Harvard commitment? Putting aside the free agency issue, even having to wait four years for a player to migrate to the pro game is a long time. A GM on a bad team may not last long enough to see him sign.

when was the last time a top 10 choice waited 4 yrs to graduate and then join big club

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

Does any team pass on him because of the Harvard commitment? Putting aside the free agency issue, even having to wait four years for a player to migrate to the pro game is a long time. A GM on a bad team may not last long enough to see him sign.

No way he plays 4 full years at Harvard.

I would be more concerned with the fact Harvard plays 30 some games a year.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

There is a bit of chatter around about him not going to Harvard.. Do we know for sure he is? Why go to Harvard over say BC or BU for 1 year 2 max?

 

[SI90]

The hockey gods should be kind and somehow bless us hockey fans with the chance to see him play with Barzal!

 

[JK2K]

I heard he didn’t get in to Harvard.
He will most likely go to BU where it’s more likely he’ll be less concerned with school and more focused on hockey. Their program ian run more like that than BC.

 

[Jez]

Everyone seems pretty sure that he isn't going to go to Harvard. Button mentioned it on the broadcast during the game vs Belarus. He should go to Michigan and play with the Hughes brothers (I'm assuming Jack doesn't stay with the USNTDP next year but nobody knows). Now that'd be a dynamic team.

 

[branch]

I'm sure he plays in the NHL next year.

 

[Breakers]

There is a bit of chatter around about him not going to Harvard.. Do we know for sure he is? Why go to Harvard over say BC or BU for 1 year 2 max?

Draft class
Harvard has a good incoming group
Jack Drury, Chris Drury's nephew and could be a late 1st or high 2nd round pick
Jack Rathbone who is a good d-man coming in.


But most likely from what I have read is Boston College, Michigan or playing a year in Europe according to insiders.
Michigan for the obvious reason is they are STACKED
Jack Hughes could go, Bode Wilde who is going to be paired with Quinn Hughes, and maybe Jake Wise

 

[Marc the Habs Fan]

I'm sure he plays in the NHL next year.

Only way I could see it is if a team feels compelled to sign him after his college season. No way he bypasses College entirely.

For all his PP dominance, he's largely invisible 5 on 5 against 17 and 18 year olds right now. He's not ready.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

I'm sure he plays in the NHL next year.

I'd say close to no way. Not ready , not close to ready imo

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

The hockey gods should be kind and somehow bless us hockey fans with the chance to see him play with Barzal!

Would be a great fit with Barzal and someone that will work down low to gain possession