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

[AmericanDream]

You are so obsessed with my posting habits.

Why is that? Hop off. Seriously, feel free to mute or block me

you both have great young players in the system..just hug it out!!

 

[Andrei79]

ice time/supporting cast is what I said for Wahlstrom and that is his issue. BC is a mess, they just aren't that talented overall, and Wall-E is not getting top line minutes nor top power play minutes every game. he is an offensive minded power forward and guys like him, Bellows, Tuch, etc have historically struggled at the NCAA ranks early on because they typically aren't getting top line minutes to dominate like they were used to.

these guys aren't on the pk and are fighting with less skilled upper classmen for ice time. yes, these prestigious programs are playing upper classmen more, because the coach's job is to win games (he gets paid a **** load of money to keep his job), and playing 20-22 year olds most nights on your top lines, typically does that. the majority of their top scorers are their older players lol...only Hutsko who is a year older than Wall-E is ahead of him scoring wise as a forward close to his birth year. Hockey East is notorious for this. there is no worse signal being sent to a team that has worked in your program for years only to ice kids right off the street over them...if you havent played sports at the NCAA level, not sure you would understand this.

the examples are endless for more talented players struggling early on in college due to usage/line mates than those tearing up the league out the gate. it is why you see many of these kids leave the NCAA completely for the OHL/WHL/Q and put up dominating numbers there...it is a fact. not every kid that struggles is due to usage/linemates, some just bottom out...Wall-E has some things to work on, but you NEVER judge these kids in their first year (certainly not 6 games in lol)..you judge college players half way through their sophomore year and beyond as if they are not trajecting upwards statistically at that point, that is when you start to worry a bit. people are stat watching here just like they did with Tkachuk and Mittelstadt.

Thanks for putting all of this into context.

 

[KidLine93]

no it isn't, the only thing that is clear, is that you don't watch college hockey overall, don't understand how it works for the majority of young players, and certainly have not watched BC this year...you think Wahlstrom, Farabee, and O'Brien are all struggling?? not as talented as originally thought??

I do not know why I waste my time on people that have zero understanding of college hockey and only stat watch...it is the same nonsense over and over again...we heard this nonsense with Brady Tkachuk and Mittelstadt as well, by those that just look up stats and think players are just struggling without understanding overall usage for freshmen/supporting cast at these programs.

since you obviously are so smart with NCAA hockey, and have obviously followed it for years, I would like you to explain Kieffer Bellows for me...you know, the 1st round pick that played at BU, was a very highly touted player, 19th overall selection, but struggled mightily in his freshman year...please explain why he struggled, why he left BU, and why he then destroyed the WHL the very next season???

I am sure you will have another wonderful answer/reply for him and countless other examples that show those that purely stat watch NCAA true freshmen, will look foolish time and time again...

not sure what your definition of "destroyed" is. But he definitely didn't destroy the WHL. He was playing against guys who were mostly younger than him considering he was 19 when he played in Portland. He finished outside the top 30 in scoring and he had Cody Glass to leech off of.

 

[AmericanDream]

not sure what your definition of "destroyed" is. But he definitely didn't destroy the WHL. He was playing against guys who were mostly younger than him considering he was 19 when he played in Portland. He finished outside the top 30 in scoring and he had Cody Glass to leech off of.

whatever adjective you would like to use is fine for me, a kid putting up over 40 goals in 56 games is an impressive feat in their first season of CHL hockey.

he went from 7g 7a 14points with BU..yep, that is right...a whopping 14 points...

to 41g 33a - 74 points in 56 games...

I would call that a massive jump in production from a player that people were throwing in the towel on after his freshmen year.

Point is, people overly judge NCAA players in their freshmen year, they just keep looking foolish and foolish each and every year they do so..

add Josh Norris and Ryan Poehling as two more players that many said were busts after 1 season of NCAA!!!

 

[bigdog16]

ice time/supporting cast is what I said for Wahlstrom and that is his issue. BC is a mess, they just aren't that talented overall, and Wall-E is not getting top line minutes nor top power play minutes every game. he is an offensive minded power forward and guys like him, Bellows, Tuch, etc have historically struggled at the NCAA ranks early on because they typically aren't getting top line minutes to dominate like they were used to.

these guys aren't on the pk and are fighting with less skilled upper classmen for ice time. yes, these prestigious programs are playing upper classmen more, because the coach's job is to win games (he gets paid a **** load of money to keep his job), and playing 20-22 year olds most nights on your top lines, typically does that. the majority of their top scorers are their older players lol...only Hutsko who is a year older than Wall-E is ahead of him scoring wise as a forward close to his birth year. Hockey East is notorious for this. there is no worse signal being sent to a team that has worked in your program for years only to ice kids right off the street over them...if you havent played sports at the NCAA level, not sure you would understand this.

the examples are endless for more talented players struggling early on in college due to usage/line mates than those tearing up the league out the gate. it is why you see many of these kids leave the NCAA completely for the OHL/WHL/Q and put up dominating numbers there...it is a fact. not every kid that struggles is due to usage/linemates, some just bottom out...Wall-E has some things to work on, but you NEVER judge these kids in their first year (certainly not 6 games in lol)..you judge college players half way through their sophomore year and beyond as if they are not trajecting upwards statistically at that point, that is when you start to worry a bit. people are stat watching here just like they did with Tkachuk and Mittelstadt.

I played hockey at the NCAA level, i understand. Hes not being run on the 4th line, is what im saying. I dont think is ice time is any excuse, hes being run in the top 6. Sure, his linemates havent done anything to help his cause. I think that just shows that he isnt a guy that will drive a line, and is more of a complementary guy (a great complementary guy). He will be fine, i said that before. You do start to wonder how long his lack of production lasts before he jumps ship to the Q

 

[AmericanDream]

I played hockey at the NCAA level, i understand. Hes not being run on the 4th line, is what im saying. I dont think is ice time is any excuse, hes being run in the top 6. Sure, his linemates havent done anything to help his cause. I think that just shows that he isnt a guy that will drive a line, and is more of a complementary guy (a great complementary guy). He will be fine, i said that before. You do start to wonder how long his lack of production lasts before he jumps ship to the Q

this is the case for nearly every sniper and goal scorer...they almost are never capable of driving a line...just look at Patrick Laine, when he is off he is literally one of the most useless players you can possibly watch...it is bad. Ovi is one of the few players that are considered a sniper that can drive a line, most others need a top center to feed them. that is a problem, but the reality for that style.

I never said Wall-E doesn't have things to work on, he does..but he has to earn his stripes, and for a kid used to having top line/top power play handed to them, it is an adjustment. and playing 2nd line is a big difference on a team not that deep, his surrounding cast is pretty meh..

Just like all the examples I have listed like Tkachuk, Mittelstadt, Bellows, Tuch (did well but people had very high expectations), Poehling, Norris, etc...I do think it is fair to let people know they should slow their role on judging NCAA freshmen players...it takes time for most of them to establish roles and consistency with their linemates..

I really didn't like Oliver heading the NCAA route as his style is more Arthur Kaliyev and would flourish at the CHL level IMO, only issue for him is that he doesn't get the OHL, if he makes the jump it has to be the Q which hasn't really done well for most US kids going that route...

 

[Frk It]

I thought he was going to dominate college hockey. Clearly I’ve been wrong so far. Pretty perplexed at the struggles of him and Zadina so far.

Guess we will see how they handle some adversity.

 

[bigdog16]

this is the case for nearly every sniper and goal scorer...they almost are never capable of driving a line...just look at Patrick Laine, when he is off he is literally one of the most useless players you can possibly watch...it is bad. Ovi is one of the few players that are considered a sniper that can drive a line, most others need a top center to feed them. that is a problem, but the reality for that style.

I never said Wall-E doesn't have things to work on, he does..but he has to earn his stripes, and for a kid used to having top line/top power play handed to them, it is an adjustment. and playing 2nd line is a big difference on a team not that deep, his surrounding cast is pretty meh..

Just like all the examples I have listed like Tkachuk, Mittelstadt, Bellows, Tuch (did well but people had very high expectations), Poehling, Norris, etc...I do think it is fair to let people know they should slow their role on judging NCAA freshmen players...it takes time for most of them to establish roles and consistency with their linemates..

I really didn't like Oliver heading the NCAA route as his style is more Arthur Kaliyev and would flourish at the CHL level IMO, only issue for him is that he doesn't get the OHL, if he makes the jump it has to be the Q which hasn't really done well for most US kids going that route...

Agreed, were on the same page. A less recent example would be Charlie Coyle. Powerforward who jumped to the Q during his 2nd year at BU. But i think he was flunking out, not so much struggling on ice. Worked out for him

 

[kroypuck]

LOL BC has always had one of the best hockey programs. Stop making excuses for his lousy start.

boston college is not even ranked lol

 

[The Crypto Guy]

boston college is not even ranked lol

They were the #1 ranked hockey east school in preseason lol

 

[Fvital92]

no it isn't, the only thing that is clear, is that you don't watch college hockey overall, don't understand how it works for the majority of young players, and certainly have not watched BC this year...you think Wahlstrom, Farabee, and O'Brien are all struggling?? not as talented as originally thought??

I do not know why I waste my time on people that have zero understanding of college hockey and only stat watch...it is the same nonsense over and over again...we heard this nonsense with Brady Tkachuk and Mittelstadt as well, by those that just look up stats and think players are just struggling without understanding overall usage for freshmen/supporting cast at these programs.

since you obviously are so smart with NCAA hockey, and have obviously followed it for years, I would like you to explain Kieffer Bellows for me...you know, the 1st round pick that played at BU, was a very highly touted player, 19th overall selection, but struggled mightily in his freshman year...please explain why he struggled, why he left BU, and why he then destroyed the WHL the very next season???

I am sure you will have another wonderful answer/reply for him and countless other examples that show those that purely stat watch NCAA true freshmen, will look foolish time and time again...

Mittlestadt is why you should be worried, all talent in the world but wasn't a great producer in college and now has 1 5x5 point in 15 NHL games, and he is supposed to be a top 5 prospect according to many specialists.
Whalstrom's producting right now is alarming.

 

[AmericanDream]

Mittlestadt is why you should be worried, all talent in the world but wasn't a great producer in college and now has 1 5x5 point in 15 NHL games, and he is supposed to be a top 5 prospect according to many specialists.
Whalstrom's producting right now is alarming.

why should I be worried after 6 games?

Mittelstadt has 10 points in 21 NHL games...totally a bust too lol...

 

[Bjornar Moxnes]

I thought he was going to dominate college hockey. Clearly I’ve been wrong so far. Pretty perplexed at the struggles of him and Zadina so far.

Guess we will see how they handle some adversity.

I was definitely wrong about Wahlstrom and Tkachuk. I'm not wrong about Zadina though.

 

[TopC0rner]

Mittlestadt is why you should be worried, all talent in the world but wasn't a great producer in college and now has 1 5x5 point in 15 NHL games, and he is supposed to be a top 5 prospect according to many specialists.
Whalstrom's producting right now is alarming.

Without bad puck luck, Whalstrom could very well have 3 + 2 = 5 (or more) in 6 games from the games he played so far. He is generating scoring chances, the puck just isn't going in.

 

[Fvital92]

why should I be worried after 6 games?

Mittelstadt has 10 points in 21 NHL games...totally a bust too lol...

Like I said, 1 even strength point this season and he is not driven his line. Not a bust, but he's not corresponding to his hype. Same with Whalstrom.
You should be worried cuz Whalstrom hasn't been good. Plain and simple.

 

[AmericanDream]

Like I said, 1 even strengh point this season and he is not driven his line. Not a bust, but he's not corresponding to his hype. Same with Whalstrom.
You should be worried cuz Whalstrom hasn't been good. Plain and simple.

how many games of Wahlstrom have you watched?

 

[Wooren]

I thought he was going to dominate college hockey. Clearly I’ve been wrong so far. Pretty perplexed at the struggles of him and Zadina so far.

Guess we will see how they handle some adversity.

Zadina is struggling? Decent production from a teenager coming from the QMJHL. His AHL team had terrible start to the season too. (Just like Wahlstrom for that matter.)

 

[LordNeverLose]

Sure, because he wasnt strong enough for the NCAA his freshman year and there are much weaker players in the WHL. Oliver is 200 pounds, so that's not the problem. Maybe there was a reason why so many teams passed on him? Once though to be a top 5 pick.

All i here from you are excuses excuses and some more excuses for his poor start. And he's getting PLENTY of ice time and PP time...so whats the excuse now?

This is the first time I've seen someone criticize Bellows for being "not strong enough" lol

But I guess his 198 pounds just didn't cut it in the NCAA, while Wahlstrom's 200 are more than enough.

 

[LordNeverLose]

They were the #1 ranked hockey east school in preseason lol

And Wisconsin was the #4 ranked team in the preseason for football. I assume you'll tell me they're more talented than Notre Dame, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio St, and LSU?

 

[Fvital92]

how many games of Wahlstrom have you watched?

3.

 

[Frk It]

Zadina is struggling? Decent production from a teenager coming from the QMJHL. His AHL team had terrible start to the season too. (Just like Wahlstrom for that matter.)

Prior to this weekend he was not doing well.

 

[kroypuck]

They were the #1 ranked hockey east school in preseason lol

What does preseason have anything to do with the current rankings? Their team sucks.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

What does preseason have anything to do with the current rankings? Their team sucks.

Yep, because key players, like himself, are not performing.

 

[kroypuck]

Yep, because key players, like himself, are not performing.

No. The whole team sucks. Watch a game.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

No. The whole team sucks. Watch a game.

Ok, and he's the team so. Not sure what you're trying to argue.