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

[LastWordArmy]

Dominant night... 2 g 2 a

 

[Vachon23]

Can he play center ??

 

[Juxtaposer]

Can he play center ??

I don’t know if he can, but AFAIK he’s never played center with the NTDP. Take that for what you will. I personally would not draft him in the hopes of making him an NHL center.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think his game is tailor-made for being a power goal scoring sniper, I don't see a great center skill-set.

 

[Lays]

Shades of Zibanejad in this kid

 

[DJB]

I feel as though this guy is underrated . He's at 5 for me atm

 

[GoBoltz56]

The only thing regarding drafting Wahlstrom is that he's a Harvard kid..so he won't even be turning pro for 4 years, then could be another year or 2 from the NHL after that. For teams picking high..that could be a turn off since they could need "help" sooner.

 

[DatDude44]

The only thing regarding drafting Wahlstrom is that he's a Harvard kid..so he won't even be turning pro for 4 years, then could be another year or 2 from the NHL after that. For teams picking high..that could be a turn off since they could need "help" sooner.

He can turn pro if he wants. You’re not required to stay all 4. I know you’re thinking vesey and kerfoot but they chose to stay to test the F/A market and get the rookie Mac contracts w/ all those incentives

 

[justafan22]

He can turn pro if he wants. You’re not required to stay all 4. I know you’re thinking vesey and kerfoot but they chose to stay to test the F/A market and get the rookie Mac contracts w/ all those incentives

Weren't those guys 3rd and 5th round picks, which in that case makes sense to stay in school. It's rare for 1st rounders to stay when they know they have guaranteed money right there for the taking. Makes sense to finish your degree when you're a maybe for playing in the nhl long term. In his case, it would be stupid to stay for more than 1 more year tops.

 

[Frk It]

The only thing regarding drafting Wahlstrom is that he's a Harvard kid..so he won't even be turning pro for 4 years, then could be another year or 2 from the NHL after that. For teams picking high..that could be a turn off since they could need "help" sooner.

Kids drafted top 10 don't stay in school for 4 years. Only later round kids that wouldn't make the NHL in 3-4 years anyways.

 

[Zaddy]

The only thing regarding drafting Wahlstrom is that he's a Harvard kid..so he won't even be turning pro for 4 years, then could be another year or 2 from the NHL after that. For teams picking high..that could be a turn off since they could need "help" sooner.

Who was the last top15 pick who stayed in college for 4 years? Who was even the last 1st rounder to do it? Kevin Hayes? His numbers weren't even good in the first 3 years of college so staying 4 years made sense for him. Who else is there? Don't think anyone who is clearly good enough to play in the NHL after 1-2 years in college are going to stay 4 years, Harvard or not.

 

[Montecristo]

Weren't those guys 3rd and 5th round picks, which in that case makes sense to stay in school. It's rare for 1st rounders to stay when they know they have guaranteed money right there for the taking. Makes sense to finish your degree when you're a maybe for playing in the nhl long term. In his case, it would be stupid to stay for more than 1 more year tops.

When was the last Harvard guy to leave early? Vesey was offered nhl time after his sophmore and junior seasone and didn’t come out. Donato is rumored to be staying an additional year and he’s at a gpg.

 

[NotProkofievian]

When was the last Harvard guy to leave early? Vesey was offered nhl time after his sophmore and junior seasone and didn’t come out. Donato is rumored to be staying an additional year and he’s at a gpg.

Louis Leblanc left early, and he didn't even leave to go to the NHL. Things didn't really work out for him but he did leave. I think I remember hearing that you can return whenever to finish your degree, so there's no real incentive to forego starting your NHL career to finish your degree.

 

[DatDude44]

Weren't those guys 3rd and 5th round picks, which in that case makes sense to stay in school. It's rare for 1st rounders to stay when they know they have guaranteed money right there for the taking. Makes sense to finish your degree when you're a maybe for playing in the nhl long term. In his case, it would be stupid to stay for more than 1 more year tops.

Exactly. but i was using my phone so didn't type out all of my thoughts/reasoning lol.

 

[thedonger]

Who was the last top15 pick who stayed in college for 4 years? Who was even the last 1st rounder to do it? Kevin Hayes? His numbers weren't even good in the first 3 years of college so staying 4 years made sense for him. Who else is there? Don't think anyone who is clearly good enough to play in the NHL after 1-2 years in college are going to stay 4 years, Harvard or not.

Not sure if it counts but didn't Blake wheeler do 3 years after 1 year of ushl?

 

[JiggsNY]

2+1 tonight, up to 53 points (31+22) in 38 games

 

[Smeagoal]

Any chance this kid gets taken in the top-5? Like .. number 5? I like him a lot.

 

[PatrikOverAuston]

Hoping the Oilers grab him with their likely top-ten selection. Reminds me of a bigger, grittier Jeff Skinner.

Imagine a shooter of his caliber taking feeds from McD or Draisaitl. Wow.

 

[Goldenhands]

Hoping the Oilers grab him with their likely top-ten selection. Reminds me of a bigger, grittier Jeff Skinner.

Imagine a shooter of his caliber taking feeds from McD or Draisaitl. Wow.

This isnt what Puljujarvi was supposed to do?

Seriously, I cant see the Habs pass on this kid at our spot..

I think what the Oilers need the most is an elite puckmover and PP specialist ala Boqvist, Hughes..

 

[PatrikOverAuston]

This isnt what Puljujarvi was supposed to do?

For sure, but the Oilers have two stud centers. Each is going to need a RW. Pulju seems to mesh well with #97, so that leaves finding someone for Drai to set up.

Seriously, I cant see the Habs pass on this kid at our spot..

Wahlstrom could honestly go anywhere from 3-10, that's how up in the air this class looks to be. If he's there, he's there; if he's not, then we go to Plan B, which is...

I think what the Oilers need the most is an elite puckmover and PP specialist ala Boqvist, Hughes..

Hopefully not our preference. LD is jammed for the foreseeable future with Klefbom, Nurse and Sekera, so a Hughes, Smith or McIssac just isn't a need.

That's not to say a player like Bouchard, Boqvist, Dobson or Merkley wouldn't be welcome though. I just would like to see the focus on adding another elite right-shot forward.

 

[Frannel]

I'm wondering a bit how much he benefits from Jack Hughes being his center now... not saying that Wahlstrom isn't a fabulous player, but I kind of have the feeling that there is a significant difference in how he is playing now since Hughes got bumped up to how he performed before...

 

[Whalers Fan]

I'm wondering a bit how much he benefits from Jack Hughes being his center now... not saying that Wahlstrom isn't a fabulous player, but I kind of have the feeling that there is a significant difference in how he is playing now since Hughes got bumped up to how he performed before...

Hughes has definitely helped both Wahlstrom and Farabee. However, there was a significant drop off at the center position before Hughes was moved up, so you could argue that both were being hampered by poor center play earlier.

I like Wahlstrom's game, and would lean towards taking him over Tkachuk if it came down to a choice between the two. Tkachuck has a more gritty game, but Wahlstrom has more offensive talent.

 

[Estlin]

If the Bruins somehow can’t move up to draft him, then he’ll sign with Boston as a free agent after his four years at Harvard

 

[Frannel]

Hughes has definitely helped both Wahlstrom and Farabee. However, there was a significant drop off at the center position before Hughes was moved up, so you could argue that both were being hampered by poor center play earlier.

I can easily agree to that: not only Wahlstrom, but Farabee as well, benefits from playing with Hughes. Which leads me to a more general question: how much does a player depend on his teammates and their performances to get enough recognition in his draft year to be ranked high and how much does an underwhelming team prevents a certain player from being recognized?

 

[ProspectsFanatic]

delete.