Islanders’ former 1st-rounder gets shot on PTO

Former New York Islanders’ first-round draft pick Oliver Wahlstrom will get one more kick at the NHL can this upcoming season.

The 25-year-old forward signed a Professional Tryout Agreement (PTO) with the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday.

Wahlstrom was the Islanders’ first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. He came with high praise after putting up 94 points in 62 games with the US National Development team as a 17-year-old in 2017-18.

He then tore up the USNTDP Junior team, scoring 22 goals in 26 games. He looked like a solid prospect. However, he flopped somewhat in his first year at Boston College in the NCAA, scoring just eight goals in 36 games.

He made the jump to the AHL in 2019-20, playing 45 games in Bridgeport. He managed 10 goals and 22 points in 45 games. That performance earned him a nine-game trial during the 2019-20 season, but he went scoreless.

The Isles brought him into the fold during the 2020-21 season, in which he had a promising showing, notching 12 goals in 44 games. He played a full season in 2021-22, adding 13 goals in 73 games.

However, that would be the height of his production in Long Island. He failed to earn a full-time role during the 2022-23 season, appearing in just 35 games. He suited up for 32 in 2023-24, essentially marking the end of his tenure with the Isles.

Islanders cut Wahlstrom after disappointing start last season

The New York Islanders gave Wahlstrom one last shot at sticking with them. But after managing just two goals in 27 games and failing to make a significant impact on the ice, the Isles cut Wahlstrom.

The team placed him on waivers in mid-December, ending his time in New York. The Bruins claimed Wahlstrom, placing him in the lineup for 16 more games. He managed just one goal.

The Bruins did not issue a qualifying offer to Wahlstrom as he was slated to become an RFA. That situation made him a UFA this summer. Unfortunately, no one was willing to give Wahlstrom a full-time NHL contract.

Now, Wahlstrom will need to prove he’s still got what it takes to be a regular NHL forward. Even with the Sharks, he’ll have a tough time cracking their roster. While he could be a serviceable depth forward, the Sharks’ young, high-end talent could make it challenging for Wahlstrom to earn a regular job.

Sadly, this could be the end of the line for a once-promising Islanders’ prospect. Oliver Wahlstrom will go down as an Islanders’ first-round bust, unless he can somehow resurrect his career.