Islanders may look to bring back former first-rounder as summer winds down

With summer winding down, NHL teams are looking to tie up loose ends before the beginning of training camp. Part of those loose ends are unsigned players looking for a chance to prove they still belong in the Bigs.

One such player is former New York Islanders first-round pick Oliver Wahlstrom.

The Isles picked the 26-year-old 11th overall in 2018. He came with plenty of promise, but never really delivered in Long Island. He found himself on the outside looking in during the 2024-25 season, hitting the waiver wire.

The Boston Bruins claimed Wahlstrom, but he never really caught on in Beantown. His two points in 16 games did not impress too many folks in Boston. So, Wahlstrom found himself without an NHL contract last season.

This time around, the Islanders might be willing to give their former first-rounder one last kick at the NHL can. As Isles insider Stefen Rosner noted, there might just be a shot at a reunion with Wahlstrom. And it might make sense for everyone.

“Now, I did mention Oliver Wahlstrom as someone who could potentially return, as his agent has had talks with the Islanders about some kind of move. I still don’t think a PTO is likely if that does come to fruition. I think it's more likely he gets an AHL deal.”

Perhaps the Islanders could extend Wahlstrom an invite to camp, with the likely destination being a contract in Hamilton.

If that’s the case, the Islanders’ AHL affiliate could get a pretty decent boost. Last season, Wahlstrom scored 24 goals and 42 points in 62 games for the San Jose Barracuda. He didn’t get a call-up to the NHL, but played well enough to warrant some consideration.

Does Wahlstrom have anything to offer at the NHL level at this point?

Let’s assume that Wahlstrom knocks the socks off Peter DeBoer in camp. Would that be enough to earn him a spot on the NHL roster?

It’s tough to say. He would be competing with a guy like Kyle MacLean for a fourth-line role. Perhaps he could outwork other potential fourth-liners like Ondrej Palat. Maybe the Isles keep Wahlstrom around as the 13th forward.

All of that depends on just how well he shows up in camp. But to make the team, Wahlstrom would have to really impress everyone. And that’s unlikely at this point.

The likeliest outcome, even if Wahlstrom impresses, is that he goes down to the AHL on a minor-league deal and earns the right to be among the first call-ups in case of injuries.

It’s worth remembering that Wahlstrom is still relatively young. So, there might still be a chance for him to become a solid NHLer at this point. If he can manage such a feat, it would be a wonderful comeback story for the Isles this season.

And if he doesn’t, well, at least the organization gave him one more shot at the NHL. If he can prove he’s a quality AHL-level player, the situation might turn out to be a win-win for everyone.

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