NY Islanders forward Oliver Wahlstrom is running out of chances to impress

Nobody can say that the New York Islanders haven't given Oliver Wahlstrom chances.

The 24-year-old has repeatedly been given ample opportunities to showcase the skills that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Still, you have to wonder whether those opportunities are running out. After suffering a severe knee injury two seasons ago, his struggles last season were partly attributed to that recovery process. This off-season, he signed a one-year, $1M contract and, somewhat surprisingly, made the team out of training camp.

It appeared GM Lou Lamoriello wasn't quite ready to give up on a player he drafted, one who possesses some top-tier skill but hasn't been able to bring it all together. Where he had previously been playing on a third line and receiving power play time, he was now regulated to a fourth-line role and, to date, hasn't made much of an impact, scoring one goal in 18 games.

He has an elite shot, but we don't see it nearly enough for it to make a consistent impact. He was recently given ice time on the Isles' beleaguered power play but failed to produce. Head Coach Patrick Roy said on Wednesday that playing on the power play is a privilege, and Wahlstrom has been stripped of that privilege heading into tonight's game against the Boston Bruins at UBS Arena to close out a three-game homestand.

"Everybody's been telling me he's a good finisher. I haven't seen that yet. But I want to see those things," Roy said of Wahlstrom after the morning skate. I think Wally could offer us more than what he's been doing. That's my opinion."

The Isles' head coach has been satisfied with their play at even strength, but didn't rule out changing the power play units after Monday's loss. At this morning's skate, there were new look units as he looks for some type of a spark on special teams, one Wahlstrom failed to provide in his latest chance.