Who could lead the Islanders in goals in 2022-23?

Oliver Wahlstrom

Now when it comes to potential, Wahlstrom may have the highest ceiling out of any Islanders forward when it comes to sniping the puck.

He is very young, and that is part of the reason why his ice time was so limited in his first two seasons. However, his production was pretty good for only averaging around 12 minutes on the ice per game. Even when he may not have produced on the scoresheet, Islanders fans couldn't get enough of the energy he brought along with the willingness to shoot the puck from anywhere.

Something that was a little shocking and somewhat forgotten about was his trajectory during this season. He scored 13 goals this season, 1 more than in 2020-21, but 10 of those 13 came before the all-star break. He was tied with Mat Barzal for third on the team at that time. Talk about the reverse Palmieri.

The fans have clamored for the former 11th overall pick to get more time than he does, which is understandable considering he may have the best release on the team other than Nelson, or maybe even Palmieri, and added much needed youth to a veteran lineup.

If fans can use their imagination, putting Wahlstrom on the top power-play unit in the "Ovechkin-spot" just seems like it would fit like a glove. With Barzal's creative passing ability and being able to draw defenders near him, he will surely find some more space to rip it more this season.

Many fans recall the few games that Lane Lambert needed to coach on the interim tag in Trotz's absence, where they went 2-1, and how the younger players including Wahlstrom got a second wind of energy that we never really saw with Trotz. Lou said that watching Lambert perform in those few games gave him some clarity if he can coach the players on this team. If this is Lou's vision for the success of the younger players he drafted, then Wahlstrom may have a break-out high-scoring year of his own.