NY Islanders Plus/Minus for 2023-24: Oliver Wahlstrom needs to have an explosive year

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Fans of the NY Islanders have been clamoring for the past few years for the team to find a forward with actual finishing ability. Without any significant additions to the team during the 2022-23 offseason, eyes should turn to Oliver Wahlstrom as an in-house solution to the Islanders' scoring woes.

Wahlstrom, 23, is entering his fourth NHL season where he will be up with the club full-time. This past season, he played 35 games until he sustained a knee injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2022-23 season. In the 35 games he played, he scored seven goals and nine assists for 16 points which put him on pace to score a career-high 37 points through a full 82 games season.

Last year showed that Wahlstrom had improved his game over his first few seasons, but the Islanders will need even more production from the former 2018 11th overall pick this upcoming season to succeed with their competition in the Eastern Conference only getting stronger. The time to break out is now for Wahlstrom, who signed his qualifying offer of $874,125 for this upcoming season and will be looking for his first big payday next offseason after hopefully cementing himself as a key piece of the Isles' starting lineup.

PLUS

The most obvious attribute of Wahlstrom's game is his elite shot, which is why many fans want him to play next to Mat Barzal on the first line. The Portland, Maine native has a deadly one-timer that is both hard and accurate, along with a great snapshot entering the offensive zone on the wing. New York's power play was notably bad last season, and part of the reason was the lack of a "shoot first" threat from the top of the left circle. Wahlstrom can do just that and should get plenty of time on the man advantage next season whether it's on the first or second unit because of his shot.

The former Boston College Eagle also has plenty of edge to his game that makes him more of a power forward than just a sniper. That could have been influenced by former head coach Barry Trotz during his time on Long Island, or it could just be a part of Wahlstrom's fabric at the pro level. His checking ability is good for his 6'2 204 pound frame, but he is not afraid to get into a scrap at all to defend his teammates. Most fans remember his dominating fight over former Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo when the game was pretty much over and emotions boiled over from Philadelphia. He's even gotten into it with PK Subban in the past, showing he is not afraid of established veterans either.

Wahlstrom agreeing to play a prove-it deal should give him plenty of motivation entering the 2023-24 season. When he was drafted, scouts talked about his upside being a 30-goal scorer and even more in the NHL, and the talent is certainly there for that to happen still. If he can find a way into the top six, specifically Barzal's line where he can dish him the puck, then Wahlstrom should be in for a great comeback season.

MINUS

The "minus" aspect for Wahlstrom is a little less about what he can control, and more of what has prevented him from breaking out in seasons past. Last year was his knee injury that he suffered in a December game against the Pittsburgh Penguins that put him out for the remainder of the season. GM Lou Lamoriello stated that they expect Wahlstrom to be ready for training camp in September and that he does not have much concern.

The other thing that could keep him from reaching big heights production-wise is a crowded, veteran roster that doesn't have as many chances to creep up the totem pole. This coaching staff and management crew typically favor veterans as being the leaders in the lineup, and Trotz had some trouble giving Wahlstrom significant minutes during his tenure. We can look back to even the 2020-21 playoffs when Wahlstrom got hurt and was only supposed to be out of the lineup for a few games, but the staff did not want to break the flow and replace even someone like Leo Komarov with Wahlstrom due to trust or lack thereof. Julian Gauthier also signed a deal to come to Long Island this offseason, which may not mean much for Wahlstrom's lineup security but is still another body to take account of. There is still the possibility of a Zach Parise returns as well, who would be hard to take out of the lineup after the season he just had.

An ideal breakout season for the young winger should have a goal of reaching around 50 points, maybe looking something like 20-25 goals and 25 assists give or take. That would be huge for an Islanders team that lacks scoring and needed more out of players such as Bo Horvat and even longtime Islander Josh Bailey, whose shortcomings resulted in his departure in the offseason. If Wahlstrom can find his way onto the scoresheet often along with becoming a solid top-line forward, the Islanders' first line could be dangerous this upcoming season.

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