Should the NY Islander move on from Oliver Wahlstrom in favor of an AHL prospect?
As we approach the NHL trade deadline this Friday, there'll soon be widespread roster shuffling across the NHL. With the NY Islanders on a three-game win streak and getting help from teams ahead of them, they find themselves right back in the thick of the playoff race as it's expected Lou Lamoriello will be active in the trade market.
It doesn't appear as if there will be much selling on the Islanders' behalf, but there's the possibility the organization could move on from former first-round pick Oliver Wahlstrom.
Just over a month ago, Lamoriello said that the Isles would give Wahlstrom an extended look, in which he produced a single point after appearing in 13 straight games.
While it hasn't been a season to remember for the Bridgeport Islanders, two of the organization's top prospects have found chemistry and have been lighting up the score sheet. Matthew Maggio started his professional career slower than he'd have hoped but has picked up his game at the back end of his rookie campaign. In his first 30 games, Maggio produced just 8 points - but in his last 14, he's added 12 (8 G, 4 A).
Most of Maggio's success has come while playing alongside the B-Islanders' leading scorer, Ruslan Iskhakov. Iskhakov is in his second season in Bridgeport and has been making highlight-reel plays all season. Playing center all his life, the Islanders may be willing to give him a shot on the wing, as they have the center position well accounted for.
With Wahlstorm falling out of favor and set to be an RFA at season's end, Lamoriello may look to ship out the 23-year-old to recoup any assets he can. While it's difficult to give up on a first-round pick who isn't yet eligible to become a UFA, it may be in Wahlstrom and the Islanders' best interest to go separate ways.
Even if the Isles elect to hold onto Wahlstrom, NHL rosters expand following the deadline, and as long as they have the cap space, Lamoriello can add any of his AHL players to the active roster. Either way, there's the chance we could see either of these prospects in an NHL uniform at some point, especially with the way they've been playing of late.