Wahlstrom, Bellows, Holmstrom Take Big Strides in Development | NYHN+

When it comes to the New York Islanders future, Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows and Simon Holmstrom are three pieces that could have a big impact on the team going forward.

All three spent a majority of the 2019-20 season in AHL Bridgeport with the Sound Tigers. Wahlstrom and Bellows both made appearances in the NHL with the Islanders, and Bellows scored his first two career goals in the NHL during an eight-game stint.

And the three each made notable strides during the abbreviated American Hockey League season, according to Bridgeport head coach Brent Thompson.

“Each one did slightly different things,” Thompson told NYI Hockey Now during a phone interview. “Each guy took steps in the right direction. I look back at our last couple of games especially.”

Oliver Wahlstrom started the 2019-20 season with the Islanders and appeared in nine games before he was sent to the AHL.

Wahlstrom has a reputation for being a goal scorer and he progressed in that area, along with his play away from the puck. The New York Islanders prospect got into better defensive habits and he got stronger along the walls.

“Early in the year there was a lot of turnovers and swings,” Thompson said. “He’s can handle the physical goings so he used his body a little bit more later in the year.”

The 20-year-old forward ended the season on a high note, putting up eight points (five goals, three assists) over the final 12 games. In addition, Wahlstrom had a four-game point streak when the AHL season stopped.

Kieffer Bellows was another prospect that saw an improvement in his production during the second half of the season. Bellows struggled a bit in his first pro season with the Sound Tigers, but in 55 games this year had 22 goals and 31 points.

Bellows got off to a slow start offensively before picking it up over the final 30 games of the Sound Tigers season.

“When he keeps his game simple he’s a solid, solid hockey player,” Thompson said about Bellows. “He’s been pretty good on the boards and he just started shooting and attacking the net more. That’s why he got rewarded. He went to the net more and got rewarded with some goals.”

Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom, who finished the year with 15 points (eight goals, seven assists) are both playing in Sweden’s second-tier hockey league to get more playing time while they wait for the 2020-21 season to begin. Thompson noticed an increased sense of confidence in Holmstrom’s game, which he’d like to see continue.

Wahlstrom is already off to a promising start overseas with a pair of power-play goals during a recent exhibition game.

“I think that it’s a great thing that they’re just playing hockey and involved in getting the puck touches, skating and playing in competitive hockey,” Thompson said. “It’s slightly different than North America, but they’re going to be on the ice. They’re actually competing where you’re going to have to use that intensity. Some of those battles and controlling the puck.

“The biggest thing for me is they’re getting to play in game situations and get puck touches, so when they do come back they’ll be ready to go.”