After posting 12 goals and nine assists in 44 games during the 2020-21 season, the fan expectations for Oliver Wahlstrom heading into this season were rather high. The New York Islanders had not acquired or signed an elite forward to help bolster the offense during the offseason months which meant that they would need Wahlstrom to take a step in 2021-22.
However, he’s done the “Tango”.
In 65 games played this season, Oliver Wahlstrom has 13 goals and 11 assists. While that is a new career-high in points, he only has one more goal and two more assists than he did last season, in 21 more games. His trips to the penalty box has more than doubled this season compared to last season with 54 PIM so far through 65 games, compared to his 21 in 44 games a season ago.
Some penalties are avoidable but others like the one we saw on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues are unacceptable and as a third-year player, Wahlstrom needs to know better.
Wahlstrom has shot the puck more this season, 149 times (94 shots in 2020-21) and as one can expect his shooting percentage dipped. In 2020-21, he shot at a 12.8 percent clip. This season, he’s at 8.7 percent.
New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz has had a short leash with his 21-year old forward, as when mistakes are made it, Trotz has had no problem cutting back his shifts. In a year in which Wahlstrom should have become more of a focal point of the offense, he has played just 12:23 minutes per game.
That’s the same amount of minutes Wahlstrom averaged in 2020-21.
Has Wahlstrom done enough to deserve to play top-six minutes on a nightly basis? Given how this season has gone, maybe one can argue that he should be playing more minutes than some of the veterans who have struggled mightily this season, but that has not been Trotz’s M.O.
With Trotz, a two-way game is not asked, it’s demanded and with Wahlstrom being such a young player, Trotz has stuck with his gameplan regarding Wahlstrom’s development.
The entire fan base had been waiting to see Oliver Wahlstrom get minutes alongside the New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal as it seemed like a duo that could be lethal.
It took until 16 game ago for the two to be paired together alongside Zach Parise, but the offensive production just has not been there. That line as a whole has scored four goals, with Wahlstrom scoring twice.
Drafted 11th overall back in 2018, Oliver Wahlstrom was known as a goal scorer. Since he was called up to the New York Islanders back in 2019-20, the talent in the offensive zone was apparent.
