Boston Bruins

Bruins Claim Former Islanders First-Round Pick Off Waivers

Published

1 month ago

December 14, 2024

AP Photo/Nick Wass

The Boston Bruins are in desperate need of goal-scoring and are hoping that a former first-round pick by the New York Islanders can provide it.

First reported by Elliott Friedman, Boston claimed forward Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers on Saturday.

The Bruins have claimed Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from the New York Islanders, per @FriedgeHNIC.

— Andrew Fantucchio (@A_Fantucchio) December 14, 2024

“Just from knowing the player a bit and watching him the last few years — we’ve had a lot of games against the Islanders, and there’s been games where he’s been in and out for them –the one thing that sticks to my mind is a good shot,” Bruins interim head coach Joe Sacco told reporters in Vancouver. “He’s a guy that can probably score some goals and is pretty good on the elbow or the bumper on the power play because of that shot that he has.

The world saw its first glimpse of Wahlstrom’s shot back in 2010 when the Portland, Maine native scored a spinning backhand goal in a Bruins Mini 1-on-1 challenge.

Do you remember Oliver Wahlstrom's legendary lacrosse-style shootout goal during @TDBank_US Mini 1-on-1? pic.twitter.com/Ey2zACcYCn

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) January 11, 2018

Wahlstrom’s ability as a goal scorer is what eventually led to the Islanders selecting him with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft out of Boston College. However, in six inconsistent and injury-filled seasons, he only managed to score 36 goals.

After he posted just four points with two goals through 27 games this season, the Islanders placed Wahlstrom on waivers on Friday.

As Wahlstrom comes to Boston to play out the remainder of his one-year contract, there’s hope that a fresh opportunity will help him realize his full potential.

“If he’s going to be a guy that can help us offensively, he’s got to find his ice in the offensive zone,” said Sacco. “He’s got to make sure off the rush that he’s putting the puck toward the net. Any opportunities he has, we want to see if we can build confidence from him offensively.”

Confidence, let alone competence, on offense is something the Bruins have lacked this season, as they’re averaging just 2.48 goals per game and own the league’s worst power play. Through the first two games of their current five-game road trip, they’ve been outscored 13-2.

At the very least, the addition of Wahlstrom provides a much-needed secondary scoring threat to the Bruins’ lineup, and they intend to give him every opportunity to be just that.

“If he’s going to be a guy that can help us offensively, he’s going to have to be put in a role where he has an opportunity,” Sacco said. “Maybe that’s somewhere up in the lineup. We’ll see. It could be the third line with [Charlie Coyle and Trent Fredric]. I just don’t know yet. Maybe on that other power play unit he might get an opportunity. I’m not going to get ahead of myself here. Certainly, when you pick up a player like that, you want to give him the best opportunity to succeed when he comes and joins us.”

It’s not known when Wahlstrom will join the team.

He is not expected to play for the Bruins tonight in Vancouver but could be with them as soon as Tuesday when they visit the Calgary Flames.