Oliver Wahlstrom
{{short description|American ice hockey player (born 2000)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox ice hockey player
| name = Oliver Wahlstrom
| image = Oliver Wahlstrom (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Wahlstrom with the New York Islanders in 2022, attempting to score on Vítek Vaněček of the Washington Capitals
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|06|13}}
| birth_place = Yarmouth, Maine, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 2
| weight_lb = 205
| position = Right wing
| shoots = Right
| team = Boston Bruins
| league = NHL
| prospect_team = Providence Bruins
| prospect_league = AHL
| former_teams = New York Islanders
| ntl_team =
| draft = 11th overall
| draft_year = 2018
| draft_team = New York Islanders
| career_start = 2019
| career_end =
}}
Oliver Joakim Wahlstrom{{Cite web|url=http://bceagles.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=10757|title=Oliver Wahlstrom - Men's Hockey|website=Boston College Athletics|access-date=December 31, 2018}}{{Failed verification|date=October 2023}} (born June 13, 2000) is an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected by the New York Islanders, 11th overall, in the 2018 NHL entry draft.
Playing career
Wahlstrom played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons, where he served as an alternate captain for the under-18 team in his final season. He originally committed to play for the University of Maine when he was just 13 years old, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to commit to play college ice hockey, as well as the youngest player ever to commit to play college ice hockey,{{cite web|last1=Cox|first1=Jeff|title=Seventh Grader Oliver Wahlstrom Commits to Maine|url=https://www.sbncollegehockey.com/college-hockey-recruiting-ncaa/2014/1/9/5294246/seventh-grader-oliver-wahlstrom-commits-to-maine-red-gendron-hockey-east-nya-north-yarmouth|website=sbncollegehockey.com|accessdate=May 3, 2019|date=January 9, 2014}} before switching his commitment to Harvard University for the 2018–19 season,{{cite web|last1=Barboza|first1=Scott|title=Internet sensation Wahlstrom commits to Harvard|url=http://www.espn.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/38215/internet-sensation-wahlstrom-commits-to-harvard|website=ESPN.com|accessdate=March 8, 2018|date=August 21, 2015}} and finally to Boston College.{{cite web |last1=Cox |first1=Jeff |title=Oliver Wahlstrom commits to Boston College |url=https://www.hockeyjournal.com/wahlstrom-boston-college-commit/ |website=hockeyjournal.com |accessdate=June 3, 2018 |date=May 26, 2018}}
In the 2018–19 season, Wahlstrom recorded 8 goals and 11 assists for 19 points as a freshman in 36 games. At the conclusion of the Eagles' season, Wahlstrom concluded his collegiate career by agreeing to a three-year, entry-level contract with the New York Islanders on March 28, 2019.{{Cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/wahlstrom-agrees-to-terms-on-three-year-entry-level-contract/c-306204738 | title = Wahlstrom agrees to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract | website = NHL.com | date = March 28, 2019 | accessdate = March 28, 2019}}
Wahlstrom made his NHL debut on October 14, 2019, against the St. Louis Blues.{{cite web |last1=Kandrach |first1=Sasha |title=Wahlstrom Wows in NHL Debut |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/wahlstrom-wows-in-nhl-debut/c-310099286 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=October 17, 2019 |date=October 14, 2019}}
On August 31, 2020, Wahlstrom was loaned by the Islanders to AIK of the Swedish HockeyAllsvenskan to start the 2020–21 season.{{cite tweet |user=nyislanders |number=1300496297019965440 |date=August 31, 2020 |title=#Isles Transaction: Oliver Wahlstrom has been loaned to AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan).}} He returned from his loan spell on December 14.{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=Christian |title=Oliver Wahlstrom Headed Back to US Ahead of Expected NHL Start |url=https://nyihockeynow.com/oliver-wahlstrom-headed-back-to-us-ahead-of-expected-nhl-start/ |website=nyihockeynow.com |access-date=January 30, 2021 |date=December 14, 2020}}
Wahlstrom scored his first NHL goal on January 28, 2021, in the Islanders' 6–3 loss to the Washington Capitals.{{cite web |last1=Gross |first1=rew |title=Islanders blow three-goal lead, lose to Capitals |url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-capitals-1.50134930 |website=Newsday |access-date=January 30, 2021 |date=January 28, 2021}} His first multi-point game occurred on February 28, 2021, with a goal and an assist in a 2–0 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.{{Cite web|title=Isles rookie Wahlstrom beginning to display his talent|url=https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/oliver-wahlstrom-islanders-rookie-penguins-1.50168583|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=Newsday}}
Wahlstrom's first NHL playoff goal came on May 22, 2021, on the power play, at Nassau Coliseum in a 4–1 win against the Penguins.{{cite web |last1=Compton |first1=Brian |title=Islanders defeat Penguins in Game 4, even series |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-new-york-islanders-game-4-recap-324662622 |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 15, 2024 |date=May 22, 2021}}
On July 25, 2024, Wahlstrom signed a one-year contract extension with the Islanders to avoid salary arbitration.{{cite web |title=Islanders Sign Wahlstrom |url=https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/islanders-sign-wahlstrom |website=New York Islanders |access-date=July 25, 2024 |date=July 25, 2024}} In his sixth season in New York in {{NHL Year|2024}}, Wahlstrom registered just 2 goals and 4 points through 27 appearances before he was placed on waivers by the Islanders. On December 14, 2024, Wahlstrom was claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins.{{cite web |title=Bruins Claim Oliver Wahlstrom off Waivers |url=https://www.nhl.com/bruins/news/bruins-claim-oliver-wahlstrom-off-waivers |website=NHL.com |access-date=December 15, 2024 |date=December 14, 2024}}
Personal life
Wahlstrom grew up in Cumberland, Maine.{{Cite news|url=http://nhl.nbcsports.com/2017/10/24/oliver-wahlstrom-goes-from-viral-stardom-to-nhl-top-prospect/|title=Oliver Wahlstrom goes from viral stardom to NHL top prospect|date=October 24, 2017|work=ProHockeyTalk|access-date=March 7, 2018}} He is a dual citizen of the United States and Sweden through his father, Joakim Wahlstrom.{{Cite news|url=https://thehockeywriters.com/oliver-wahlstroms-untapped-potential/|title=Oliver Wahlstrom's Untapped Potential|date=February 28, 2018|work=The Hockey Writers|access-date=March 7, 2018}} His father played at the University of Maine before playing professionally in Sweden.{{Cite news|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2017/04/27/hockey-phenom-from-maine-helps-win-world-title-prepares-for-harvard/|title=Maine hockey phenom helps win world title, prepares for Harvard|date=April 27, 2017|work=Press Herald|access-date=March 7, 2018}} His mother, Penny Wahlstrom, also an athlete, lives in Maine. He has one sister, Alexandra, who was born in Sweden.{{Cite web|title=Oliver Wahlstrom - Men's Hockey|url=https://bceagles.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster/oliver-wahlstrom/10757|access-date=September 3, 2020|website=Boston College Athletics}} Wahlstrom scored a highlight goal at age nine during a shootout contest before a Boston Bruins game in 2009.{{cite web |last1=Pinak |first1=Patrick |title=9-Year-Old's Incredible "Spin Move" Goal Started His NHL Journey |url=https://fanbuzz.com/nhl/oliver-wahlstrom-trick-shot/ |website=fanbuzz.com |access-date=December 22, 2021 |date=April 2, 2021}}
Career statistics
=Regular season and playoffs=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em;" | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Regular season ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! colspan="5"|Playoffs | ||||||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Season ! Team ! League ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||||||
| 2016–17
| U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 29 | 9 | 4 | 13 | 14
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017–18 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 26 | 22 | 23 | 45 | 22
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018–19
| HE | 36 | 8 | 11 | 19 | 28
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2018–19 | AHL | 5 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 9
| 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| 2019–20
| Bridgeport Sound Tigers | AHL | 45 | 10 | 12 | 22 | 29
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019–20 | NHL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020–21
| AIK | Allsv | 10 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2020–21 | New York Islanders | NHL | 44 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 21
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
| 2021–22
| New York Islanders | NHL | 73 | 13 | 11 | 24 | 74
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2022–23 | New York Islanders | NHL | 35 | 7 | 9 | 16 | 32
| — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023–24
| New York Islanders | NHL | 32 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2024–25 | New York Islanders | NHL | 27 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9
| — | — | — | — | — |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3"|NHL totals ! 220 !! 36 !! 35 !! 71 !! 148 ! 5 !! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 8 |
{{MedalTableTop|name=}}
{{MedalCountry|{{ihj|USA}}}}
{{MedalSport|Men's ice hockey}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Junior Championships}}
{{MedalSilver|2019 Canada|}}
{{MedalCompetition|World U18 Championships}}
{{MedalGold|2017 Slovakia|}}
{{MedalSilver|2018 Russia|}}
{{MedalBottom}}
=International=
| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" ID="Table3" style="text-align:center; width:40em;" | ||||
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! Year ! Team ! Event ! Result ! rowspan="100" bgcolor="#ffffff"| ! GP !! G !! A !! Pts !! PIM | ||||
| 2016
| U17 | 5th | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2017 | United States | U18 | {{gold1}} | 7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 16 |
| 2018
| United States | U18 | {{silver2}} | 7 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 4 |
| bgcolor="#f0f0f0"
| 2019 | United States | WJC | {{silver2}} | 7 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| 2020
| United States | WJC | 6th | 5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 31 |
| bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="4"|Junior totals ! 31 !! 14 !! 10 !! 24 !! 57 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Ice hockey stats}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach}}
{{succession box | before = Kieffer Bellows | title = New York Islanders first round pick | years = 2018 | after = Noah Dobson}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wahlstrom, Oliver}}
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:American men's ice hockey right wingers
Category:American people of Swedish descent
Category:Boston Bruins players
Category:Boston College Eagles men's ice hockey players
Category:Bridgeport Sound Tigers players
Category:Ice hockey players from Maine
Category:Ice hockey players at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics
Category:NHL first-round draft picks
Category:New York Islanders draft picks
Category:New York Islanders players
Category:People from Cumberland, Maine
Category:People from Yarmouth, Maine
Category:Sportspeople from Cumberland County, Maine
Category:Providence Bruins players
Category:USA Hockey National Team Development Program players