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
Wahlstrom, 24, was selected by New York with the 11th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft but only managed to score 71 points with 36 goals in six seasons filled with with inconsistency and injuries.
After he posted just four points with two goals through 27 games this season, the Islanders placed Wahlstrom on waivers on Thursday.
As Wahlstrom joins the Bruins on a one-year contract, there’s hope that a change of scenery and a return to his roots will help him realize his full potential.
Born in Portland, Maine, Wahlstrom attended Boston College. If his name is beginning to sound familiar, it’s probably because you saw him score a spinning backhand goal in a Bruins mini 1-on-1 competition back in 2010 when he was nine years old.
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
The Bruins certainly need Wahlstrom to bring the goal-scoring flair. Scoring just 2.48 goals per game and while owning the league’s worst power play, offense has been hard to come by for the Bruins this season, especially of late, as they’ve been outscored 13-2 through the first two games of their current five-game road trip.
Wahlstrom is not expected to play for the Bruins tonight in Vancouver but could join them as soon as Tuesday when they visit the Calgary Flames.
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