Bruins claim Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers from Islanders

Despite some offensive issues, the Bruins have gained some depth up front. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports (Twitter link) that Boston has signed a winger Oliver Wahlstrom Exemptions from the islanders.

It’s been a bit of a tumultuous tenure for Wahlstrom and the Isles over the last few years. The 24-year-old was the 11th overall pick in 2018 after showing plenty of offensive promise as part of the US National Team Development Program. After just one year at Boston College, he decided to turn pro and hoped he would soon become a reliable offensive player for New York.

However, it never really happened. Wahlstrom’s NHL career got off to a good start in 2020-21 as he recorded 12 goals and nine assists in 44 games during the shortened season. The following season, he recorded 13 goals and 11 helpers in 73 games, a small increase in overall production but a significant decrease in points per game. He was somewhat productive in limited action during the 2022-23 season, scoring 16 points in 35 games, but things went off the rails last year when he was often a healthy scratch and only managed six points in 32 games.

That led to some speculation that the two sides might part ways, a belief that continued into the summer. Instead, the two sides negotiated a one-year, $1 million deal in late July. While Wahlstrom largely managed to secure a permanent spot in New York’s lineup this season, both his playing time and production were limited. His ATOI of 10:04 is a career low while he recorded just two goals and two assists in 27 appearances, leading to his placement on waivers Friday.

It’s a low-risk pickup for the Bruins, who have just enough cap space to take on Wahlstrom’s contract without having to make any other roster moves. If things go well, they can keep him under club control for another two years, although he will be eligible for arbitration. Boston now has a maximum of 23 players on its active roster.