Should the Penguins Claim Oliver Wahlstrom?
I was working the front desk at Wright’s Gym yesterday, attending to business, when fellow PPer Caleb DiNatale texted with some breaking hockey news. Namely, the Islanders placed forwards Oliver Wahlstrom and Pierre Engvall on waivers.
“Those should both be Penguin pickups,” Caleb opined.
I’ve come to greatly respect my colleague’s eye for undervalued talent. Of course, it got me thinking.
Should we put in a claim for either or both?
I’m not all that enthused about Engvall. More on that in a bit.
But Wahlstrom?
I’ve always been intrigued. A former first-round pick (11th overall) of the Islanders back in 2018, the Portland, Maine, native does possess some pedigree.
“Walhstrom is big, strong, lethal from the circles down and loves driving into the dirty areas to finish a play,” noted Cam Robinson of Dobber Prospects.
He enjoyed a solid start to his career, netting a dozen goals in 44 games with the Isles as a 20-year-old rookie during the Covid shortened ’20-21 season. Roughly a 22-goal pace over a full 82-game slate.