RW Oliver Wahlstrom - Boston College, NCAA (2018, 11th, NYI)

[Frk It]

I didn't think Button would. I don't know what it is of late. People are literally rewriting what people say and inserting their own meanings.

Button compared him to Guerin actually but a much better goal scorer.

I believe he compared his shot to Bossy’s during the WJC, not sure if there is a clip of it or not.

 

[tfong]

Why? Have you done any home work on Wahlstrom?

No one compared him to Bossy.

As the clip suggests his release is compared to bossy which is what was implied imo from the poster when I made my comment about the bossy hype. That in itself is pretty high praise even if it's only part of a comparison.

 

[ijuka]

If anyone can threaten Laine for the Rocket, it may be Wahlstrom with his instincts, shot and release. A glance at his goal totals on elite prospects tells you this is an elite goal scoring talent. He could be a special goal scorer that would make Mike Bossy proud.

He could be a very good goal-scorer but not special in my opinion. I see 30-35 goals as his peak.

 

[LordNeverLose]

He could be a very good goal-scorer but not special in my opinion. I see 30-35 goals as his peak.

Other than Laine and possibly Svechnikov, what other draft prospects in recent years have been considered better pure goal scorers than Wahlstrom?

 

[Mrb1p]

Other than Laine and possibly Svechnikov, what other draft prospects in recent years have been considered better pure goal scorers than Wahlstrom?

On draft day? Zadina, Laine, Svechnikov and Matthews.

Outside of the draft?

Boeser and Pasta.

 

[HockeyAddict]

Other than Laine and possibly Svechnikov, what other draft prospects in recent years have been considered better pure goal scorers than Wahlstrom?

I don't know if they are considered better pure scorers however Zadina and Boeser were both touted as top shelf scoring prospects… I don't think Wahlstrom is head and shoulders above either if at all.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

He could be a very good goal-scorer but not special in my opinion. I see 30-35 goals as his peak.

I can see this being his norm, his peak for me is 50. His shot is just too good. The release part is what you can't teach. I look for release for pure goal scorers. Not velocity and accuracy, these are givens. All the greatest goal scorers beat goalies with their quickness of release, and deception. I like it in Boeser, Laine ofcourse and Wahlstrom seems to fit the bill. It's early he just turned 18, this is a big developmental year for him.

 

[TheDoldrums]

Other than Laine and possibly Svechnikov, what other draft prospects in recent years have been considered better pure goal scorers than Wahlstrom?

Matthews definitely, Zadina probably.

I don't think Boeser was considered on Wahlstrom's level on draft day, though I think they could be comparable players going forward.

Is Wahlstrom a centre as the thread title suggests? I always assumed he was a winger.

 

[LordNeverLose]

Matthews definitely, Zadina probably.

I don't think Boeser was considered on Wahlstrom's level on draft day, though I think they could be comparable players going forward.

Is Wahlstrom a centre as the thread title suggests? I always assumed he was a winger.

I don't really remember Matthews being all that hyped as a goal scorer. Maybe I'm misremembering, though. Zadina yeah probably is considered a better goal scorer than Wahlstrom for this draft. Boeser definitely wasn't considered as good a goal scorer in his draft year as Wahlstrom was, although I'd obviously be ecstatic if Wahlstrom became Boeser.

And Wahlstrom is definitely a winger, not a center.

 

[Dipsy Doodle]

I can see this being his norm, his peak for me is 50. His shot is just too good. The release part is what you can't teach. I look for release for pure goal scorers. Not velocity and accuracy, these are givens. All the greatest goal scorers beat goalies with their quickness of release, and deception. I like it in Boeser, Laine ofcourse and Wahlstrom seems to fit the bill. It's early he just turned 18, this is a big developmental year for him.

The only player who has hit 50 goals in the last 5 years is Ovechkin, which he did 3 times, and just barely.

Not Stamkos.
Not Laine.
Not Kucherov.
Not Tarasenko.

Those guys have pretty good shots themselves. Might want to dial down the expectations a smidge for a guy who was just drafted 11th overall.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I don't really remember Matthews being all that hyped as a goal scorer. Maybe I'm misremembering, though. Zadina yeah probably is considered a better goal scorer than Wahlstrom for this draft. Boeser definitely wasn't considered as good a goal scorer in his draft year as Wahlstrom was, although I'd obviously be ecstatic if Wahlstrom became Boeser.

And Wahlstrom is definitely a winger, not a center.

That surprises me about Matthews since he was so hyped as a prospect and goal scoring has always been his best skill. He still holds the USNTDP record for goals in a season, he lead the Swiss league in goals per game in his draft year.

I think Wahlstrom has a good chance at a Boeser-like impact when he hits the league. I had him 5th on my draft rankings, very high on him. Seems like a pretty safe bet to be a really good goal scorer.

 

[Gaunce4gm]

I don't think Wahlstrom is quite on Boeser's level when it comes to shot. He's good but Boeser is incredible. He beats goalies clean regularly and he did it with a bum wrist. Now he's 100% better you can see the difference. Go look at Da Beauty League highlights and Boeser's shot looks otherworldly again

 

[Rebels57]

Matthews definitely, Zadina probably.

I don't think Boeser was considered on Wahlstrom's level on draft day, though I think they could be comparable players going forward.

Is Wahlstrom a centre as the thread title suggests? I always assumed he was a winger.

Tolvanen as well.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

On the right power play this guy will score a ton. At even strength I have no prediction currently but he can be a PP specialist that gets 25-30 goals a year like JVR I think. Those guys have a lot of value and I think that’s a reasonable low end expectation for him if he can crack the NHL.

50 goals is a pipe dream most likely.

 

[Thrasymachus]

no why do you hate him in general so much

I’m glad I am not alone in noticing the major hate directed towards TWS pretty well constantly

 

[PWJunior]

On the right power play this guy will score a ton. At even strength I have no prediction currently but he can be a PP specialist that gets 25-30 goals a year like JVR I think. Those guys have a lot of value and I think that’s a reasonable low end expectation for him if he can crack the NHL.

50 goals is a pipe dream most likely.

His shot would be an obvious asset on the PP, but Wahlstrom is more than just a wicked shot. He has the tools and ability to be a strong ES scorer, especially when paired with a dynamic center like Barzal.

He just turned 18 so he is young for his draft class. He's already NHL sized, but he's still a kid. Big development year for him, he could almost assure himself a spot flanking Barzal in 2019-2020 if he hits the proper developmental milestones. Situationally, the stars align well for Wahlstrom to have success going forward.

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Other than Laine and possibly Svechnikov, what other draft prospects in recent years have been considered better pure goal scorers than Wahlstrom?

Bellows, I remember people saying he has a better shot than Laine

 

[Hfbsux]

Bellows, I remember people saying he has a better shot than Laine

Never heard of those people

 

[Strait2thecup]

Bellows, I remember people saying he has a better shot than Laine

Yeah I don’t recall

 

[LamorielloAndSon]

Yeah I don’t recall

Sorry the quote was 2nd best to Laine

 

[CodeE]

2:05 in the video

"Maybe the next best shot in this draft to Patrik Laine"

 

[Mrb1p]

Its true that Bellows has an elite shot.

 

[Icebreakers]

I wouldnt say that Wahlstrom was better than Boeser on draft day. Boeser was extremely under scouted playing for Waterloo. 35 goals in 57 games and over PPG is really good for a rookie in the USHL. He didnt play with Jack Hughes and Joel Farabee.

That being said I think Wahlstrom may be a bit more dynamic than Boeser and is more of a volume shooter. Boeser i think is a better play maker and shoots less but scores at a similar rate since he doesnt shoot as many "bad" shots.

 

[Strait2thecup]

I wouldnt say that Wahlstrom was better than Boeser on draft day. Boeser was extremely under scouted playing for Waterloo. 35 goals in 57 games and over PPG is really good for a rookie in the USHL. He didnt play with Jack Hughes and Joel Farabee.

That being said I think Wahlstrom may be a bit more dynamic than Boeser and is more of a volume shooter. Boeser i think is a better play maker and shoots less but scores at a similar rate since he doesnt shoot as many "bad" shots.

As an isles fan I’d be thrilled if wahlstrom turned out to be anything close to how boeser is at that age

 

[Riseonfire]

The only player who has hit 50 goals in the last 5 years is Ovechkin, which he did 3 times, and just barely.

Not Stamkos.
Not Laine.
Not Kucherov.
Not Tarasenko.

Those guys have pretty good shots themselves. Might want to dial down the expectations a smidge for a guy who was just drafted 11th overall.

I absolutely agree with the premise of your post. 50 goals is an absurd expectation.

What I dislike is the bolded. Please let go of the draft bias. Who cares where he was selected? Hell, two of the four guys you named were drafted AFTER where Wahlstrom went in their respective drafts (58th and 16th OA).