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

[le_sean]

IMO OV-lite is the correct comparison

How lite? Because Ovi is a freight train that hits everyone he sees (at least he used to) and battles for every loose puck. That’s the opposite of what Wahlstrom does. He’s more like a bigger Cammalleri.

 

[LordNeverLose]

How lite? Because Ovi is a freight train that hits everyone he sees (at least he used to) and battles for every loose puck. That’s the opposite of what Wahlstrom does. He’s more like a bigger Cammalleri.

Yeah ok Wahlstrom isn't as physical as Ovechkin, that's for sure, but this narrative that he plays like a p***y is completely unfounded. He's a big kid (he has 4 inches and 25 pounds on Cammalleri) and uses his size a decent amount.

 

[le_sean]

Yeah ok Wahlstrom isn't as physical as Ovechkin, that's for sure, but this narrative that he plays like a p***y is completely unfounded. He's a big kid (he has 4 inches and 25 pounds on Cammalleri) and uses his size a decent amount.

I didn’t say he was a wimp, but he definitely doesn’t go out of his way to fight for loose pucks. If the puck is in a 3 foot radius, he’ll go for it. Otherwise, he’s content to float around.

 

[TopC0rner]

I didn’t say he was a wimp, but he definitely doesn’t go out of his way to fight for loose pucks. If the puck is in a 3 foot radius, he’ll go for it. Otherwise, he’s content to float around.

I disagree with that. Sure, he doesn't play a grinder's game. He won't go for a puck if he thinks it won't help but otherwise he will fight for the puck if he thinks he has a chance to get to it and make a play.

Some see this as floating but I actually agree with a scouting service that said "At times looks like he’s not involved, but he’s always reading play, ready to strike like a cobra."

 

[jonsimkvasha]

Filip Forsberg imo

 

[SI90]

Filip Forsberg imo

Sign me up. Isles should have picked him in 2012

 

[Islesfan22]

Sign me up. Isles should have picked him in 2012

Yes they should have but then they probably don't have Barzal.

 

[SI90]

Yes they should have but then they probably don't have Barzal.

Most certainly don’t have Barzal.

 

[Macch]

I didn’t say he was a wimp, but he definitely doesn’t go out of his way to fight for loose pucks. If the puck is in a 3 foot radius, he’ll go for it. Otherwise, he’s content to float around.

You just described a young Alex Ovexhkin. Nice work!

 

[Askel]

You just described a young Alex Ovexhkin. Nice work!

No he didn't, young Ovechkin was a freight train, he´d run anyone over. Was an elite skater, that scored a lot of the rush.

 

[Riseonfire]

No he didn't, young Ovechkin was a freight train, he´d run anyone over. Was an elite skater, that scored a lot of the rush.

Man, the way he used to tear up the ice was terrifying. Nice to see a small bit of that in Barzal now.

 

[Macch]

No he didn't, young Ovechkin was a freight train, he´d run anyone over. Was an elite skater, that scored a lot of the rush.

Yeah no doubt. He was a bull in a china shop. But he was a lazy back-checker and mess in his own zone. It wasn’t till Trotz went to Washington that Ovechkin embraced a full 200 foot game.

I’m curious “3-foot radius” thing comes from @le_sean ?

 

[Askel]

Yeah no doubt. He was a bull in a china shop. But he was a lazy back-checker and mess in his own zone. It wasn’t till Trotz went to Washington that Ovechkin embraced a full 200 foot game.

I’m curious “3-foot radius” thing comes from @le_sean ?

Absolutly Ovechkin has been cheating defense to create offense in almost all of his career. Wahlström is a very good prospect but he plays nothing like young Ovechkin who was powerforward.

 

[Commander Clueless]

Sign me up. Isles should have picked him in 2012

In hindsight, a lot of teams should have.

 

[Thebesthockey]

Has pacioretty 2.0 written all over him

 

[le_sean]

Yeah no doubt. He was a bull in a china shop. But he was a lazy back-checker and mess in his own zone. It wasn’t till Trotz went to Washington that Ovechkin embraced a full 200 foot game.

I’m curious “3-foot radius” thing comes from @le_sean ?

From watching him. Imagine that.

 

[Macch]

From watching him. Imagine that.

Oh cool thank you!

Really looking forward to Walhstrom's development. Hopefully he can expand to a 6-foot radius and be twice the player he is now.

 

[le_sean]

Oh cool thank you!

Really looking forward to Walhstrom's development. Hopefully he can expand to a 6-foot radius and be twice the player he is now.

I never said he was going to be a bad player. What I said was comparing him to Ovechkin is absolutely asinine because they play the game completely differently.

 

[ijuka]

I was trying to take a look at when he was 9 - 10 years old to see what kind of hands he had at the time but it's just boring and pointless trick shots that I can find. Is there any proper footage from that time?

 

[LordNeverLose]

I was trying to take a look at when he was 9 - 10 years old to see what kind of hands he had at the time but it's just boring and pointless trick shots that I can find. Is there any proper footage from that time?

So you're looking for some video of a 10 year-old that's a little more graphic?

 

[ijuka]

So you're looking for some video of a 10 year-old that's a little more graphic?

Something like dekes against defensemen / goalies and such. I guess if they don't exist that's a silly thing to ask for. Guess that's not why he was famous. Kind of a shame if it was just because of some circus trick though.

 

[cowgirlcath]

This guy is an absolute beast. Everybody talks about his shot but I think he has the best hands in his draft class. He's gonna be quite the weapon on the PP.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

1-Dahlin
2-Svechnikov
3-Wahlstrom
4-Zadina
5-Dobson
6-Bouchard
7-Hughes
8- Boqvist
9-Kravtsov
10-Ty Smith
11- Tkachuk


I’m not an expert. I saw mostly The US development program and OHL. I saw limited WHL and Q but I watch many shift by shift videos. I prefer those to highlight videos because highlight videos are made to make everyone look good and usually doesn’t show other aspects of the players games.

I was a huge fan of Bouchard and think highly of him but I think his defensive game needs work. I just feel that Dobson ceiling is higher.

Kotkaniemi not in your top 11?

 

[SI90]

Kotkaniemi not in your top 11?

No, I had him at #13 but to be fair for me 8-14 we’re pretty interchangeable.
Kotkaniemi was a late riser and I only saw him in the U20 where he did look good but it was only a handful of games. In the U18 he was great looking at stats.

This draft was really wide open after Dahlin imo. I don’t have a problem with the Habs taking Kotkaniemi. I do believe you always take BPA though and I don’t believe he was BPA for them but they’re desperate to find a #1 Center.

 

[RipCityPuckers]

No, I had him at #13 but to be fair for me 8-14 we’re pretty interchangeable.
Kotkaniemi was a late riser and I only saw him in the U20 where he did look good but it was only a handful of games. In the U18 he was great looking at stats.

This draft was really wide open after Dahlin imo. I don’t have a problem with the Habs taking Kotkaniemi. I do believe you always take BPA though and I don’t believe he was BPA for them but they’re desperate to find a #1 Center.

Fair enough thanks for the rationale