New Englander Oliver Wahlstrom’s hockey journey comes full circle with Bruins
"I really don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. It’s a dream come true to be back home where my family and friends live."
Oliver Wahlstrom is no stranger to the TD Garden ice.
It was on that frozen sheet that the skilled forward first put himself on the map via a gravity-defying, viral shootout move.
Wahlstrom became a hockey sensation overnight in 2009, with the nine-year-old forward landing on SportsCenter after scoring an absurd tally during a Mini 1-on-1 competition on Causeway Street.
Wahlstrom, who hails from Yarmouth, Maine, and skated on the Portland Jr. Pirates during that tournament, knew that clip would make the rounds after the Bruins claimed him off waivers Saturday afternoon.
“Yeah, I knew that one would come back up,” Wahlstrom told reporters Monday afternoon in Calgary. “I mean, I always liked to have fun when I was a little and it’s just funny how that move worked out. And I guess it’s with me forever now. So it’s cool to see.”
The Bruins aren’t expecting those same dangles and trick moves from Wahlstrom after plucking him off waivers from the Islanders.
But Wahlstrom’s blistering shot and playmaking skill made him an appealing addition for a Bruins team that has struggled to find twine all season long.
“He’s a great shooter … a very dangerous shot — almost like a big Pasta, the way he can shoot a puck,” Bruins captain Brad Marchand said of Wahlstrom after Boston’s 5-1 win over Vancouver Saturday.
Wahlstrom, who grew up a Bruins fan in New England, was taken aback by Marchand’s comparison.
“I didn’t hear about that,” Wahlstrom said of being compared to Pastrnak. “But that’s outrageous. I mean, Pasta is Pasta. But obviously, the shot’s there, but I’ve been working on a lot of other things in my game that maybe help get to those areas, too.”
Wahlstrom’s evident talents in the offensive zone made him a standout prospect at both the U.S. National Team Development Program and Boston College, with the winger selected by the Islanders in the first round (No. 11) of the 2018 NHL Draft.
So far, that potential hasn’t resulted in production in the NHL ranks.
Wahlstrom has lit the lamp 36 times and posted 71 total points over 220 games with the Islanders before landing with Boston. He scored two goals and two assists over 27 games this year before being placed on waivers.
Even though the 24-year-old Wahlstrom hasn’t put it all together at hockey’s highest level, his offensive potential made him a worthwhile gamble for the Bruins. He primarily skated on the third line next to Charlie Coyle during Monday’s practice in Calgary.
“Get back to my game,” Wahlstrom said of his priorities with Boston. “And, I’m really excited to work with these guys and develop as a Bruin. I feel my game can maybe contribute a little bit here. And try to find my offensive flair again and keep playing that way.”
Wahlstrom — who has also lived in both Quincy and Portland — said he first developed his high-end skillset while skating on plenty of available ice in Maine.
“My dad [Joakim] worked at a rink in Saco, Maine, there for a couple of years, and I was fortunate to get a lot of ice and had a lot of buddies skate with me. And we just had fun messing around and trying things, and I guess that’s what happened,” Wahlstrom said.
Given his ties to the region, Wahlstrom admitted it was a shock to get a call from Marchand after he spent his childhood cheering for the pugnacious Bruins winger.
“Marsh called me the other day and that was pretty cool,” Wahlstrom said. “I grew up watching him play in the 2011 Stanley Cup, and I know Pasta too … I really don’t know if it’s sunk in yet. It’s a dream come true to be back home where my family and friends live.”
It remains to be seen what type of ceiling Wahlstrom can reach after getting a much-needed change in scenery with Boston.
But Wahlstrom believes that playing for his hometown team could provide the spark he needs to get his career back on track.
“It took me a while to get used to the new equipment. The new spoked-B,” Wahlstrom said. “I think that hit me pretty hard when I was just putting on my [jersey]. I think that was a pretty cool moment to wear the Boston Bruins logo.”
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