Report: Wahlstrom Could Be On Way Out Despite New Contract With Islanders

It was only yesterday that the New York Islanders re-signed RFA Oliver Wahlstrom to a new one-year, $1 million deal. But today we get word that the former first-rounder might still be on his way out of the Island.

According to Ethan Sears in the New York Post, that new pact is no guarantee that he'll suit up with the Islanders this season:

It would still be a surprise, however, if Wahlstrom was on the opening night roster.
Barring a substantive improvement in his play... a contract does not change the underlying reality that Wahlstrom being on the (Islanders) NHL roster is a long shot.

Wahlstrom was a healthy scratch for every game after February 24th through to the meaningless last game of the season when he got his biggest ice-time look of the season at over 16 minutes. He was simply not in coach Patrick Roy's plans after he took over the team in late January.

As GM Lou Lamoriello said recently of Wahlstrom:

“He’s been working very hard all summer and if we can get him an opportunity (with another team), because it hasn’t worked out [we will], but we’re not just going to give him away,” Lamoriello said. “He’s still a hockey player. He, unfortunately, went through an injury which takes a long time to recover. I think he’s there. We’ll just wait and see.”

Wahlstrom had a season-ending UCL tear midway through the 2022-23 season, and it was a long, tough recovery for him. He played just 32 games this past season, with six points, in 11 minutes average ice time per night.