When the Boston Bruins picked up Oliver Wahlstrom off waivers, it was a gamble by GM Don Sweeney to add some much-needed secondary scoring. Wahlstrom had been struggling with the New York Islanders and was unable to find his footing with the Black and Gold.
A few weeks ago, the Bruins placed Wahlstrom back on waivers due to his continued struggles. Unsurprisingly, he went unclaimed and was assigned to the Providence Bruins in the AHL. Despite hopes that he could rediscover his game, the move ultimately didn’t pan out for Boston.
Oliver Wahlstrom finding scoring touch with P-Bruins
Since being sent down to Providence, Wahlstrom has started to regain his scoring touch. In just four games with the P-Bruins, he has netted five goals, including a standout performance on Friday night when he recorded a hat trick in a 5-2 victory over the Toronto Marlies. Remarkably, it was the first hat trick by a Providence player in the 2024-25 season, which is somewhat surprising given the impressive run Georgii Merkulov had before his call-up to Boston.
With the Bruins, Wahlstrom was given plenty of opportunities on the third line under interim coach Joe Sacco. However, in 16 games with the Black and Gold, he managed just one goal and one assist—a disappointing output, to say the least.
With just 17 games left in the Boston Bruins’ season, time is running out. Following a busy trade deadline on Friday, there will be plenty of opportunities for players to prove they deserve a roster spot for the 2025-26 season.
As for Wahlstrom, it seems like he’s auditioning for a role somewhere next season—just likely not in Boston. Whether he earns another call-up remains uncertain, but for now, he’s making the most of his opportunity in the AHL and showing what he can do.
