SUNRISE, Fla. — With 11 games left in the season before he becomes a restricted free agent and just a playoff spot remaining, Oliver Wahlstrom doesn’t seem any closer to reclaiming his spot in the Islanders’ lineup. .
Simon Holmstrom injured for the second time in three games against the Panthers on Thursday, Matt Martin set to return, even as head coach Patrick Roy continues to foster competition in the bottom six Even though Wahlstrom seems to be of little consideration at the moment.
“I have no complaints about him. He practices well, works hard and is a very nice guy,” Roy told reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “The players are in front of him at the moment. That’s it. It’s nothing personal, just going with the lineup that I think is best.”
In other words, Wahlstrom is currently the 14th forward on a roster with stiff competition for positions 10-13.
Roy has had a long chance in the batting lineup after taking over from Lane Lambert, but Wahlstrom has been a healthy scratch since Feb. 26 after playing nine consecutive games.
Wahlstrom’s inability to stick around under two different coaches in two different systems is not a good sign, even considering Wahlstrom suffered a major knee injury in December 2022.
For now, the question is less about whether he will eventually return to being a regular in the lineup and more about whether the Islanders will extend him a qualifying offer at the end of this season, or whether he’ll be just a change of pace. It seems like it’s about permission. It makes sense for both parties.
Roy said the Islanders have not yet decided on a starter for Saturday’s game in Tampa, but Semyon Varlamov will start in net on Thursday.
AHL Bridgeport announced its trio of rookies on Tuesday, bringing the number of college and European player signings up to five. Forward Matt Kopelund (Arizona State) and defenseman Cam McDonald (Providence) signed with the Baby Isles from their college days, and defenseman Mathias Rajaniemi signed from Saipa of the Finnish Liga.
They join Alex Jeffries (Merrimack) and Cam Teesing (Ohio St.), who signed last week, with Teesing signing a two-year entry-level contract and Jeffries signing an offer for an amateur tryout.
