Ben Shelley: Looking at Oliver Wahlstrom’s strong rookie season

I don't think it's Hindsight 20/20 when everyone and their Mother was saying the same thing during the whole entire series. ... absurd that he didn't play and it cost them IMO.

I don't think it's Hindsight 20/20 when everyone and their Mother was saying the same thing during the whole entire series. ... absurd that he didn't play and it cost them IMO.
- niteislander

Could not agree more. Unless Wally was hurt and could not play it was a huge miss. Isles were shutout twice and could have used the offense Wally could provide and especially on the PP. The NBC crew on more than one occasion mentioned Barry had to switch things up especially in game 7.

I don't think it's Hindsight 20/20 when everyone and their Mother was saying the same thing during the whole entire series. ... absurd that he didn't play and it cost them IMO.
- niteislander

He needs more buy in to the system. Not too much buy in bc then you can be bought out. But Trotz demands buy in so it's better to have too much buy in than not enough.

Not seeing him play in the series was like when the Habs rookies were held out. Makes no sense. He will be a great player.

Not seeing him play in the series was like when the Habs rookies were held out. Makes no sense. He will be a great player.
- hockeyaddict89

Very difficult for young players to get the trust of coaches. Islanders did not seem to suffer defensively when Wahlstrom played and the PP was better.

Very difficult for young players to get the trust of coaches. Islanders did not seem to suffer defensively when Wahlstrom played and the PP was better.
- ses111

I get that. But its growing pains that need to happen one way or another. Wally will be much further along for every minute he played.

I get that. But its growing pains that need to happen one way or another. Wally will be much further along for every minute he played.
- hockeyaddict89

Barry is a wonderful coach but I thought he had a bad series against Tampa and was against any sort of changes. He called playing Palms on the 1st line fantasy hockey.



I would be saying the same things if Al Arbour made these moves. Losing to Tampa again is beyond frustrating and the lack of changes from Barry frustrates me even more. I did not have this much trouble with losing to Tampa last year.

to say he wasn't good enough in Trotz system is absurd. He made the starting playoff roster b/c he was indeed good enough in Trotz system. He was injured and missed a couple of games....once he was ready to go he should have been back in the line-up.. Period. Injuries should not change everything the kid worked on all year long to be on the roster to begin the playoffs.

to say he wasn't good enough in Trotz system is absurd. He made the starting playoff roster b/c he was indeed good enough in Trotz system. He was injured and missed a couple of games....once he was ready to go he should have been back in the line-up.. Period. Injuries should not change everything the kid worked on all year long to be on the roster to begin the playoffs.
- niteislander

Barry even made a comment you should not lose your job to injury. Barry coached scared against Tampa. Barry made some key moves especially against Boston in Game 6 and it paid off. We saw none of that against Tampa.

Barry is a wonderful coach but I thought he had a bad series against Tampa and was against any sort of changes. He called playing Palms on the 1st line fantasy hockey.



I would be saying the same things if Al Arbour made these moves. Losing to Tampa again is beyond frustrating and the lack of changes from Barry frustrates me even more. I did not have this much trouble with losing to Tampa last year.
- ses111

Lost 1-0 in game 7 and while Zajac played well originally as a fill in for an injured Wahlstrom.. he was brutal the last 2 games. It was a huge mistake not playing him in that game.

Barry even made a comment you should not lose your job to injury. Barry coached scared against Tampa. Barry made some key moves especially against Boston in Game 6 and it paid off. We saw none of that against Tampa.
- ses111

Yeah.. it's friggin absurd. Wahlstom gave u more offense, and he was able to keep up with Tampa's speed.. Zajac was not.

Lost 1-0 in game 7 and while Zajac played well originally as a fill in for an injured Wahlstrom.. he was brutal the last 2 games. It was a huge mistake not playing him in that game.
- niteislander

Very difficult trying to win games 1-0 and 2-1. You need to be an offensive threat if you are going to beat a team like Tampa. Tampa will find a way to beat you if you play in your own zone for too long.

Yeah.. it's friggin absurd. Wahlstom gave u more offense, and he was able to keep up with Tampa's speed.. Zajac was not.
- niteislander

1st line had Leo and 2nd line was struggling that series and JGP was hurt and you had Zajec. That's a lot to overcome against Tampa. Wally should have played and Palms on the 1st. You still lose and you can live with that lineup.

FIRE TROTZ NOW

FIRE TROTZ NOW
- Hockeyislife

Who would you replace him with

Who would you replace him with
- TogaIsles

Doug Weight, Jack Capuano, Scott Gordon, Steve Stirling...... anybody but Trotz.

Doug Weight, Jack Capuano, Scott Gordon, Steve Stirling...... anybody but Trotz.
- JohnScammo

Makes sense.

Probably Craig MacTavish.

*shudders*

Sitting him against TB made sense. He had sheltered minutes in the regular season & TB is too good & deep. His time will come & Trotz expects total buy in & it gets results.

A shout out to JT enjoy golfing fore… 😂😂

Not wahlstrom related, but we need to sign Blake Coleman some how. Good third liner, "secrets out" that to win you need grit. Boston and pitts understand this. They want to toughen up their blue line.

Makes sense.
- TogaIsles

100%. Barry lost the series by playing Leo on the first line and was totally out coached in every game of the 7 game series. (Not to mention the 2 series before) I’m sure Lou sees this and an announcement will be made any day now on the termination.
The Islanders making the ECF 2 years in a row just isn’t acceptable while losing to the SC Champs those 2 consecutive years.

Love when fans of other teams who barely ever watch the Isles think they know the team.

Love when fans of other teams who barely ever watch the Isles think they know the team.
- niteislander

I love when fans of the Islanders who watch them all the time don’t know what they’re talking about but know more than Trotz.

Jeremy Rutherford @jprutherford
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