Wahlstrom Recovering, Expected to be Ready for Training Camp

A knee injury ended Oliver Wahlstrom's season in December, but the 22-year-old winger said he expects to be ready for training camp when the New York Islanders reconvene in September.

"I think I'll be good to go, I'll do everything I can to set myself up for success next season and see how it goes," Wahlstrom said during the team's clean out day on Monday. "I'll do everything I can to get healthy. I mean I'm 22 and I've been working out the last five months, so I should be ready to go."

Wahlstrom suffered the injury on Dec. 27 against the Pittsburgh Penguins, after laying a hit on Chad Ruhwedel.

"Right when I hit [him], I guess he was protecting the puck," Wahlstrom said. "When I launched up my knee got stuck under his hip and then something twisted and the rest is history."

Wahlstrom had 16 points (7G, 9A) in 35 games prior to his injury in his fourth season with the team, but third as a regular. The young winger said it was frustrating to have his season cut so short when he felt he was taking strides in his game.

"I thought I had a really good summer and a pretty good first half to the season," Wahlstrom said. "It's part of the game and these first three or four years in the league I've been learning a lot."

In addition to the physical toll, Wahlstrom said there's been a mental aspect to being out long-term. He leaned on captain Anders Lee, who suffered a similar injury in March of 2021, for support. Lee was back on the ice for the start of training camp in the following season.

"I texted him a lot just asking questions," Wahlstrom said. "Then also missing playoffs that was, to be honest, a little depressing at the start. You want to be out there with your team and help them win and grind and sweat with those guys in playoffs because that's what you play all year for. I learned that side of it too, and I can just grow from this."

While Wahlstrom was away from his teammates and friends, he had man's best friend by his side during the recovery.

"I actually got a puppy in September," Wahlstrom said Video: 2022-23 Clean Out Day: Oliver Wahlstrom . "I spent every second with that guy teaching him tricks, so my mind was away from the game, but know I'm starting to ramp it up."

Wahlstrom hasn't resumed skating at this point, but said he expects to hit the ice in the coming weeks.

"My summer started in December, so I'm super excited to skate," Wahlstrom said. "I'm super excited to get going with the boys again next season, so I'm going to do everything I can this summer and I know I'm going to be ready for the training camp."