With Jordan Eberle being activated off injured reserve in advance of today’s game against Florida, the Islanders needed to free up a roster spot. They’ve announced (Twitter link) that winger Oliver Wahlstrom will be the one giving up his spot as he has been assigned to AHL Bridgeport.
The 19-year-old has played in nine games this season and has been held off the scoresheet while logging a little more than ten minutes a night. That games played mark is important as the assignment prevents him (for now at least) from playing his tenth game which would officially burn the first year of his entry-level deal.
With that in mind, it’s fair to wonder if this will be the last we see of Wahlstrom in the NHL this season. While things could certainly change, it’s reasonable to infer that they don’t want him to burn that first year based on this assignment so he would have to be quite productive with the Sound Tigers in order to get another look this season.
Meanwhile, Eberle has been out of the lineup for the last ten games due to an upper-body injury. He was off to a decent start to his season with three assists in his first five games and will be a welcome addition to a New York lineup that is in the middle of the pack offensively in the league as they sit 17th in goals scored heading into Saturday’s action.