Playing Wahlstrom on the top line is a move that many fans would hope to see but the question is how it would look. The combination might be the one the Islanders go with but it might not be the best one available and it will hinder their young forward’s potential. While Pageau will open up the ice and provide shots for his linemates, he’ll struggle to pass the puck to them the way the other centers on the team do. Pageau is a reliable passer, distributing 27 assists last season and 157 in his career, but his primary strength is as a puck handler which can hurt a skater like Wahlstrom, who needs someone who can quickly find him in the offensive zone. The problem with Wahlstrom playing on this line is that it doesn’t unlock his best skills. The plus side to Wahlstrom remaining on the Pageau line is that it rounds out the forward unit as the Islanders will have two potent lines and a dynamic shooter on their third line to provide the goal-scoring. He has the skills to become an elite scorer but until he proves he can consistently produce at a top-six level, it’s unlikely he’ll be given that opportunity. In four seasons, he’s only played 161 games and scored only 32 goals and 29 assists with last season being a particularly small sample size as he suffered a season-ending injury after only 35 games. While he can play more in the forward unit, a decreased role is the most realistic option for a forward who still has yet to make his mark in the offense. Wahstrom has only averaged 12:04 ice time in his career. This leaves Wahlstrom, who is the next best wing skater to play on the Pageau line. Brock Nelson leads the second line while Pierre Engvall and Kyle Palmieri play on his wings. Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal lead the top line while Anders Lee rounds it out. It decreases his role but the primary reason to play him here is that the top-six already has a strong chemistry that was formed last season. The Jean-Gabriel Pageau-led line seems like the most realistic for Wahlstrom this season. The Argument For Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s Line With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how head coach Lane Lambert decides to play his young skater on the wing as he can take the offense to another level. At the same time, keeping him on the third line might be the best option for the Islanders, especially with the top six all but set. There’s an argument that can be made that Wahlstrom should play on a top-six line and take on a bigger role in the forward unit. Oliver Wahlstrom, New York Islanders ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
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