Top 5 winger prospects in 2018 NHL Draft

By Nick McAdam | Jun 1, 2018

BOSTON, MA - MARCH 17: Boston University Terriers forward Brady Tkachuk (27) hoists the Lou Lamoniello Trophy after the Hockey East championship game between the Boston University Terriers and the Providence College Friars on March 18, 2018, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Terriers defeated the Friars 2-0. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Oliver Wahlstrom #18 of the USA Nationals skates up ice with the puck against the Czech Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. The Czech Republic defeated the USA Nationals 6-2. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Oliver Wahlstrom /

4. Oliver Wahlstrom

The United States is about to hit a home run with some great young talent coming through in this upcoming draft. One player that can help both his country and future club is Wahlstrom from the USDP.

Wahlstrom can score from all over the place; the slot, the side of the net or even right in front of the cage. The 17-year-old has the size to win puck battles while also containing the pace to track back and help out defensively.

Wahlstrom’s stats say a whole lot about why he’ll end up being a top pick in the upcoming draft. In 26 contests in the USHL, Wahlstrom notched 22 goals and 45 points while doubling those numbers in the USDP. The Maine native scored 7 goals for the United States this past year, as well.

Wahlstrom has a great sense of where to be at the right time. Too much time in the defensive zone for his team usually sets him up for a spring pass forward for a breakaway. Vision is one of his key components to see where a play ends, and not many stars in the NHL can be great if they don’t possess some great positional awareness.

Curtis Joe noted this in Elite Prospects:

"A sensational scoring threat, Oliver Wahlstrom is a fierce competitor that preys on weak play. He exploits gaps in the neutral zone; his positioning allows him to carry the puck forward immediately or shift up and into stride off of an outlet pass."

One big area to watch out for is his play defensively along the blueline. Sometimes a little impatience leads to wanting to start an attack, but it leaves gaps in the defensive zone. Wahlstrom needs to track puck moving defenders better while improving his ability to block shots.

The American is a player that both the Detroit Red Wings or the Arizona Coyotes could really use to rebuild, or help fill out an already solid offensive core.

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