Ryan Strome
New York Islanders Top 25 Under 25: Ryan Strome #3
Ryan Strome

New York Islanders Top 25 Under 25: Ryan Strome #3

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

We’re almost through our top 25 under 25 of the New York Islanders system. At number three is another former 5th overall and former 50 point player looking to get back on his feet.

The New York Islanders Ryan Strome was drafted fifth overall in the 2011 NHL entry draft. Fresh off a 106 point season with the Niagara IceDogs.

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Much was expected of Strome when he came into the league, and much was delivered. In his first full year in the NHL Strome put up 50 points.

The sky was the limit for Strome going into 2015-16. Maybe a 60 point player? Maybe just staying at 50? No one thought he was going to regress to 28 points on the year.

But Strome is only 23 years old, and fresh off a new two-year show me deal. He’s got time to get back to where he was. What is that exactly?

Strome’s Potential

We’ve seen what Strome can do in 2014-15 when playing at center. He’s just one of those incredibly creative players.

In 2015-16 the Islanders, faced with too much depth at center, decided to play Strome on the wing. A move the Islanders would eventually come to regret.

Moving Strome to the wing and effectively placing a barrier to his creativity with a physical wall had a much greater effect than was anticipated.

This season, Strome is going to get a healthy stint at his natural center position now that Frans Nielsen has left for riches of Detroit. (That’s probably the first and last time you’ll hear someone mention riches and Detroit in the same sentence.)

Based on training camp, Strome might be reunited with 2014-15 linemate, Anders Lee. A partnership that was particularly fruitful for the pair. With Lee, Strome netted 20 of his 50 points in 2014-15.

Strome’s talent is unquestionable. His creativity is sometimes unparalleled. This season it’s going to be about dealing with his execution. The Islanders are going to place a lot of faith in Strome to lead the contingent of secondary scoring. Cross your fingers it could-go-either-way. Either Strome gets another 25-30 points or he breaks out and gets back to his scoring ways.

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