New York Islanders‘ 4th year right wing Ryan Strome(18) was rewarded by the only team he’s known with a brand new, just before training camp begins, 2-year extension.
He got off to a bit of a difficult start in the final season of his entry level deal and was demoted almost a month into his 3rd campaign to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers to get his mojo back.
In 8 AHL games he scored 2 goals and 2 assists with a +3 rating before being recalled.
Although he didn’t post nearly what he was able to achieve as a sophomore skater with the big club (17 goals, 33 assists, 50 points with a +23 in 81 NHL games), he did spring to life whenever he was inserted in the Stanley Cup Playoff with a goal and 3 assists in 8 contests.
The 23-year old will still be a restricted free agent once his new contract expires but should start to affect the score sheet with much more frequency like he did through 4 years of OHL, where he was a 1.31 per-game performer.
It’s also though that if he doesn’t coming out of the gate quick and challenge those career high scoring totals from 2014/2015, he could be on the trading block.
Ryan Strome(18) Bridgeport Sound Tigers
New York Islanders‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#5 overall) center Ryan Strome(18) made his professional debut with minor league affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers scoring his first goal, adding an assist and was selected as the game’s number one star in the 4-2 win.
The 6’1″ 183 lbs. power forward also looks like he will be making his first NHL appearance sooner than later based on his opening night performance on the scoresheet and overall play.
He signed his three-year entry level deal at the start of 2011, but was a slide for its initial year and could do that again for 2012/2013.
Although we see strong indications that he’ll be called up to help the parent club with their postseason push, allowing his contract to kick in.
The still only 19-year old struck for almost a pair of points per game in his second and last seasons of junior hockey and looks to continue on course to become a top 6 player in the show.