In his first season with the New York Rangers, Ryan Strome had his best campaign since his rookie year. What caused his success, and can it continue?
Ryan Strome: Grade A
Our next New York Rangers report card focuses on Ryan Strome, one of the team’s acquisitions this season. After a very slow start with the Edmonton Oilers, he was able to bounce back and have a career year.
His Season
Ryan Strome began the 2018-2019 season as an Edmonton Oiler, not a member of the New York Rangers. In 18 games with the Oilers, he had just two points, one goal and one assist.
On November 16th, 2019 a classic “change of scenery” deal was put into place. Strome was sent to the Rangers, and Ryan Spooner went back the other way to Edmonton.
Right away, Strome seemed to carve out a niche in New York. In his first five games, he doubled his goal, assist, and point totals, tacking on one more goal and one more assist for two goals, two assists, and two points.
As the season continued, so did his success; Strome surged in February, with eight points (three goals and five assists) in 13 games. This month included a multi-goal appearance for the forward in his 400th NHL game, with two goals notched against the New Jersey Devils on February 23rd.
March was another great month for the eldest Strome brother, with 12 points (eight goals and four assists) in 15 games that month. This run was highlighted by his best game of the year when he scored two goals and added an assist in a 4-2 win over the Devils.
Strome finished the season on a hot streak, with two points in four games during April. The first point in April was an assist on April fifth against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the final home game of the year.
His final point was the overtime game-winning goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins on April sixth, the final game of the season.
.@strome18 ends the #NYR season with a win in overtime against the Penguins! pic.twitter.com/NEHD3JdnSf
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) April 7, 2019
This win secured the Rangers final position in the standings, which secured their number two pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, so fans technically have Strome to thank for that, despite thinking it hurt the team’s chances of “tanking” at the moment.
Ryan Strome ended the 2018-2019 campaign with 19 goals (a career high) and 16 assists for 35 points in 81 games. He had 18 goals and 15 assists 33 points in 63 games exclusively with the Rangers.
This was the 25-year-old’s best offensive season since 2014-2015, his 50-point (17 goals and 33 assists) sophomore season. He finished fourth on the team in goals, 11th in assists, and fifth in points.
Why the Grade
As mentioned earlier, Ryan Strome’s first season with the New York Rangers was one of the best in his career, disregarding that outlier of a second season. It was definitely his best campaign in recent memory, finally starting to live up to expectations.
Up until now, Strome has basically been seen as a disappointment. He never quite lived up to his top-five pick status (taken fifth overall by the New York Islanders in 2011), with strings of streakiness and healthy scratches as an Islander.
Unfortunately, the forward’s uneven early development wasn’t his own fault. He was dealing with a front office who was known to not be great with younger players (Garth Snow, Jack Capuano, etc.) and was constantly tossed around the lineup, from the first line with John Tavares to the fourth line with prospects.
His tenure with the Islanders ended in June 2017 with a trade that shook the hockey world, Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome in a one-for-one deal. This trade has followed him around since it occurred and it has been a big reason why many have been biased against him.
A large portion of the Oilers fanbase simply hated Strome because he wasn’t Eberle, something that was completely out of his own control. They were blaming a player involved in a trade when they should have been blaming the front office workers who made the trade.
This may seem like way too much exposition, but the point needed to be made; Ryan Strome needed this. He needed a good year and a change of scenery more than most players in the NHL.
Granted, as a Ranger, his shooting percentage was 22.5%, the highest of his career. Including his stint with Edmonton, it was 17.3%, but his percentage as a Blueshirt would have been second best in the NHL. Regardless, a comeback year and a new environment have seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for the big brother of the Strome family.
The Numbers (as a Ranger)
Games Played: 63
Goals: 18
Assists: 15
Points: 33
Penalty Minutes: 50
Plus/Minus: -2
ATOI: 15:54
Corsi For Percentage: 45.2%
Faceoff Winning Percentage: 47.2%
Next Report Card: Jimmy Vesey