ON THE HORIZON – Ryan Strome, F, Niagara (OHL)
Before being named head coach and general manager of the Niagara Ice Dogs prior to the 2010-11 Ontario Hockey League season, Marty Williamson led the Barrie Colts to 239 regular season victories and two Central Division titles in his six seasons in a similar role at the helm of its division foe.
Yet, despite amassing a league-best 116 points in leading the Colts to the 2009-10 OHL Championship finals against Western Conference foe Windsor, Williamson clearly recalled an in-house struggle he would have to face – as the team’s general manager – midway through that campaign.
“We knew that we had the type of team to contend for an OHL championship,” recollected Williamson. “But in order to take that next step, we were looking to add a top- pairing defenseman.
“When (current St. Louis Blues defenseman and 2008 fourth overall NHL draft entry selection) Alex Pieterangelo became available, we knew that they (Niagara) would be asking for a player that all the other teams in the OHL had wanted in a trade – Ryan Strome. We hesitated, but thought it was a deal that we had to make.”
Only 16 years of age at the time of the trade, Strome was playing alongside 18, 19 and even 20-year-olds in Barrie. Nonetheless, Williamson saw a limitless potential in his Mississauga, Ontario, Canada center iceman.
“Ryan always had great vision,” said Williamson. “He owned the ice playing in Midget, and we thought it would only take time for him to do it here (in the OHL).”
Strome, who collected 104 points – 41 goals and 63 assists – as a 15-year old for the Toronto Marlboros in Midget Hockey, scored five goals and assisted on nine others in 34 games in Barrie. After the trade, he would pot three goals and dish out 10 assists in 27 games for Niagara.
“I thought the trade to Niagara really allowed me to step into my own,” said Strome. “I was given an opportunity to get power play minutes. And being that Niagara was in a rebuild, I was playing on the team’s top two lines.”
Despite finishing 56 points behind his former Central Division foe, Strome’s new squad snuck into the 2009-10 OHL post-season before bowing out to the Ottawa 67’s in the conference quarterfinals in five games.
Strome would generate three assists in the five-game setback. Nevertheless, the short time in Niagara would not only prove to be a springboard to the team’s rise up the OHL rankings, but catapult the then six-foot, 177-pound Strome to a household name among NHL scouting directors just a few short months later.
Ironically, Williamson would come along for the ride.
“When I had an opportunity to coach Ryan again, I thought he would be a mid-to-late first round NHL pick with the potential to score 70-to-80 points,” said Williamson. “His progress was definitely sped up by a year.”
As the 2010-11 season commenced, Strome centered Williamson’s top line and took the OHL by storm. He racked up a team-high 106 points – 33 goals and 73 assists – in 65 games. He finished third overall in league scoring, behind Ottawa 67 center Tyler Toffoli and Kitchener Ranger Jason Akeson, who both finished with 108 points.
The Ice Dogs would finish 36 points ahead of last season’s standings – 96 vs. 60 – while advancing to the Eastern Conference finals before falling to current Islander prospect Casey Cizikas and the Mississauga Majors in five games.
At season’s end, the International Scouting Service also touted Strome as its ninth best overall prospect heading into this past June’s NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota.
Garth Snow and the Islanders organization would not wait that long, grabbing the now 6-foot-1, 183-pound Strome with the draft’s fifth overall selection.
“I was excited to be drafted by the Islander organization,” said Strome, who spent the past few off-seasons in his native Mississauga weight training with current Islander forwards John Tavares and Matt Moulson. “Both John and Matt speak highly of the organization. They are both high-end character guys.”
After the selection, Strome spent the summer in Uniondale participating in the Islanders Blue-White Scrimmage, showcasing his talents in front of a hungry Islander fan base.
“The Islander fan base was very nice and very welcoming,” said Strome. “I wanted to show them that I could be a very creative player with the puck, with the vision to help others.”
Strome also participated in the Islanders training camp, with hopes of earning an NHL roster spot by mid-Fall. While he was able to earn an opening day roster spot due to a groin injury suffered by 2010 first round pick Nino Niederreiter, Strome would not dress and was quickly summoned back to Niagara for his third OHL season.
“While I was hoping to make the team, I know that I must get physically bigger to be a more effective player,” said Strome. “I want to be a more well-rounded hockey player.”
Upon his return to Niagara, Strome has continued to light the lamp on a regular basis. In his first 24 games with the Ice Dogs, Strome has scored 16 goals and dished off 17 assists. The Ice Dogs sit tied for second with the Colts in the Central Division with 41 points, three points behind division leader Brampton.
According to Williamson, Strome’s all-around game has also vastly improved.
“While Ryan doesn’t have as many points as last year, he is concentrating more on the little things,” said Williamson. “He has improved his face-offs and working on shortening his shifts.”
Over the past week, Strome earned a coveted slot for Team Canada in the upcoming World Junior Championships. The tournament is slated to begin on December 26 in both Calgary and Edmonton, with the gold medal game scheduled for January 5, 2012 in Calgary.
“To be a top-6 player for the World Junior Team will be very good for Ryan’s development,” said Williamson.
Yet, Strome’s vision is clearly set for a return visit to Long Island.
“Having played with the guys during the summer, I know that I want to get there as soon as I can,” said Strome, who eyes Detroit Red Wing center Pavel Datsyuk as the “two-way player” he hopes to emulate on the NHL level.
Off the ice, Strome enjoys napping and playing Xbox, but he still is a self-admitted hockey rat. His passion was accentuated, during an off-ice talk with Tavares.
“John gave me a lot of tips,” said Strome. “He told me how important it is to be professional, both on and off the ice.
“He and I are very similar. We both take hockey very seriously.”
Compared to Edmonton Oiler second-year forward Jordan Eberle by Williamson, due to his “flash and dash” style of play, Strome’s NHL potential is strictly up to him.
“Ryan is a fun, loving guy with a great personality,” said Williamson. “He is a great teammate, and should be a fixture in the Islanders lineup for years to come.”
Whether he centers the team’s second line or becomes a fixture on the team’s top line with his workout buddies, Strome should be in the Islanders lineup come October.
No pressure for an 18-year-old.
57 Responses to ON THE HORIZON – Ryan Strome, F, Niagara (OHL)
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Isles4cups says:
I think you meant to say Quebec?
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the bomber says:
seriously though, thanks for the write ups, its pretty much all we’ve got….
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giz says:
It was smart of the Isles to send Strome back to juniors an not rush him like Bailey was. I hope he makes the big club next year the kid got lots of skill an skates great he would also help us on shootouts with his moves.
Tavares
Strome
Nelisen -
islesrock73 says:
I would like to see him add 10-15 lbs. before he plays in the NHL. Not sure he will be physically ready for the rigors of the NHL next year. At this point, since the Islanders will not be a playoff team next year, why rush him.
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Adding a few lbs would be great, but Nugen-Hopkins is looking pretty good in Edmonton and he must be all of 175lbs soaking wet.
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Hopkins is 6’1 175 an is having a dam good year for the Oilers not saying Strome will be Hopkins just pointing out his size. Size matters more for dmen an power fowards Strome is neither look at skinner also.
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Skinner had a great rookie year, but now he is on the DL with an “upper body injury”. Also, we all must remember that the Islanders are a soft team. A guy like Strome will be abused as an Islander. For what ever reasons, Snow/Wang do not like their team to have players with a phyisical edge. Look at the abuse JT has taken, and he is bigger then Strome. The only guy with an edge, Matt Martin, gets fourth line minutes. Haley, no minutes.
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Subydude says:
He will help I’m sure…but help on the blueline from within is further away…I think this is why we don’t make the playoffs (again) in ’13
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The New Isles GM says:
As excited as I am for this kid, I hate putting expectations on 18 and 19 year olds. If he’s not ready in October, send him back for one more year. What’s the worst that can happen? He focuses on doing more of the little things better in juniors, maybe becomes the captain of the Word Junior team next year, and puts on more weight. These are things that Snow really has to consider. Knowing the Isles though, they will put him on the roster full time next year so they can use his salary plus bonuses to reach the cap floor. How awful we are as an organization.
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Dan C. says:
I would estimate that at around 90% of forwards taken with a top 5 pick will make the jump to the bigs after their second NHL training camp and well they should. I don’t think the Isles would be rushing him at all if he plays for them next season. The NHL is a young man’s game. Look around the league. Crosby, Ovechkin and Malkin are around 25 and their best days are likely behind them already. Heatley and Kovalchuk are around 28 /29 and neither will come close to scoring 50 goals ever again. Thornton and Lecavalier are barely 30 and will never come close to equaling their best seasons. The perils of rushing forwards to the NHL is way overblown. Josh Bailey’s struggles aren’t attributed to being rushed; he was never a top ten-caliber pick in the first place.
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Think all we need is a couple veteran dmen 1 a top 4 who eats lot of mins and a top 6 foward away from a playoff team. Garth’s gonna have to start trading some picks an prospects like Kabanov , Nelson maybe even Nino to get too next level an Dp needs to retire or spend his last years in AHL which he wont with his ego an hopefully retire.
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moonshine says:
with the current goaltending, you’d have to build a juggenaut just to get pretty good results.
otoh, look at minnesota. they sure didn’t look like much of a team. but with a top goalie you take several leaps toward the front. that’s why it is said that no position in sports is as important as goalie in hockey.
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StevieL says:
I am excited by his potential!
I nominate the following line,
“he enjoys napping and playing X-Box”!
for PointBlank player bio line of the year!
priceless! -
Larry G says:
Thanks for the article, and hopeful future of Strome. Like many young players in the past, unless Wnag/Snow, wake up to reality, and either trade for, or draft huge/tough players, to protect these kids, it is all for nothing.
I suggest everyone watch the Flyers/Strangers, Winter classic show, on HBO, and listen to the passion our former coach, Peter Lav, has for the game, and how much he pushes, ‘passionate/physical play’!
If these two idiots(Wang/Snow), running the show, can’t see they already have one in Haley (as a middle weight, with skills), they could draft the next Bossy, and he will never make it.
Wang, just sell, your scams and false pride, are undressed.
40 year fan, FORMER SEASON TICKET HOLDER
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Funny, I was watching 24/7, seeing Laviolette in action coaching one of the premiere teams in the league and wondering how could the Islanders have ever fired this guy? After making the playoffs three years in a row, no less?
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Jim Clark says:
If you can’t sell the present, sell the future.
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eric says:
Strome – JT – Nino 2012 hurry!
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isles71 says:
Seems to have great skills…hell, he is already better than Pandolfo, Reasoner, Gillies, Rolston, Bailey & Okposo for that matter. Would rather have him than Staios, Mottau or Eaton…and if he could play goal, but he’s better than ….(you get the point). Talk is nice, lets get him here and have him perform. Over the years, JT has been the only standout (we’ve keep ala Luongo)…Most have been average at best…DP, Norkellainin, O’Marra, Nillson,Bailey (de Haan)…hell I’LL even throw in Scott Scission and Rupp…this is why you need to assist developemnet and compliment with FREE AGENTS!
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exSection307 says:
Snowang aren’t even talking to anyone about an arena at this point… Team is gone, we have the garbage as today to look forward to until they leave.. Happy monday!
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I’m sure Wang is still on trying on the arena issue. Why else would Tavares sign a 6 year deal. I’m sure convesations have happened behind closed doors that show some promise in Nassau. Their still playing the political football game, in the end the as Botta keeps saying, they’ll be in the NY area. I’m sure we’ll here more as we get closer to the draft regarding building a new arena. Time is ticking, only so much more time can pass.
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1972IslesFan says:
Don’t blame the coach, I’m sure he has his orders from the brain trust behind this year’s assault on the Stanley Cup.
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Bob E. says:
hope he shreds the Junior tournment this year. This way he can make the isles year and Capuano can bury him on 4th line to hurt his development.
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billy from RYE NY says:
They are not going to KC ! They are going to Willets Point !
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hoser14 says:
KC? Nope.
Quebec City? Nope.
Willets Points? Nope.The Isles are going to end up in Brooklyn come the 2015-16 because the Barclay Center will open next year, while any Willets Point arena, won’t happen any time soon let alone by July 1, 2015.
The last time I looked, Brooklyn is a part of Long Island and playing there would allow Chairman Wang to keep cashing Dolan Dollars.
I won’t be too surprised if the Islanders play a pre-season game there before 2015 witching hour.
I guaranteed that the Coliseum will be hosing fea markets come the Fall of 2015.
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I would guess outside of Toronto, they are building an new arena there without a team and the Islanders are used to being the second team in a major metropolitan area.
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CM says:
Any of these prospects should be years down the road. Nino might be the execption for 2012.
If done right. The Isles should be tradng or shopping for some FA for 2012. If we get noone again, it will be obiosu players do not want to come here because of the owner. Even an overpaid Ryan Symth offer did not want to hang around here. I bet Ernhoff was the same, Isles did not want to admit it.
WE DON’T NEED PROSPECTS IN OUR LINE UP NEXT YEAR. WE NEED QUAILTY VETS WHO CAN PLAY NOW. NEED TO SPEND OTHERWISE WE AE RUINING THE CARRERS FOR THESE PROSPECTS.
SELL THIS TEAM WANG. FANS DON’T WANT YOU.
CAN PB DO A POLL ON OUR SATSFIACTION ON OWNERSHIP? THE RESULTS PRODUCED CANNOT BE FAR OFF FROM AN OFFICAL POLL.
My RATING IS “0″ out of 10.
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I disagree completely. Nino, de Haan, Strome, Kabanov, Petrov and more should all be on this team next year. The NHL is a young man’s game. Players are at their peak in their early twenties. Look at the league’s top players the past few seasons. Ovechkin, Crosby, Stamkos have all led the league in goals or points at around age 20-22. Every time the Isles recall a younger player from Bridgeport, they play with far more quickness, jump and energy than any of the veteran players the Isles added over the summer. And let’s face it, Rolston, Reasoner, Staios, Eaton and Mottau are about the caliber of veteran players this penny-ante team will sign anyway. I’d rather see the kids. Rushing prospects is a way-overblown concept in the NHL, particularly among Islanders fans who put way too much emphasis on the tribulations of Josh Bailey.
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Juniorjunior says:
There should be a way to give a minus rating.
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Don says:
Why do we need a satisfaction poll? We have enough of you “fans” whining on this site.
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dork says:
From the little I have seen, I don’t think Strome is a dynamic player. His peak success will depend on a allstar winger. I’m not sure he has a goal scores touch or I’m afraid he will be a “Czerkawski” type.
Stome made a naive comment about the Combine tests saying something about… Why does it matter how much weight a player can lift.
That right there tells me strome is mentally and psychically not NHL ready for another 2-2 years.
We may never see Strome’s potential if wang doesn’t add established players to play with him. I’m will not get my hopes up as long as Wang and his girlfriend are running this Org. -
Jared says:
they’ll bring him up next year and play him on the 4th line with scrubs like they do with Nino & Bailey. What a joke
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Mark P says:
I think this is a make or break player for the Islanders….He has to Pan out….top 5 picks need to fill top 6 forward or top 4 D spots within 3 seasons.
Wasting top picks on the DP’s Dumonts, Chysowskys….trading down a top 5 for marginal talent (Bailey) are killers.
Playing 1 Rookie in that those 10 positions each season is reasonable for a buidling team.
Veterens help…..but we need a “in thier prime” vet…..too many spots…to much responsibilty for Rolston, Reasoner, Pandolfo, Weight etc.
We need a top pairing D man. -
save-the-isles says:
gonna see how he does in the wolrd junior tourney..
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Dk says:
We are going to have the best 4th line in the league next year!
Strome centering Nino and Matt Martin getting 8 minutes a night.
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I saw him play earlier this year with Niagara. He was easily the best player on the ice.
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Nick M says:
My assessment of the first line next year is that JT should be moved to wing. Hear me out before you get the pitch forks. If we look but to JTs scouting report is that he is a bad skater and gets almost all his goals below the Circles near the net. His game is similar to moulson just better. Moulson should be trade because a) he is due for another raise in a year b) his stock will not get any higher then this c) JT is wasting his talent making waiver pick ups look like allstars. It’s time JT was utilized. Strome Is a playmaker who can also finish. He is a good skater with great vision. Now imagine him center a line with JT not having to carry the puck but simply getting into his comfort spot and scoring. And on the other side nino can battle in the corners for the puck and can also be fed by strome since nino is also a shooter. With that said I will show you how I would have the lines for next year and have a list of the extra trade chips.
Nino-strome-JT
Grabner-nielsen(snow must sign)-petrov
Martin-bailey-kabanov
Wallace-cizikas-Dibo(anybody tbh)Trade chips
PA,moulson,Okposo –if the isles can’t get a free agent d man they gotta trade for oneDefense
Streit-(acquisition FA or trade)
Hamonic-Mac
Katic- De Haan
ReeseNow that’s a contender
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I think Strome was drafted to play with JT and Moulson. JT is not a bad skater and is improving. Moulson is not likely going anywhere. PA is underrated and would rather see him as the playmaker on the 3rd line eventually. In fact, I would say that both MM and PAP may have been waiver-wire caliber when they came to LI, but I think they deserve some credit now. Okposo is untradeable right now as he is signed for 4 more years. His salary is reasonable for a top six forward, but it would be a very big commitment for another team to make for a 3rd liner, which Okposo would certainly be on a deeper team.
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DP's Beard says:
Can you seriously stop w/ the line combinations. This team and your lines stink. Isles fans were putting Nino on the top line preseason and he looks awful. By the time this team turns things around they will not be on Long Island anymore. Who cares about Strome he barely made team Canada for the World Championship? What picks has Snow made turned out to be good/great players. Okposo/Bailey/DeHaan all super busts. Don’t tell me any of those players will turn things around and be All Starts b/c they will not!
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isleopine says:
shave the beard RAGS STOOGE
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I think,if they had Haley up all year,had some more kids up and playing,gave more minutes to Martin,Nino,Baily,etc.and waived DP,we would be able to handle the losing.But to lose and have no grit or team toughness,keep sending Parenteau out after he gives the puck away time after time drives me crazy!Soft passes,constant stick checking,not getting pucks deep and then the same lines the same lineup it is like Snow couldnt give a shit!As for Strome,I hope he has a good World Junior!
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chris says:
ENOUGH WITH ADDING MORE KIDS ALLREADY. THIS TEAM IS TOO FRICKIN YOUNG!!!!!! F U WANG!!!
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you can be sure that the sick and dysfunctional clowns wang and snow will do what ever they can do destroy stromes career just like they destroyed bailey and are doing an excellent job of destroying ninos once promising career.
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When a player says that he was excited to be drafted by us, does that automatically indicate that he failed his pre-draft pysch test ….. Lol
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Moulson has 2 more years at reasonable dollars….and he is a Tavares Boy- he is not going anywhere.
Nino is expected to go on that line at some point.
Strome will be the second line center.
the only question is wether they keep Franz as the #3 (resign) – (where he belongs) or keep Bailey in that role.
PA might be trade bait. -
I keep seeing posts about signing in-their-prime free agents. Doesn’t anyone realize nobody wants to play here right now? It has more to do with the arena and losing than it does Wang/Snow, as everyone seems to think. Guys like Eaton, Reasoner, Rolston and Staios are on this team more for the salaries than for their ability. People blame Snow, but he didn’t get these guys because he thinks they are the missing pieces. They are here because he needs their salaries to get to the cap floor. They can’t replace them with young guys because the young guys don’t make enough money. Believe me – Snow would love to bring in some bigger FAs – he has tried. I’m not saying he has an open checkbook, but he has the go ahead to have a higher talent, but can’t get that talent here.
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wrong. if he included a signing bonus and front loaded the contract then he would have gotten Erhoff – The offer was back loaded (presumably)so wang woudnt have to spend the money for erhoff up front and the contract would have to be upheld by the next owner of the team in 2015. Same thing Tampa did with Jose Reyes contract. The only difference is that tampa bay wants to win. Erhoff knows the Sabers have an owner that wants to win- everyone in the leage knows Wang doesnt care about winning and wont spend any money to improve the team. I wouldnt want to play here either. Team is a joke until wang sells.
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Reyes went to Miami marlins not tampa bay
Check your facts next time
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I agree snow has tried to sign big name players but nobody big will sign till Isles start winning an making playoffs! That’s why Snow is gonna have to make some trades if the can take Rolstons 5 million a year I’m sure they can take Bobby Ryans 5 mil a year salary if hes on the market…will prob cost the lsles a #1 n prospect or 2 but you gotta give something to get something an we have plenty of prospects now.
Strome will be the Isles #2 center next year unless hes traded or hurt, Bailey will most likely be traded at years end or in summer. Watch Strome on youtube an at this years junior tourtament kid can play!
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Ted says:
There is nothing wrong with bringing up a young player 2 years after he’s been drafted. Provided he’s playing for a good hockey team and alongside established NHL stars. It can only help them in their development. However, when the team is horrible like the Islanders, and there are no established NHL stars, and your relying on these young players to step in and immediately contribute to turn a bad team into a good one, that is a really bad idea. In fact it’s a detriment to their development, and why the Isles give up on a lot of young players only to trade them away or not resign them. That has been a huge problem with this team, and why this rebuild is taking longer than it should. Think of some of the young players the Isles have given up on: Zdeno Chara, Todd Bertuzzi, Roberto Luongo, Sean Bergenheim etc…
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Listen, Bobby Ryan will most likely be traded this season. Since Wang/Snow knows very well that no FA will sign o play here, He has no excuse not to give up that 1st round pick, prospect and a CA note pad for Bobby Ryan. This will be the recent true test of Wangs commitment.
I don’t want to hear that giving up picks will only ruin the rebuild. Normal teams rebuild while have real supporting established players along side prospects.
I’m tiered of this BS. -
RICH L says:
Read this and weep people, the draft picks in the previous 10 years…
A very eye opening article, to say the least. Here is the Islanders high draft choices for the last 11 years…
2010- 1st round- Nino Niederreiter,
2009- 1st round- John Tavares,
2008- 1st round- Joshua Bailey,
2007- 3rd round- Mark Katic,
2006- 1st round- Kyle Okposo,
2005- 1st round- Ryan O’marra,
2004- 1st round- Petteri Nokelainen,
2003- 1st round- Robert Neilsson,
2002- 1st round- Sean Bergenheim,
2001- 4th round- Cory Stillman,
2000- 1st round- Rick DiPietro, -
NYISLES001 says:
2000: Bust
2001: Bust
2002: Bust
2003: Bust
2004: Bust
2005: Bust
2006: Boarderline
2007: TBD
2008: Bust
2009: Jackpot (but even a moron like Snow and his scouts could not screw this one up), DeHAnn will propbably be an average Defenseman at least
2010: Unknown – could go either way for NEiderreitter and the other kisd in college looks impressive (for now)
2011: Strome – Maybe a star?OK so 2009 to 2011 have been ok drafts.
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Note: If Baily can be made into a successful 3rd or 4th line checking type of center on a deeper team, then that pick maybe salvegable. But again, when you draft in the top 10 and reach for a Baily, it is still not good.
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Listen, Wang is avoiding the fans and media. He is pissed off and will spitefully sell the team without saying a word in 2015 and they will move.
bf 
i cant wait to have a second line of him nino and martin next year….
we are going to be so good when the team moves to KC