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Ryan Strome

Rangers Undecided About Qualifying Ryan Strome

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Rangers center Ryan Strome had a career year in 2019-20 and finished third on the team in scoring.  Despite that, Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that the team is undecided about whether or not to tender him a qualifying offer by Wednesday’s deadline.

The 27-year-old posted new benchmarks in assists (41) and points (59) and showed instant chemistry with their big 2019 summer signing in winger Artemi Panarin.  However, it’s possible that their connection is giving them some pause.

Before 2019-20, Strome was coming off of five straight seasons between 28 and 35 points.  Those numbers were good enough to keep him in the league but he was viewed as a frequent underachiever in his stints with the Islanders and Oilers before joining the Rangers in 2018-19.  That track record would be something they’d certainly mention in an arbitration case but his performance this season would still stand out in a hearing.  Was this a one-off or a sign of things to come?

Their answer seems to be the latter given this trepidation.  If they thought this partnership with Panarin is something that could be sustained, they’d go ahead and sign him without much concern.  But it would be hard to commit the salary that he’d receive in a hearing to someone that they believe could go back to that 28-35 point range.

Cap space is something that GM Jeff Gorton has done a lot of work to open up with the deadline trade of Brady Skjei to Carolina, the offloading of Marc Staal to Detroit, and the buyout of franchise legend Henrik Lundqvist (who strongly implied on his Twitter page today that he intends to keep playing).  Even so, with several others needing contracts (including blueliner Anthony DeAngelo and goalie Alexandar Georgiev), they’re not in a spot where they can just spend the extra money and hope it all works out in the end.

The qualifying offer in itself of $3.2MM (Strome’s 2019-20 salary) isn’t that bad.  But the key number here is $4,538,958, the threshold where the Rangers could walk away from an arbitration award if they thought it was too high.  Anything below that amount and they’re stuck with whatever is awarded.  But walking away leaves them weak down the middle with Filip Chytil not ready for a top-six role and a free agent market that is largely bereft of top-six options.

Is tendering the qualifying offer worth the risk of Strome’s contract coming in around the $4.5MM mark?  Is that risk still worth it considering the state of the free agent market?  Gorton now has less than 72 hours to figure out his answers.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Metropolitan Notes: Strome, Jarry, Gostisbehere

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The Rangers are facing a pending salary cap crunch next summer highlighted by a sizable new deal on the way for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo as well as the buyout cost on Kevin Shattenkirk going up by $4.6MM.  As a result, some have suggested that forward Ryan Strome may ultimately be a casualty.  However, he’s in the midst of a resurgent season himself and told Steve Serby of the New York Post that he’d like to stick around:

I really hope I stay. I feel like I’ve lived in New York for so long, it’s my second home. The coaching staff and the management here, I think I’ve found a little bit of a home.

After being cast aside by Edmonton last season, the 26-year-old sits second on the Rangers in scoring this season with 43 points already, just seven shy of his career high.  He’s slated to be a restricted free agent this summer with arbitration rights and will have a strong case for a big raise on his current $3.2MM salary which also represents his required qualifying offer in June.  It may be tricky for GM Jeff Gorton to accommodate it though.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • Although Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry is in the midst of a breakout season that sees him lead the league (among qualifying goalies) in save percentage at .929, he told reporters, including Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that there have yet to be any discussions regarding a possible contract extension. Jarry, a first-time All-Star, was believed to be available last offseason with Casey DeSmith in place as the backup but they opted to keep Jarry and waive DeSmith at the start of the season instead.  The decision has worked out splendidly for them but they will certainly be paying him more than the league minimum that he’s currently receiving on his next deal.  Both Jarry and Matt Murray are restricted free agents with arbitration rights this summer.
  • Flyers defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere may be available when Philadelphia returns from their bye week on Friday, notes Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. He has missed the last seven games after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and the team has performed well in his absence, posting a 5-2 record over that stretch.  The 26-year-old has struggled considerably in the offensive end this season which could make him available before next month’s trade deadline although they would be selling low on him if they were to move him now.

Oilers, Rangers Swap Ryan Strome And Ryan Spooner

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The New York Rangers and Edmonton Oilers have decided to shake things up by exchanging centers. The Rangers were the first to announce the deal, which sees them send Ryan Spooner to the Oilers for Ryan Strome. This is is a one-for-one swap, although TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports that the Rangers have retained $900K of Spooner’s contract to make it an even salary exchange.

This trade is simple case of two players who didn’t work out in new locations and needed a change of scenery. If Spooner’s and Strome’s names look familiar in a trade context, it is because both were just shipped off last season. In the 2017 off-season, the Oilers sent Jordan Eberle to the New York Islanders straight up for Strome. The move was panned initially, then Strome gained some support over the course of the season, but after recording just two points through 18 games to begin the new campaign, he was again drawing the ire of executives and fans alike. Spooner was included in the package that the Boston Bruins sent to the New York Rangers in exchange for Rick Nash at last season’s trade deadline, but hardly seemed like the centerpiece in a deal that also featured a first-round pick and defensive prospect Ryan Lindgren. Although Spooner played very well for the Rangers down the stretch, he too has just two points to show for his efforts this season, a disappointment to those who felt he could play a top-six role for the team moving forward.

It will be difficult to determine a winner in this trade for some time. Both players carry a cap hit of $3.1MM through the 2019-20 season. Spooner, 26, and Strome, 25, are almost dead even in career points, although Spooner has 160 points in 289 games whereas Strome has 162 points in 358 games, close to a season more. Both are power play assets who can be too passive offensively at even strength and are known for streaky play. The only main difference between the pair is in style; Spooner is an elite passer and a quicker player with very little patience for the defensive aspects of the game, while Strome is two-way forward with penalty-killing prowess, superior possession numbers and more goal-driven production.

Back with the man who drafted him in Boston, GM Peter Chiarelli, Spooner likely stands the best chance of a rebound. The Oilers have been looking to improve their team speed and Spooner certainly brings that element to his game. Edmonton’s usage of Spooner will bear watching, as the team could use a high-end play-maker on the wing more than they really need a third-line center, but historically Spooner has fit better down the middle and the loss of Strome does vacate a spot. Meanwhile, Strome joins a center-heavy lineup in New York and will likely have to earn a spot down the middle. The Rangers could use his scoring touch, if he can find it, but also need more two-way accountability, which Strome can bring.The Rangers’ brass watched Strome play with the Islanders for years and know what they’re getting in this deal. Both players have struggled to fit in in previous NHL situations; the Oilers and Rangers hope this time they can get it right.

Ryan Strome Signs Two-Year Contract With Edmonton Oilers

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Ryan Strome didn’t file for arbitration yesterday, leading many to believe he was close to a deal with the Edmonton Oilers. In fact, he has signed a two-year deal with the team that will take him through the 2019-20 season. The contract will carry a $3.1MM average annual value according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet.

Strome, 24, was acquired by the Oilers last offseason in a deal that saw Jordan Eberle head to the New York Islanders. Expected to be a cheaper contributor to the Oilers playoff dreams, Strome struggled once again to find his offensive touch and didn’t seem to have a regular role to fill on the Edmonton roster. Was he a winger who could help them fill out the top-six alongside Connor McDavid or Leon Draisaitl, or was he a bottom-six center that could be relied upon defensively? Neither were really true early, and the Oilers floundered near the bottom of the league all season.

In the late part of the season though there started to be some clarity on how things would shake out for the Oilers going forward. Strome was moved back to center where he could focus on his two-way game, while Ryan Nugent-Hopkins was put on the top line with McDavid and found immediate success. Though Nugent-Hopkins is also a natural center, it looks like he’ll be riding shotgun for another year. That leaves Strome battling with newcomer Kyle Brodziak for minutes down the middle, and trying to find some chemistry with players like Tobias Rieder, Milan Lucic and Zack Kassian, depending on how the lines are formed.

Strome had 34 points when it was all said and done last season, which was actually the second best NHL season of his career. Originally selected fifth-overall by the Islanders, there are still high hopes that he can provide some big secondary scoring numbers for the Oilers in the coming years. At $3.1MM he’s not a liability producing how he has the last two seasons, but he’s also not much of a value for Edmonton. These are the make-or-break seasons for Strome, who will be a restricted free agent for the final time in the summer of 2020.

Pacific Notes: Thornton, Edmonton Defense, Nugent-Hopkins

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After a double-overtime thriller in which the Vegas Golden Knights took a 2-0 lead in their first-round series with the Los Angeles Kings, the San Jose Sharks will attempt to take a 2-0 lead of their own tonight against the Anaheim Ducks. The Sharks, who picked up a 3-0 victory Thursday on the road, got a surprise during pre-game warmups when injured veteran center Joe Thornton participated in the pre-game skate before Thursday’s game. According to Paul Gackle of the Mercury News, Thornton is close to returning to the team, but isn’t yet ready.

Thornton, who went down in January with a torn MCL injury, has been rehabbing for the past 11 weeks, but has said that unlike last year when he returned from a knee injury after just two weeks for the playoff run, he intends to make sure he isn’t a distraction to the team before returning. However, the more wins that the Sharks can pick up in the meantime can buy time until Thornton believes he is fully healthy and ready to return to the lineup.

  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal writes that the Edmonton Oilers are desperate to repair their defense and wants to trade for a top-line defenseman. While he suggests the team could offer up its lottery pick in a deal to get Arizona’s Oliver Ekman-Larsson or work out some type of deal to get Colorado’s Tyson Barrie, neither is realistic. The team’s best chance at solving their defensive issues is right-handed shot Justin Faulk from the Carolina Hurricanes. The 26-year-old is falling down the Hurricanes’ depth charts with the emergence of younger defensemen like Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce. Faulk would also fix their logjam of left-handed defenseman as several defenseman such as Andrej Sekera and Kris Russell are left-handed, but playing on the right side. The problem is that Carolina wants a forward back. So who are they going to send?
  • Matheson, in the same article, adds that the Oilers have no intention of trading Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who might be their best trade chip. The center was rumored to be a trade candidate with his high salary ($6MM AAV) over the next three years. However, the team believes he might be the perfect linemate for Connor McDavid as a wing, which would move youngster Ryan Strome to the third-line center position. Nugent-Hopkins is coming off a season where he tied his career-high in goals with 24 (and he missed 20 games this season).

Oilers Notes: Strome, Goaltending, Davidson

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It’s safe to say that Edmonton’s offseason trade of Jordan Eberle to the Islanders for Ryan Strome hasn’t worked out as well as the Oilers had hoped.  Eberle is off to a strong start with his new team, posting 21 points (12-9-21) in 28 games.  However, Strome hasn’t fared anywhere near as well, collecting only 11 points (4-7-12) over that same stretch.  He has found himself moved down the lineup at times and as Postmedia’s Jim Matheson notes, he could be out of the lineup entirely tonight against Montreal.  He was in a rotation of wingers in practice on Friday (which isn’t too ideal for someone who has been deployed as a center for the majority of the season) and a final decision on whether or not he’ll suit up will come later in the day.  The fact it has even come to this further cements the thought that this trade is one that GM Peter Chiarelli may want a mulligan on.

More from Edmonton:

  • David Staples, also of Postmedia, argues that the Oilers need to make a move to bring in another goaltender as soon as possible. Presently, backup Laurent Brossoit is getting the starts with Cam Talbot on the shelf with an upper-body injury but he has not fared well, posting a save percentage of just .871 in his first three appearances as the interim starter.  With Edmonton already eight points out of a playoff spot and Brossoit struggling, another week or two without Talbot could prove to be devastating in the standings so bringing in someone that’s a bit more proven would certainly be beneficial.  Our Zach Leach took a look at some of their options earlier this week.
  • Recently reacquired blueliner Brandon Davidson is likely to make his first appearance against his former team in Montreal, notes Paul Gazzola on the Oilers’ team website. Davidson was claimed off waivers a week ago today but has been a healthy scratch for the two games since then.  Presumably, it would be Yohann Auvitu ceding his spot after playing less than 11 minutes on Wednesday night.

Edmonton Oilers’ Matt Benning Drawing Interest

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Sportsnet’s Mark Spector reports that while the Edmonton Oilers continue to look for an answer this season, “at least one team” is showing interest in defenseman Matt Benning in trade talks—though there is certainly no hurry to move him. Spector writes that the team likely would however be willing to give up Anton Slepyshev or Ryan Strome in potential deals.

Matt BenningEdmonton is off to a terrible start for a club that was expected to contend for the Stanley Cup this season, riding a 3-6-1 record into Wednesday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Connor McDavid clearly can’t carry the team all on his own, and they’ve received little offensive help beyond the top line. Slepyshev has been held scoreless thus far, while Strome has just three points on the season. That’s while Jordan Eberle starts to thrive in New York with nine points through 11 games.

The Oilers need help, and they need it soon if they’re going to turn around this ship. The team ranks dead last in the NHL in goals for, and both special teams rank in the bottom three. Spector does suggest that Chris Kelly will sign if Kailer Yamamoto is sent back to junior, which should help their penalty kill but do little for their offensive woes. The answer to those isn’t quite so simple.

Moving Benning would certainly bring back something of value, as the 23-year old defenseman has shown at least an ability to play a full-time role in the NHL. Though he doesn’t have a ton of offensive upside, some might see him as a solid answer to shore up a bottom pairing. Dealing him would mean opening one hole to fill another however, as the Oilers would need a replacement for his 16-odd minutes a night. Benning is a restricted free agent this summer though, and with money locked up in four defensemen already and a new deal looming for Darnell Nurse, he could be on the outside looking in anyway. The Oilers will obviously have to be very careful with their cap space once McDavid’s league-leading contract extension kicks in.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

What Edmonton Really Got In Eberle Trade

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Cap space might be the first word that would come to mind when hearing the question, “What did the Edmonton Oilers get for Jordan Eberle?” The 27-year-old wing, while solid, has never been able to show consistency for a team over his seven-year NHL career. His 34-goal sophomore season is something he’s never really been able to duplicate, although he has put up at least 20 goals in four of the past five seasons. Yet his $6MM salary over each of the next two years was too much for an Oilers’ team that had plans to sign superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl to extensions. Sure enough, the team will be paying them both $21MM per year starting next year. (Draisaitl’s $8.5MM per year does start this year, but McDavid’s extension doesn’t kick in until 2018-19.)

Yet despite clearing out cap room, the Oilers did come away with promising center Ryan Strome. The 24-year-old, once the fifth-overall pick in the 2011 draft, has a tremendous upside, but has yet to take that next step into a impact player. Even Strome’s best season of 17 goals and 33 assists in the 2014-15 season doesn’t compare to Eberle’s disappointing 2016-17 in which he put up 20 goals and 31 assists. David Staples of the Edmonton Journal writes that Strome has quite a few positive points that should have the team excited for next season, including his ability to be that “glue” guy that teams are always looking for.

One of Strome’s attributes that stands out is his size. While Eberle was just 5-foot-11, 181 pounds, Strome stands in at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. He can take a hit much better than Eberle ever has been able to and should provide that grit the team needs. He should be able to withstand physical defenders better and provide consistent checking. He has good “on-ice” IQ and has the ability to know when to hold onto the puck and when to get rid of it. Strome doesn’t make many mistakes and seems to know when to dump the puck and where to be on defense. Staples also adds that his passing is outstanding, which is why he found himself on the Islanders’ power play quite often last year.

On the downside, Strome lacks speed and has struggled defending against quicker defenders. While general manager Peter Chiarelli has spoken about Strome’s slapshot, Staples has found little proof that it is as good as advertised. His lack of agility might also force the center to move to the wing, although its too early to know if the team plans to make that change.

Staples adds that Strome is a better choice to have on the team than Eberle as he is a better fit. The downside to Strome also is that his cheap $2.5MM deal expires at the end of the year, which means he will be a restricted free agent already next year and depending on his performance n

Kris Russell Expected To Re-Sign In Edmonton

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After the Edmonton Oilers cleared some cap space earlier today by moving Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome, the team is close to bringing back one of their pending free agents. E.J. Hradek of NHL Network is hearing that Kris Russell will re-sign with the team.

Russell was one of the more interesting cases in free agency last summer, expected to lock down a long-term deal but eventually having to settle for just a one-year pact. Edmonton ended up giving him $3.1MM for last season, something that he’s sure to improve upon this time around. The 30-year old played over 21 minutes a night for the Oilers, registering 13 points in 68 games while blocking his regular 200+ shots.

One of the battlegrounds between “old” and “new school” player evaluation, Russell seems to be an effective defender but records extremely poor possession statistics. Despite that, coaches seem to rely heavily on him in many different situations and have put him on the ice more than 21 minutes a night for four straight seasons. Especially with the loss of Andrej Sekera to injury for the first part of the season, the Oilers needed to bring in a left-handed shot at some point this summer.

Whether Russell should be that defenseman is up for debate, as Edmonton fans are just as split as anyone when it comes to his performance. Though he once put up 34 points in a season for Calgary, he’s far from an offensive contributor and shouldn’t be expected to get back to that total going forward. The reason for moving Eberle, cap space, is also at risk should the Oilers decide to lock him up long-term. With Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid needing new contracts, locking in close to $4MM per season for a past-30 Russell is a risky proposition.

Ryan Strome Out Indefinitely With Broken Wrist

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According to Arthur Staple of Newsday, the Islanders have received some bad news after their game last night. Ryan Strome has suffered a broken wrist and will be out for the rest of the season, if not the whole playoffs. Head coach Doug Weight had said last night that he would be out “this weekend and probably longer.” "<strong

Strome injured the wrist on a hit from Brady Skjei in the second period, on a play that didn’t look all that dangerous. The much maligned forward had been playing better of late, though was still in the midst of another disappointing season. His 13 goals and 30 points will be the season totals, still not realizing the full potential he showed in his sophomore season. That year, he had 50 points while playing as one of the Islanders’ best defensive forwards but has taken a step back in his development.

The Islanders would have to go on quite a deep playoff run to see him back in uniform this year, which seems like a long-shot given their current situation. Sitting two points back of the Boston Bruins for the final spot, the second wildcard team will have to go through whoever comes out on top of the Metropolitan Division in the first round before playing the winner of the other two. It’s a tough route for any team, let alone one losing a young forward like Strome.

In his place, Staple assumes that Shane Prince or Alan Quine will be inserted. While both are established enough to not miss a beat, it would be interesting to see the Islanders reach down to the minors and recall Michael Dal Colle from Bridgeport at some point. The former fifth-overall pick has yet to make his NHL debut, but has had a successful (if unspectacular) rookie season in professional hockey with 35 points in 63 games. He would definitely give the lineup another shot of youth alongside Josh Ho-Sang and Anthony Beauvillier, something they might thrive off of this late in the year.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

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