Canada won the game 4-2 so the series was tied 2 games each. Thus, they played a sudden death 20m period for the challenge cup. Strome rifled the series winner in the OT to win it for us. Place was craaaazy.
He played well. Threw a couple checks, won some key FOs. Had an assist on the first goal and then the series winner in OT. Huberdeau handed the cup to Strome first.
BTW, Reinhart was out on the ice during the celebration and was as tall in shoes as most of the Can players were on skates!
Nice, good to see Strome perform. Hopefully a video is posted of his game/series winner. Hint, hint
Nice, good to see Strome perform. Hopefully a video is posted of his game/series winner. Hint, hint
Well, I don't have one. My iPhone is too old.
Oh yeah, and the craziest thing I saw there tonight was a dude rockin' a Wendell Clark fishsticks jersey. The only other Isles jersey besides my 6yo's Tavares jersey.
Oh yeah, and the craziest thing I saw there tonight was a dude rockin' a Wendell Clark fishsticks jersey. The only other Isles jersey besides my 6yo's Tavares jersey.
Haha, I'm sure it'll be posted eventually. It's too bad we didn't get a good look at Reinhart. So what is your overall opinion of Strome's play? We are all expecting a detailed scouting report from you... I have been practicing my Vader death choke.
Funny about the Clark jersey. I heard about Yakupov's classy move after the game.
Haha, I'm sure it'll be posted eventually. It's too bad we didn't get a good look at Reinhart. So what is your overall opinion of Strome's play? We are all expecting a detailed scouting report from you... I have been practicing my Vader death choke.
Funny about the Clark jersey. I heard about Yakupov's classy move after the game.
What, skating around with the Russian flag? No biggie. He's a great player, btw. Fast and shifty. Maybe it's the Metro Centre, but Gregs looked unengaged again tonight for Russia. The Russian goalie Vasilevski also played really well for Russia.
I liked Strome's play. Despite scoring the winning goal, I see him more as a playmaker. He had some really pretty passes. He was pretty good in the face-off circle. He threw a couple a checks, including a big one that surprised me. He looked good playing with Huberdeau. He's not the biggest guy on the ice, but he got the job done. His series winner was pretty sweet.
What, skating around with the Russian flag? No biggie. He's a great player, btw. Fast and shifty. Maybe it's the Metro Centre, but Gregs looked unengaged again tonight for Russia. The Russian goalie Vasilevski also played really well for Russia.
I liked Strome's play. Despite scoring the winning goal, I see him more as a playmaker. He had some really pretty passes. He was pretty good in the face-off circle. He threw a couple a checks, including a big one that surprised me. He looked good playing with Huberdeau. He's not the biggest guy on the ice, but he got the job done. His series winner was pretty sweet.
I heard it was a Lokomotiv Yarolslavl jersey that he skated around with, not a Russian flag. I think that's a classy move.
Anyway, thanks for the updates. I hope Strome builds off this. We need him to pan out.
I haven't seen him play. How does he compare to Mackinnon?
Like others have mentioned, MacKinnon has more offensive ability, but I think Monahan plays a similar game to Toews. He's just really good everywhere, but has the kind of offensive ability that makes him more than just a two-way player. He'll definitely be a pivot in the NHL because of the way he plays the game. Hard-nosed, can score, can set up the plays, good size, good along the boards, and plays a three zone game. I think right now, he's probably going to be a 3-6 pick with Jones, MacKinnon, Barkov, Lazar, Shinkaruk, Lindholm, and Pulock all at the top of the class. Nichushkin is supposedly in that group, but I've never had the opportunity to watch him play.
It's nice to see someone who is looking to shoot and score. I feel like we have been missing this for a while. Tavares is not really a stand at the dot and snipe kind of guy.
It's nice to see someone who is looking to shoot and score. I feel like we have been missing this for a while. Tavares is not really a stand at the dot and snipe kind of guy.
Def is nice to see Strome shoot the puck, and do it well. I know that was something the Isles wanted him to work on.
Also, anyone else find it weird to see the game go from 4-2 to 0-0 haha. i understand why, but its just odd watching the highlights to see that.
I like the way Strome's developing, I like his competitiveness and the way he carries himself in interviews. He exhibits leadership, character and determination - all the intangibles that make for a great hockey player.
I still think his game needs a lot of work though. At least, until he's a capable top six NHL player that you can count on for offense.
Not being critical of the pick or player or prospect - but he clearly doesn't look NHL ready. Does anyone disagree?
I like the way Strome's developing, I like his competitiveness and the way he carries himself in interviews. He exhibits leadership, character and determination - all the intangibles that make for a great hockey player.
I still think his game needs a lot of work though. At least, until he's a capable top six NHL player that you can count on for offense.
Not being critical of the pick or player or prospect - but he clearly doesn't look NHL ready. Does anyone disagree?
His skills are ready (though they need to be tested at a higher level), but it would be wise to let him continue to physically mature. Let him work on his strength, conditioning and skating without the pressure of being in the NHL.
He's not a prospect I'd like to see rushed. I was impressed with the way he could use what little of a body he had when I saw him before last season. He could lean into guys at sick angles and stay on his skates, but that wasn't against the best competition or the biggest players. Since he seems to be rather fearless in that regard, I'd definitely like to see him have as much muscle as possible before he gets here. Let him be able to fully play his game when he gets here because he'll probably try to do it anyways. It's not like we have a large forward group to make room out there and protect him if need be. (Let it not even occur to him that he might have to be a guy on his line who drops the gloves to defend himself in his first NHL season.)
Having said all of that, one blessing from the current CBA negotiations could be that 18 or 19 year olds could become eligible to play in the AHL. I guess we'll see what happens. I'd love to see Strome at Bridgeport next season.
His skills are ready (though they need to be tested at a higher level), but it would be wise to let him continue to physically mature. Let him work on his strength, conditioning and skating without the pressure of being in the NHL.
He's not a prospect I'd like to see rushed. I was impressed with the way he could use what little of a body he had when I saw him before last season. He could lean into guys at sick angles and stay on his skates, but that wasn't against the best competition or the biggest players. Since he seems to be rather fearless in that regard, I'd definitely like to see him have as much muscle as possible before he gets here. Let him be able to fully play his game when he gets here because he'll probably try to do it anyways. It's not like we have a large forward group to make room out there and protect him if need be. (Let it not even occur to him that he might have to be a guy on his line who drops the gloves to defend himself in his first NHL season.)
Having said all of that, one blessing from the current CBA negotiations could be that 18 or 19 year olds could become eligible to play in the AHL. I guess we'll see what happens. I'd love to see Strome at Bridgeport next season.
,
Mitch
Good post and I'm in agreement. I'm personally very pleased with his development so far. I hope the Isles do right by him and while he may be disappointed to be sent back to Niagara, it's probably best for him in the long term. He's still a kid physically, but he's exhibited high end skill and he has the 'want' factor. That'll probably be even more pronounced as time goes by because of his close contact with Johnny.
I don't know about the CBA lowering the requirements for AHL eligibility, but I don't want to see another repeat of the Nino debacle.
I'd rather see a Paula Creamer situation than a Michelle Wie. Creamer was allowed to dominate her level of competition before she made the jump to the LPGA while Wie was obviously rushed and look at the results now. Sorry guys, just got back from a golf trip and I have golf on the brain.
I don't think the Nino/AHL thing applies to his case. Nino was physically ready for professional hockey, but he needed more experience and time to hone professional skills. The AHL would've worked for him. Strome, I think, is the mirror image. So, if Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, I don't see the point in eating up a year of his entry-level deal. Let him get bigger in the CHL.
I don't think the Nino/AHL thing applies to his case. Nino was physically ready for professional hockey, but he needed more experience and time to hone professional skills. The AHL would've worked for him. Strome, I think, is the mirror image. So, if Strome is not physically ready for the NHL, I don't see the point in eating up a year of his entry-level deal. Let him get bigger in the CHL.
Cheers,
Dan-o
Ya, I think Strome needs 1 more year in the CHL, if the opportunity arises in the spring if the Isles AHL team is still playing games, he can be assigned to the AHL team for some pro games. I have no idea who the their AHL affiliate is though....good team, bad team...
Ya, I think Strome needs 1 more year in the CHL, if the opportunity arises in the spring if the Isles AHL team is still playing games, he can be assigned to the AHL team for some pro games. I have no idea who the their AHL affiliate is though....good team, bad team...
Bridgeport Soundtigers. Very young team, but should be full of promise. Nelson, Kabanov, and Nino (many are hoping for this) are some of the notable additions for the upcoming season. On defense - CDH, Donovan, and Ness are the biggest names.
The NHL player Strome reminds me most of is Claude Giroux (physical stature/maturation, style of play, skating, but granted I haven't seen Strome a ton).
Grioux played 2 full QMJHL seasons after being drafted, with very small tastes of the AHL and NHL. His 3rd season was split between the AHL (point per game) and NHL (.5 point per game). He only became a regular in his 4th season after being drafted, and really broke out in the playoffs that year.
The NHL player Strome reminds me most of is Claude Giroux (physical stature/maturation, style of play, skating, but granted I haven't seen Strome a ton).
Grioux played 2 full QMJHL seasons after being drafted, with very small tastes of the AHL and NHL. His 3rd season was split between the AHL (point per game) and NHL (.5 point per game). He only became a regular in his 4th season after being drafted, and really broke out in the playoffs that year.
We can only hope that this is indeed the case. I remember when we first drafted him, I initially thought of a grittier and healthier version of Ales Hemsky. This is also when I thought he should be a RW. I've changed my mind since then as I think he and Johnny could form a very potent and dynamic 1-2 combo down the middle.
I'm having a hard time pinpointing who I'd compare Strome to now though. I can see the Giroux comparison through my rose colored glasses.
We can only hope that this is indeed the case. I remember when we first drafted him, I initially thought of a grittier and healthier version of Ales Hemsky. This is also when I thought he should be a RW. I've changed my mind since then as I think he and Johnny could form a very potent and dynamic 1-2 combo down the middle.
I'm having a hard time pinpointing who I'd compare Strome to now though. I can see the Giroux comparison through my rose colored glasses.
And I wasn't saying Strome will become a top 10 forward in the league like Giroux, but his style and even his limitations (skating speed, physical strength) are similar to Giroux. They're both shifty, agile skaters, dangly, playmakers who can also score some. But I think Strome's physical maturity level should put him back in the OHL.
No offense but how can anyone say Strome needs to be sent back to Juniors before training camp even starts?
I get not wanting to rush our top draft picks, but if the kid earns a spot he should be on the team.
Looking at the top-10 from that draft, there's 4 guys who are already NHL regulars(RNH, Landeskog, Larsson, Couturier), another two who have had NHL time(Scheifele and Zibanejad) and will probably make the team this year, two guys who are all but guaranteed to start this year in the NHL(Huberdeau and Hamilton), and another who isn't a guarantee but a guy I expect to make it anyway(Brodin). Strome is the only other member of that top-10.
On top of that, when you look at our team there is currently a gaping hole at 2nd line center, assuming Boyes is playing with Moulson and Tavares. IMO Strome will get every opportunity to take that job and run with it.
I'd honestly be shocked if we didn't see Strome for at least 9 games next season.
