Ryan Strome’s tenure with the New York Islanders was defined by lofty expectations. Once the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft, he was routinely praised for his superlative offensive talent.
Strome was traded on Thursday afternoon to the Edmonton Oilers. The Islanders got Jordan Eberle in return. The cause was none other than those lofty expectations, which the 23-year-old never seemed able to conquer.
Starting before the 2011 NHL Draft, scouts began to take notice of Strome’s “keen offensive prowess.” One particular writer, THW’s Jeff Blay, compared Strome to NBA legend Dominique Wilkins, who was once nicknamed the “Human Highlight Reel.