To be fair there is one big difference:



- JRR1285

Also, Barzal plays in a much more defensive system. He is the better player hands down but Strome is perfect for what he is

of course they dont want them but Nemeth and Georgie are almost 5M
- Greschnergy#4

Could always make up jersey allergies too

To be fair there is one big difference:



- JRR1285

that Barzal plays for a better team?

I dont think Strome is better than Barzal but I think he is one of the better SECOND line centers

that Barzal plays for a better team?

I dont think Strome is better than Barzal but I think he is one of the better SECOND line centers
- Greschnergy#4

Not that he's on a better team but that he also produced at a borderline elite level in the playoffs.

I also agree, I think Strome is woefully undervalued here.

Also, Barzal plays in a much more defensive system. He is the better player hands down but Strome is perfect for what he is
- picklerick

Can't argue this, but Barzal's production is still a bit below where you'd expect it to be. Under Trots, Ovi, Kunetzov, etc still put up big numbers. It's not all just the system

To be fair there is one big difference:



- JRR1285

Not that he's on a better team but that he also produced at a borderline elite level in the playoffs.

I also agree, I think Strome is woefully undervalued here.
- JRR1285

Rangers have to make the playoff first so no comparison

Can't argue this, but Barzal's production is still a bit below where you'd expect it to be. Under Trots, Ovi, Kunetzov, etc still put up big numbers. It's not all just the system
- 2sticks1puck

Strome and the others you mentioned all had much better linemates than Barzal though. And play on teams with a functional PP.

- eichiefs9

I have not really watched that show but I have heard it's great. I have also heard from the significant other's of these individuals that the show is most definitely not great.

that Barzal plays for a better team?

I dont think Strome is better than Barzal but I think he is one of the better SECOND line centers
- Greschnergy#4

Strome gets criticized for taking dumb penalties. I didn't realize how many PMs Barzal had...

I have not really watched that show but I have heard it's great. I have also heard from the significant other's of these individuals that the show is most definitely not great.
- JRR1285

It's not perfect and probably not for everyone. There's parts of it I absolutely can't stand but overall, personally, I love it. When it's funny it's absolutely hilarious.

Strome and the others you mentioned all had much better linemates than Barzal though. And play on teams with a functional PP.
- eichiefs9

Ridiculous- you got to the semi's two years in a row. He is your guy. 'To be fair' You cant have it both ways

Not that he's on a better team but that he also produced at a borderline elite level in the playoffs.

I also agree, I think Strome is woefully undervalued here.
- JRR1285

To me, the issue with Strome hasn’t been related to his offensive abilities. The guy puts up points and has great chemistry with Panarin. The issue has been that neither he or Zib is a Bergeron or an O’Reilly type who is tough to play against in all 3 zones. Zib isn’t going anywhere, and that type of center is still needed. Not saying Zib is a defensive liability, but he has no snarl. Same argument can and should be made against Chytil.

To me, the issue with Strome hasn’t been related to his offensive abilities. The guy puts up points and has great chemistry with Panarin. The issue has been that neither he or Zib is a Bergeron or an O’Reilly type who is tough to play against in all 3 zones. Zib isn’t going anywhere, and that type of center is still needed. Not saying Zib is a defensive liability, but he has no snarl. Same argument can and should be made against Chytil.
- TC88

you are right about snarl but both zib and strome kill penalties pretty well. We could use a 3rd line center with snarl. also there arent many Bergeron or Barkovs and none that would ever be available

Borrowed from the Isles thread.

Ridiculous- you got to the semi's two years in a row. He is your guy. 'To be fair' You cant have it both ways
- Greschnergy#4

Getting to the conference finals is a team effort.

Strome riding shotgun, at ES and on the PP, with Panarin most of the time is a big advantage over playing with Lee and (mostly) Eberle. Panarin is probably a top-10 talent in the league.

21 of Strome's 57pts came on the PP, which is over a 1/3 of his point total. Only 60% of his points are at even-strength. Barzal had just 9 of his 53pts come from the PP, so 83% of his production is at even strength.

It's not perfect and probably not for everyone. There's parts of it I absolutely can't stand but overall, personally, I love it. When it's funny it's absolutely hilarious.
- eichiefs9

Maybe I'll give it a look.

Ridiculous- you got to the semi's two years in a row. He is your guy. 'To be fair' You cant have it both ways
- Greschnergy#4

I almost always have a semi.

Getting to the conference finals is a team effort.

Strome riding shotgun, at ES and on the PP, with Panarin most of the time is a big advantage over playing with Lee and (mostly) Eberle. Panarin is probably a top-10 talent in the league.

21 of Strome's 57pts came on the PP, which is over a 1/3 of his point total. Barzal had just 9 of his 53pts come from the PP, so 83% of his production is at even strength.
- eichiefs9

come on- i think barzal is a better hockey player- he is a top line center and strome is not. I just think Strome gets no love here and he should. He has proven to me he is good with or without Panarin- anybody would be better with Bread.

come on- i think barzal is a better hockey player- he is a top line center and strome is not. I just think Strome gets no love here and he should. He has proven to me he is good with or without Panarin- anybody would be better with Bread.
- Greschnergy#4

I'm not arguing Strome isn't a good player at all, I've said before getting rid of him would be a mistake. Maybe I'm just missing what you were getting at.

Strome is pretty much a prototypical 2nd line player, which a lot of people overlook all too often. I'm just saying he's more of a passenger (and I don't mean that as an insult to him) than the one driving the play.

I'm not arguing Strome isn't a good player at all, I've said before getting rid of him would be a mistake. Maybe I'm just missing what you were getting at.

Strome is pretty much a prototypical 2nd line player, which a lot of people overlook all too often.
- eichiefs9

thats what i am saying- thank you for decoding me

I'm not arguing Strome isn't a good player at all, I've said before getting rid of him would be a mistake. Maybe I'm just missing what you were getting at.

Strome is pretty much a prototypical 2nd line player, which a lot of people overlook all too often. I'm just saying he's more of a passenger (and I don't mean that as an insult to him) than the one driving the play.
- eichiefs9

I think he was just comparing him production wise to Barzal who most impartial Rangers fans should regard as a top line center. Many fans seem to want Strome replaced with someone else.

I think he was just comparing him production wise to Barzal who most impartial Rangers fans should regard as a top line center. Many fans seem to want Strome replaced with someone else.
- JRR1285

I'm not arguing Strome isn't a good player at all, I've said before getting rid of him would be a mistake. Maybe I'm just missing what you were getting at.

Strome is pretty much a prototypical 2nd line player, which a lot of people overlook all too often. I'm just saying he's more of a passenger (and I don't mean that as an insult to him) than the one driving the play.
- eichiefs9

Right, Strome is a good 2nd line center. There are teams who have 2 1st line quality centers so it is unfair to compare him to those guys (Crosby/Malkin, Kuzy/Backstrom, Matthews/Tavares, etc)

Getting to the conference finals is a team effort.

Strome riding shotgun, at ES and on the PP, with Panarin most of the time is a big advantage over playing with Lee and (mostly) Eberle. Panarin is probably a top-10 talent in the league.

21 of Strome's 57pts came on the PP, which is over a 1/3 of his point total. Only 60% of his points are at even-strength. Barzal had just 9 of his 53pts come from the PP, so 83% of his production is at even strength.
- eichiefs9

I don't think any reasonable person thinks Strome is as good as Barzal. But while not nearly as good as breadman, lets not pretend Andres Lee isn't a pretty good player in his own right. While elite players are definitely hindered by not having the right help, they can often boost those around him. For NYI case, Tavares elevated Moulson and Okposo.

I just think it's a somewhat valid point they expect a bit more. NYI does need to make acquiring better wingers a priority at the TDL though