Top 20 on the Islanders: "The Future" Ryan Strome

Islanders 2011 first round draft pick Ryan Strome (Photo from Getty Images)

          With 27 days left in the NHL regular season, I decided to go ahead and use the next 20 days to tell you who I believe the top twenty players on the Islanders are.
          First up, though I want to talk about a player who in the very near future will climb his way up this list.  This is a player who has never even stepped foot on the ice as an Islander. Center Ryan Strome, was drafted fifth overall by the New York Islanders in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.  Playing in the OHL (Ontario Hockey League) this year, Strome has shown all the potential he has.
          Last year, Strome had a monster season.  He finished third in the OHL in points and assists.  He had seventy-three assists to go along with his thirty-three goals, to give him a total of 106 points.  It was this performance that made him such a high draft pick.  
          So far this year, playing for the Niagara IceDogs, Strome has compiled sixty-six points, in forty-three games.  He has twenty-nine goals to go along with thirty-seven assists.
          Strome was also selected, by Canada, to play in the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.  In the six games he played for team Canada, Strome had three goals and six assists, for nine points.  
          Strome is all but a lock to center the second forward line, behind fellow center, John Tavares next year.  How he plays in the NHL is something the Islanders and their fans can't wait to see.  In my mind the Islanders have to of the best up and coming centers in the game.  With Tavares and Strome, the Islanders have the chance to take the next step and be a playoff contending team for years to come.