As I remember, his full potential was an elite 1C. Like upside was a top 10-15 center in the league who was good at everything except skating. Is that really the case? Or does he just look capable of holding his own as a first line center?
He's absolutely an elite 1C. I thought before the season he'd end up being a top 20 C; now, I'm thinking top 15. (He's currently 6th in P/G among players listed as centers, so saying he'll end up top 15 is taking into account some regression.)
Protas, Lol. But he has improved defensively(He and Ovie have both been pretty diligent defensively) and the Caps have a great skating coach that's worked wonders with many of the players(Wilson, Cristall, Protas, etc...) and I think Strome has improved a little, still not very good, but no longer at Andreychuk levels. His hockey sense and Hands are really good, and he's just at a totally different level of confidence.
Nobody wanted him. He wasn't seen as a player that could have helped anyone win. His Qualifying Offer was high as he was only a year removed from UFA years. After the Hawks didn't qualify him, he was an Unrestricted Free Agent and anyone could have had him for only the cost of cap space. He signed with Washington on a 1 year deal for less than his Qualifying Offer. At the time, presumably in the entire League, nobody wanted him for more than what Washington offered at 1 year/$3.5 million.
Nah, just 80's Six Million Dollar Man treatment.
Strome was given every opportunity in the world to succeed in Chicago despite his warts. It’s probably part of the reason he is succeeding now.
