86Habs
Registered User
- May 4, 2009
- 2,588
- 420
Marners speed (both mind and feet) allow him to get to the dirty areas. Strome struggles with processing whats going on around him at an elite rate, on top of a slow release and being a slow skater. I really thought he had a quick mind prior to this tournament but when the pace picked up and so did the competition it was evident he doesnt have it. The biggest tell for me is as soon as I saw him get pressure on the pp. He panicked and couldnt make a fast play to move the puck. I feel bad for yotes fans on this one.
A good contrast would be to watch a Strome shift, then a Cirelli or Stephens shift. The latter two, their feet don't stop moving the entire shift, they don't coast anywhere on the ice; they're persistent on the puck, fought through checks, won puck battles, and consistently created offensive opportunities out of nothing. What Strome seems to lack is intensity or a desire/willingness to compete and raise his game when the going gets tough. He's not going to have 2 seconds to get his shot off in the NHL, it's simply not going to happen. And losing puck battles or making low-percentage (but easy) plays is a quick ticket to the pressbox. The good news is that he can be taught how to skate a bit faster with a more powerful, balanced stride, and he can be taught how to quicken his release. What can't be taught is the drive and competitiveness that doesn't seem to be there for him right now, and this is what ultimately may hold him back.