Slumping Rangers turn to Ryan Strome in desperation

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Ryan Strome was traded because he needed a kick-start, and now so do the Rangers.

In turn, coach David Quinn was planning to move the 25-year-old to center for Saturday night’s game at the Panthers. It is the first time Strome will be in the middle since coming over in a Nov. 16 deal with the Oilers that sent Ryan Spooner to Edmonton. In addition, Strome also was bumped up to the first power-play unit as the Blueshirts come off a five-day stretch without a game and look to bounce back after a 1-4-1 downturn over their previous six.

“Strome’s done a good job,” Quinn said after Friday’s practice in Tarrytown before the team flew to the Miami area. “He’s a guy that’s getting comfortable and understanding the things we’re asking of him. Very coachable and likable and a good teammate. He’s done a lot of good things since he’s been here.”

Strome, who was drafted by the Islanders with the No. 5-overall pick in 2011, has two goals and five points in nine games with the Rangers after he had just one goal and one assist in 18 games with the Oilers. He has logged an average 16:04 of ice time per game with the Rangers, and Quinn has played him in some high-pressure situations, like protecting leads late in games.

Yet because of what had been a hectic schedule, there wasn’t a lot of practice time with his new teammates. That was, before this five-day stretch when he got to reacclimate himself to the middle, where he played the second half of this past season and the first part of this season with the Oilers.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Strome said. “There are so many good players on this team, any line you look and the guys you get to play with is pretty special. So it’ll be a fun opportunity, and we’ll see what happens.”

With one more year left on a deal that carries a $3.1 million annual salary-cap hit, Strome also would like to put up some points on the power play to show that he can be that top-six offensive threat. And the Rangers’ man-advantage, now 1-for-13 in their past six games, certainly could use some help.

“I think for me, just have to try to do what I do and not overthink it,” Strome said. “Hopefully the power play is successful and we get on a little bit of a roll here. Power play is a great way to build some confidence and win some hockey games, so hopefully we can get it going.”

It’s likely Strome is going to center Jimmy Vesey and Filip Chytil, and part of the domino effect is that Kevin Hayes is going to move out of the middle and onto the right wing of the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Hayes has been one of the Rangers’ best players this season, and Quinn said that “big picture, long term, he’s a center, for sure. But just trying different things to jump-start your team.”

Hayes has played a little bit of wing over his four previous years with the Rangers, but he also played it quite a bit during his four years at Boston College. Yet Quinn said that under most systems in the NHL, the forwards are mostly playing a “positionless game.” With the way Hayes has played thus far, along with his experience, it shouldn’t prove to be too difficult.

“There are some things he’s going to have to pay a little more attention to playing the wing,” Quinn said. “Most of it is you’re just playing hockey.”

Same can be said for Strome, who is hoping to make the most of his best opportunity thus far with the Blueshirts.

“I think the thing is just don’t get complacent,” Strome said. “I think in my career, I’ve had some good moments, I’ve had some down moments. I think I’ve learned to stay even-keeled now. So I’m trying to take this in. At the end of the day, we have to win some more hockey games here and there’s always more you can do to help out.”