Ryan Strome, the Ontario native and fifth-overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, who bounced from the Islanders to the Oilers to the Rangers, speaks with Steve Serby on the eve of the All-Star break.

Q: You’ve proven them wrong as a Ranger, but how did you feel about the naysayers who wondered if you were a bust?

A: I think a lot of times, when you’re drafted high, you have huge expectations, but I’m coming up on 500 NHL games and I’m 26 years old, so … Obviously, you want to be a superstar, but everyone takes a different path to get there, and to be a good player, but my goal is to play as many NHL games as possible, and I think I’m well on my way there.

Q: Did the doubters motivate you?

A: Yeah, absolutely. I think some of it’s warranted, some of it’s not warranted. But I think a little bit of controversy and a little bit of adversity is always good for people, and it seems to kinda fuel me a little bit.

Q: What’s the biggest adversity you’ve had to overcome?

A: When I was with the Islanders, my third year I got sent down to the minors. I think that was pretty tough for me mentally. I’d been in the NHL for like over 100 games or so, and it was definitely a blow to the ego, my confidence, and definitely kinda put things into perspective, and ever since then, every time there’s an anthem before the game, I try to look around and take in my surroundings and just remind myself that it’s a privilege to be here and just try to earn it every day because (finger snap), just like that it can be taken away from you.

Q: What was the low point when you were sent down?

A: Nothing too crazy, just one night I was sitting in a hotel room in Bridgeport and I was going like, “Two weeks ago I was all comfortable in my house on Long Island, and then it’s amazing how quick things can change.” Obviously your paycheck’s cut (to) about a tenth of it and your life’s kinda turned upside down and you’re living in a hotel room and you’re playing in the minors. I think sometimes guys take for granted how special it is to play in the NHL and how many guys are coming to take your job, and I think early on in my career, I maybe would have taken that a bit for granted, and I think that’s definitely something I learned from.

Q: Was one trade harder than the other one?

A: The second one (from the Oilers to the Rangers in November 2018) was definitely harder. When I got traded from the Islanders, it was in the summer, which is a little bit easier. I was excited for a new start, but when I got traded from Edmonton, I was really disappointed. I felt like I was a big part of their locker room there and unfortunately just didn’t have a great start to the season. But for the first 24 hours, it felt like my heart kinda got ripped out of my chest until I got here, and I saw the opportunity I was gonna get, and back in New York where I was familiar with, and a franchise that treats players unbelievably, so those feelings went away pretty quick, but the initial shock was tough especially for now my wife (Sydney), she just got a job promotion in Edmonton, she had her own network of friends and I kinda felt bad for her too.

Q: Your dad cried as you left the team hotel to go to your first NHL game?

A: My dad walked me across the parking lot from the Long Island Marriott to the Coliseum (smile). I remember just seeing the tear in his eye. He’s a pretty blue-collar guy and we have a really good relationship, but we don’t show that side too often. It was a crazy moment for our family, I think just years and years and years of hockey, hockey, hockey. I don’t think my dad ever pictured walking me kind of across the parking lot like that. It was really special for him.

Q: You’re a restricted free agent. How do you feel about the possibility you could be traded?

A: I’ve been traded twice now. The third time wouldn’t be anything that I’m not used to. I love it here, though. I really hope I stay. I feel like I’ve lived in New York for so long, it’s my second home. The coaching staff and the management here, I think I’ve found a little bit of a home. Whatever happens, happens. It’s a business, but I think you just take everything in stride as an athlete.

Q: You like playing in this market?

A: I love it. I just think people care. It’s not Canada where things are completely overblown. There’s not really much else to do in Edmonton, so hockey’s the main focus. New York, people definitely care about the team, but at the same time, there’s so much to do, so much going on that you can kind of escape a little bit. People love the Rangers, but you’re also not walking down the street signing autographs for people, if you know what I mean. You’re able to hide as much as you want to.

Q: Are you recognized at all?

A: Once in a while, actually. Rangers fans are pretty knowledgeable. Even living in my condo building, there’s some fans that come up or send me fan mail to my building. It’s pretty cool, but it’s not overwhelming, is what I guess I’m trying to say.

Q: Describe your on-ice mentality.

A: I just try to be like a cerebral, smart player. I try to read the play. I don’t think I’m the biggest, strongest or fastest guy, so I kinda gotta use my hockey sense and my smarts to maneuver my way around the ice.

Q: Coach Quinn likes it when you play with a little bit of an edge.

A: I just think if I’m running into people, if I’m a little chippy … I’ve got a decent amount of penalty minutes in my career, not that I’m a tough guy or anything, but I think when I’m getting involved, and I’m mixing it up and when I’m physically engaged, I think I’m at my best.

Q: Describe Coach David Quinn.

A: Very intense, but for me, he’s been really good. I think he’s very fair. He expects a lot out of his players and he demands hard work and effort, but the rest of it he’s very fair with. He’s really good for young players, at the same time though he’s been great for me. He’s really let me play and I think let me grow into the next step of my development as a player.

Q: Is it true you have a good wrist shot?

A: When I use it (smile). They get mad I don’t shoot enough.

Q: Why don’t you shoot enough?

A: Honestly, if you would ask my parents this, ever since I was young, I’ve passed way too much. I remember as like a 6- or 7-year-old, my coach is getting mad at me for not shooting. I always would try to get the other guys a goal. Obviously, it’s not like that anymore, but I think as a young kid I was always kinda the best player and stuff like that and I kinda wanted to show that I could do more than score and could set up other guys, so I think that’s probably followed me a little bit in my career.

Q: Why do you like being on the power play?

A: It’s like an NBA doing isolation or a football guy running his route. The power play’s kind of my bread and butter, it’s an opportunity for an offensive guy to kinda have some fun and make some plays.

Q: Penalty kill?

A: Penalty kill is something that I never did in my whole career even in junior hockey really until a couple of years ago. I think that’s just a growth in my maturity. It’s not an easy job, so any ice time you can get that the coaches trust you is a good thing.

Q: What makes Bread Man (Artemi Panarin) special or unique?

A: He is just so deceptive, he’s creative, he thinks hockey on a different level than everyone else on the ice. He’s one step ahead of everybody. He’s probably the most talented special player I’ve seen. He makes some plays on the ice where he’s not even looking to you and the puck ends up right on your tape and not many guys can do that.

Q: How about your adjustment to center?

A: I was always a centerman growing up, but in pro hockey I’ve kinda played the wing mostly. The last two, three years been able to get back at center, it feels like I’m back home almost.

Q: Does being paired with Panarin help?

A: In my whole life, I’ve played with some really good players, but as a centerman, he’s definitely the best winger I’ve ever played with.

Q: Kaapo Kakko?

A: He’s gonna be so special. Everybody wants the world for him right now, especially the fans, but he’s 18 years old. For a kid that’s got so much pressure and he’s so young, he’s taken it in stride. I think if you wait five years and see the finished product, it’s gonna be pretty special.

Q: Jacob Trouba?

A: Trouba’s got everything you’d want in a defenseman that’s on a championship team, he’s big, he’s strong, he hits, he’s a team guy, not afraid to mix it up and get dirty. Definitely a guy that you want on your side, not the other side.

Q: Mika Zibanejad?

A: I think he’s really grown into a true leader. He’s a first-line talent. He’s got everything you want in a hockey player: he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s smart, he can score, he can pass. Very humble, very quiet the way he goes about his business. A great role model for our young guys and even guys like myself.

Q: You’re on a breakaway against any goalie in NHL history, who would you want to face to test your skills?

A: Dominik Hasek, because he’s got such a unique style. I always remember him as a kid kicking his legs in the air and spinning around on the ground, so I think he would definitely challenge you to kinda be creative. Now all the goalies are so technical, so it’d be cool to face a guy that was very unconventional.

Q: Your best hockey moment?

A: Scoring my first NHL goal was pretty cool. Also playing against my brother (Dylan) is real special when we get to do that.

Q: The first time you played at the Garden?

A: My first NHL point was at Madison Square Garden. First thing I remember is walking into the building, how sore my legs got walking up the long Zamboni ramp that the visiting team has to do.

Q: What was the Islanders-Rangers rivalry like at the Garden?

A: Honestly, it’s my favorite rivalry. Just the way the fans are so passionate. New York sports fans are so intense, but then you have people that literally live in the same neighborhood that hate each other’s teams is a pretty unique situation. That’s not too common in all of sports other than maybe Clippers-Lakers, Dodgers-Angels. Sometimes it doesn’t really feel like there’s much of a home advantage. You score on the road and the whole crowd’s going crazy, like, “Wow, there’s a lot of road fans here.”

Q: Rangers fans?

A: Very passionate, very intense, but I think they’re very fair. The one thing I’ve noticed that if you go out there and just give it your all, I think they really fall in love with players that do that. It’s not always the guys that get all the glory, it’s kinda the guys that just leave it out there every shift, and they appreciate the rough stuff, they appreciate sticking up for your teammates … and I’d say very hungry for a championship.

Q: You’re a big Tiger Woods fan. What was your reaction when he won the Masters last year?

A: I was going bananas. I was up at like 7:30 in the morning because the round started early ’cause it was a rain delay. I went to Starbucks and I got all the coffees and I had a couple of my golf buddies over and we watched the entire round. There’s not really many athletes that I quote-unquote obsess over, but he’s one of the guys that has such a unique upbringing and such a unique story that I’ve had a real enjoyment in investing in his life. To go there (Augusta) and if I ever got to play that course, it would be No. 1 on my bucket list in my whole life.

Q: You were a big Kawhi Leonard fan?

A: Toronto hasn’t won any sports titles since 1993 I think it was, the Blue Jays, and that was the year I was born. Seeing it (last) summer and how crazy Toronto was, and how he just kinda I felt like was a great representation of Canadians, very quiet, humble, went about his business, and everyone really, really kind of adopted him as like our role model, and it was great to see him lead our lone basketball team to a title.

Q: Boyhood idols?

A: Mats Sundin and Gary Roberts.

Q: What can you tell me about Sydney?

A: I think we have very similar personalities. If we go to dinner with a couple, we’re usually almost in a comedy show going back and forth at each other. I think she takes care of me, she does everything around the house that I’m not able to do, and she keeps me in line. From the day we met, it seems like we’ve had absolutely everything in common, so we feed off each other real well.

Q: How did you propose?

A: Just outside my house with our dog (Miller). I put a collar on the dog that said, “Will you marry my dad?” and she read it, and that was it.

Q: You wanted to be a hockey player since you were how old?

A: I was skating around at 3 years old, 4 years old. When I was born, actually, my parents have a video and I was in the hospital, my parents have a hockey blanket on me and they’re singing the “Hockey Night in Canada” theme song to me as a baby. I think it was always meant to be (smile).

Q: Biggest influence other than your parents?

A: I had a coach named Ken Strong, and he coached me for probably nine years. I wouldn’t be anywhere without him.

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, the Wolf of Wall Street guy, Jordan Belfort — someone that’s been through something that I’ll never experience in my life. Someone completely different than me. Just to see what they’re like.

Q: Favorite movies?

A: Wolf of Wall Street, Remember the Titans, Friday Night Lights.

Q: Favorite actor?

A: Leonardo DiCaprio.

Q: Favorite actress?

A: Jennifer Aniston.

Q: Favorite singer/entertainer?

A: Tim McGraw.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Either my wife or my wife’s mother makes the best homemade pasta. Every September we make our own tomato sauce with her whole family. Last year I think we made like over 1,100 jars of sauce.

Q: What drives you?

A: I would say mostly family, I think. I see how hard my family worked, they worked 9-5 jobs, they’re tired, they’re sore … growing up, money wasn’t always easy, it wasn’t always roses for my parents to put me and my brothers (Dylan and Matthew) through hockey to do what we do now and just have literally the job we’ve always dreamed of is the best feeling in the world.

Q: Career goals?

A: Other than winning a Stanley Cup, I think if I ever got to play 1,000 games it would be pretty cool.

Q: Could you imagine how this city would react to a championship Rangers team?

A: No, I can’t. I was lucky enough to be on the ice last year when we did the 25-year anniversary of the ’94 team. I had some chills and I was on the team for like 30 games. Even talking to (Chris) Kreider and a couple of those guys about their playoff runs, and the way MSG does the pregame intros, and the crowd … everything they’ve described about the playoffs in New York is on another level. To do that with this team, it would be unbelievable.

Q: The best thing about being a New York Ranger?

A: A fan base that loves the team, an organization that doesn’t cut any corners with treating its players well, and then you get to live in the best city in the world.