Sometimes summer NHL deals are great; other times they can be a bust. In the case of center Dylan Strome, the Washington Capitals may have tapped into a hidden gem of a player. Picked up in last summer’s free agency, Strome seemingly has found a new home in DC.
Dylan Strome was a top NHL draft pick in 2015 (third overall) but his early professional career in the league was marred by being with the wrong team and the wrong time. Strome’s time with the Arizona Coyotes was not a match made in hockey heaven and seeking new life in his career, Strome found his way to the Windy City and joined the Blackhawks. Playing alongside great such as Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincat (now with the Ottawa Senators) helped Strome revive his career.
Last year with the Blackhawks, Strome played in 69 games and scored 22 goals along with 26 assists in a rebuilding year (with more to come) in Chicago. Surprisingly, Strome found his way into the free agent market and with the Caps’ summer injury list already multiplying, the Capitals took a chance on Strome and signed him to a one-year deal worth an AAV of $3,500,000. Strome will be an RFA (restricted free agent) after this season and the Caps’ front office needs to decide on whether or not to extend him or let him sail off into the free agent waters yet again this coming summer.
Dylan Strome already has made a name for himself this season and is a top-three scorer for the Capitals. With 11 goals and 25 assists in 49 games, Strome has stepped into the gap and provided desperately needed offense to an aging team (Strome is 25 years old.) Has Dylan Strome found his career home with the Capitals? As this organization is getting older by the day, an investment in youth such as Strome seems to be a prudent investment. Having passed his “tryout” year so far by being among the top scorers, extending Strome to a multi-year contract makes sense right now.
