“I feel when a group sort of walks away from you, providing you with up for nothing you clearly have a bit of little bit of a chip in your shoulder and need to show they made a mistake…”, had been the phrases Capitals ahead Dylan Strome spoke throughout his first press convention with the media on September 23.
Having not been tendered a qualifying supply by the Chicago Blackhawks, sending him to free company, the Caps’ acquisition of Strome might show to be the steal of the offseason ought to he make good on these phrases.
A former third general decide of the Arizona Coyotes (2015), Strome recorded 22 Objectives and 48 Factors in 69 Video games Performed in 2021-22 with Chicago, who, because of a rebuilding course of, opted to not give him a $3.6 million qualifying supply permitting him to hit the open market, the place Capitals Normal Supervisor Brian MacLellan scooped him up on a one-year, $3.5 million deal.
Via the Capitals’ coaching camp and preseason video games by which he’s performed Strome has proven the offensive potential that would make him a pivotal a part of the Washington offense this season. He has seen time on the primary energy play unit and in his first preseason sport in a Caps sweater, scored two targets (considered one of which got here with the man-advantage) to hold the Capitals to a 3-1 victory.
That Erie Otters connection is STRONG pic.twitter.com/kWteMzy8fC
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) September 29, 2022
The offensive upside Strome brings this season shouldn’t be the one purpose I consider that MacLellan’s signing of the Mississauga, Ontario, native may very well be thought of the steal of the summer time. On the conclusion of this season, Strome, is still a Restricted Free Agent. At solely 25-years previous, he’s younger sufficient to be a part of the following core of the group, who deliberate on giving their younger prospects alternatives to step up in additional roles this season earlier than making offseason strikes that delayed the youth movement in the meanwhile.
And whereas the hypothetical price ticket for a productive season will probably be extra substantial than the $3.5 million deal he’s at the moment enjoying on, locking up a possible core participant given the group’s coming roster decisions next summer can be properly value any such funding.
Putting such expectations on Strome earlier than the common season begins, nevertheless the pattern dimension he has given to this point into his first season in Washington and his previous productiveness makes me consider that he might be considered one of Head Coach Peter Laviolette’s most necessary forwards this season, and a signing by Brian MacLellan that would play a pivotal position going ahead.
By Michael Fleetwood
