Dylan Strome will have a breakout season in 2022

The Washington Capitals might be without Nicklas Backstrom for the entire 2022-23 season. That is a bad thought but very realistic with the nature of his hip rehabilitation. So the Caps needed a top six center. After shopping around they decided to go with Dylan Strome.

Strome was signed to a one year, $3.5 million deal. It’s a prove it type of contract and he’s ready to prove himself on a team like the Capitals.

Strome was selected as the third overall pick in the 2015 NHL Draft. He had a really good season with the Chicago Blackhawks last year with a career high 22 goals and 26 assists for 48 points. Some nice numbers in 69 games.

Despite this, the Blackhawks did not give him a qualifying offer and it allowed him to hit the open market. The Caps swooped right in.

Strome showed in Chicago he is capable of being a top six center. He is going to do the same with the Caps with the opportunity presented to him with the Backstrom injury.

Now I think Backstrom will still be around the organization this season. He has to be to keep Alex Ovechkin’s focus in tact. But we’ll likely see number 19 in the press box or a suite.

I see Evgeny Kuznetsov skating on the top line while Strome centers the second line. The question is what would third line center look like? Will the Caps go with Lars Eller once again or will they give sophomore Connor McMichael a shot? Nic Dowd is here to stay on the fourth line where he’s been phenomenal.

Eller had been inconsistent and I am guilty of writing that they could possibly trade him to deal with that six million in debt on the salary cap. But what do I know? I’m not Brian MacLellan.

Strome could very well score 30 goals with the Caps. He’s got a good hockey IQ, good ice vision and quick hands. He’s six foot three and 200 pounds. Good size there.

If Strome centers the second line, he’ll likely be alongside Antony Mantha and T.J. Oshie. The top line should be Ovechkin-Kuznetsov and other fellow new guy Connor Brown until Tom Wilson is ready to come back.

Strome could also make an impact on the power play. That man advantage was a complete disadvantage last season but the Strome addition could easily change that.

Strome can put up 50 point seasons so I predict him to get 30 goals and 24 assists for 54 points. As sad as things are without Backstrom, Strome has a chance to be a valuable replacement.