Capitals get it right with Dylan Strome
The Washington Capitals have liked what they’ve gotten this season from Dylan Strome, so much so that they re signed him for five more seasons worth five million a season. In years past the Caps would be in a salary cap crunch but this summer there was enough cap space thanks to a plethora of defensemen entering free agency.
Capitals General Manager Brian MacLellan said in a press release:
“Dylan is an intelligent and skilled center and has been a great addition to our organization. We are pleased to sign him to a long-term contract. We feel his skill set is a great fit for our team as he enters the prime years of his career at an important position.”
The 25 year old has recorded 36 points with 11 goals and 25 assists in 52 games with the Capitals this season. The six foot three, 200 pound forward ranked second on the Capitals in assists, third in points and power play points (14) and fourth in goals.
Strome is on pace to record 56 points this season. He ranks fourth among Capitals forwards in time on ice per game at 16:42.
In 325 career NHL games with Washington, the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, Strome has recorded 206 points with 78 goals and 128 assists.
He was drafted by Arizona third overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He recorded a career high 57 points in 78 games with Arizona and Chicago in 2018-19 with 20 goals and 37 assists.
Strome averaged 0.68 points per game in parts of four seasons with Chicago from 2018-19 to 2021-22, which ranked fifth on the team in that span.
The Mississauga, Ontario native recorded 48 points with 22 goals and 26 assists in 69 games with the Blackhawks last season. Strome established single season career highs ingots and games played and averaged a career high 17:26 of ice time per game last season. He ranked third on the team in goals and fourth in assists and points.
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Overall this was an important move for the present and the future of the Caps. Strome could be big in one last push for the Cup and a big part of the rebuild.