Chicago Blackhawks: Dylan Strome can have strong, immediate impact
The Chicago Blackhawks have a recent history of up and down trades and this one appears to be one of the few good ones for their franchise.
The Chicago Blackhawks are in retool mode and one trade they made during the 2019-20 season is turning to really help that cause. They traded Nick Shmaltz to the Arizona Coyotes for Dylan Strome and the trade has worked wonders for them and their forward depth.
He is the second line center that the Blackhawks have needed since Brad Richards got the job done and Michal Handzus before him. You need great centers to win in this league and Strome is looking like the guy who can be behind Jonathan Toews in that role.
He has also found outstanding chemistry with Alex DeBrincat. It comes as no surprise as they played together in juniors for the Erie Otters as they along with Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid to form one of the greatest junior lines of all time. They have brought that over to Chicago and have been able to produce. He helped DeBrincat have a career year with 41 goals 35 assists for 76 points. Strome didn’t do to bad himself with Chicago, as he had 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points in only 59 games with them. The sky is the limit for these two as a duo.
He also helped their power play get it together as it was one of the worst in the league upon his arrival and they turned it around slowly but surely. He contributed three power-play goals and nine power-play assists to give him 12 points with the man advantage. Those are pretty good numbers for a guy who was in his first full season in the National Hockey League. The Coyotes gave up on him before truly seeing what he can do and it is looking like a mistake.
Strome can make a huge difference this upcoming season if he brings more of the same if not elevate his game even more. It is likely that he will be placed right back with his friend DeBrincat on the second line and should get plenty of power play time as well. It could create some serious matchup problems for the opposition if he and Toews both center lines that are dangerous. Strome and his linemates could be the beneficiary of that. He is showing why he was a third overall pick and so highly touted at one point.
Dylan Strome is in the type of position that if he does well we could be looking at a Chicago Blackhawks team that ends a two year playoff drought, and if he has an off year they could miss for the third year in a row. He isn’t quite a superstar but he is good enough to move the needle for a team trying to make some noise. He has other guys around him like Toews, DeBrincat, and Patrick Kane to help him so that makes it easier. One thing is for sure, he is definitely going to be fun to watch when he gets out there with these other stars and has some open ice.