Dylan Strome: OHL Star Without Connor McDavid

If Dylan Strome Goes Back To OHL, Will He Still Be A Standout Player Without McDavid?

It seems like the overall third selection in the NHL Entry Draft on June 26th will be given a shot to make the Arizona Coyotes roster, yet it also seems the management and coaching staff feels he needs more seasoning in the OHL. So, if he is returned to the OHL (Max Domi deja vu) for at least one more season, which is likely… how well will he perform without Connor McDavid on his team?

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Granted, the two didn’t actually play on the same line, but were on the ice at the same time, plenty of times. Will Strome be so dominant that the Arizona Coyotes will be forced to promote him to the NHL before the upcoming season ends? It depends — on a few things falling into place first.

At training camp next month, he needs to show the Arizona Coyotes that he can compete with the men.
A roster spot must become available. As it stands now two spots will be available, both consumed by Max Domi and Anthony Duclair. If a third opening pops up, it could very well be given to Brendan Perlini or Christian Dvorak.
Strome must show that he is a forward worthy of his third overall selection in the draft.
He needs to get stronger, and beef up a bit to contend with the large bodies in the NHL game.
His skating is not horrible, but he could work on improving it, like any other aspect of his game, in order to be considered NHL worthy. The OHL is a perfect place to do that. Ask Max Domi.

What concerns some, is how he completely turned around his below par season in 2013-14 with the Erie Otters when he only accumulated 10-g, 29-a in 60 games. To go to his record of 45-g, 84-a, 129 points in 68 games the next season to win the OHL scoring title, is quite a turnaround — to say the least.

The theory that Dylan Strome will not perform as well without McDavid on the team, if he does go back to the OHL doesn’t hold much credence. While McDavid was injured due to an injury sustained in a fight, Strome continued to lead the team for the 18 games he was gone. While ANY player would be better with a Connor McDavid on your team, lessening Strome’s abilities due to that fact seems unjustified and weak.

He will do just fine, and in fact HE may be the star of his OHL Erie Otter team this time around. Everyone will be talking about him and NOT McDavid. It will be HIS team, and how he handles it will show his character as a player, and a future NHL’er.

If Dylan Strome is sent back to the OHL, he will become a more mature, seasoned player much like Max Domi, who experienced the same fate last season. While all Arizona Coyotes fans were clamoring to see Domi work his magic, people like GM Don Maloney, Head Coach Dave Tippett, and the scouting staff pushed to give him more time to develop. Maloney has seen what rushing a prospect along too quickly has done in the past — prime example being Kyle Turris, and Peter Mueller. Then Head Coach Wayne Gretzky threw these two young players into the lion’s den before they were ready.

In the end every young prospect develops at their own pace. The Arizona Coyotes know that they drafted a gifted player in Dylan Strome — now they must play the waiting game to see how ready for the NHL he really is.

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