Arizona Coyotes Future Center – Dylan Strome
By Chris Reid
The Arizona Coyotes have their centerpiece center of the future – Dylan Strome.
The Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes have struggled for nearly 15 years to fill the top line center position with a Franchise player. They simply do not grow on trees. Outside of Jeremy Roenick, Craig Janney and Steven Reinprecht it has been a horror show. The list includes the likes of Peter Meuller, Krys Kolanos, Daymond Langkow, Joey Jupneau and Petr Nedved for crying out loud.
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Sep 22, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Coyotes center Dylan Strome (20) scores a goal past Los Angeles Kings goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) in the first period at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Either injuries, or lack of production, or just general suckiness have hampered the Arizona Coyotes at the position. Even Martin Hanzal, while being prototypical in size and skill, just cannot stay healthy.
Good Lord willing, if he stays healthy, it all changes soon with the arrival of Dylan Strome.
Who is Dylan Strome?
Strome has a strong work ethic, high skill, and will do whatever it takes to win kind of player. Eliteprospects.com loves him, stating :
"“All-in-all, Dylan Strome is a player who wants to win more than anybody else, a person who takes it upon himself to do everything he can to help his team win, and a leader who provides his team with the motivation and will that it takes to win.”"
After tallying 129 points last year for the Erie Otters, while playing on a different line than Connor McDavid, he rose to pinnacle of the draft class and drawing favorable comparisons to Ryan Getzlaf as to his projections.
Statistical Analysis
Strome has excelled at each level of play as he has advanced and grown. While in Toronto Minor Midget AAA he had 143 points in 60 games while earning MVP honors The next year, his first in Erie, he tallied 39 points in 60 games while making adjustments to his game. Last season was the monster 45 G 84 A 129 P season while being a +47. So far this season back with the Eire Otters, Strome has six assists in 2 games, and a +/- rating of +3.
Why not this year?
The fact that Strome lasted until the final round of cuts in the Coyotes training camp speaks to his burgeoning talent and skill. But, at the end of the day the correct decision was made to return him to Erie for skill refinement and seasoning.
The Arizona Coyotes have made mistakes in trying to rush prospects to the NHL and have it backfire. The change in philosophy to let prospects mature in the minors is being proven correct with the initial success of Max Domi this season. Strome will be in Arizona soon enough, and as soon as next year.
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