As Dylan Strome grows into a much bigger and greater star for the Capitals, the Blackhawks’ resolution to stroll away from him for nothing in July 2022 seems foolish in hindsight.
However it shouldn’t be simply the Hawks who look dangerous on this state of affairs. All the NHL blundered its professional scouting of Strome through the 2021-22 season, placing the Hawks in a troublesome place and costing many groups the chance to accumulate a future core participant.
Hawks common supervisor Kyle Davidson started procuring Strome as quickly as he took over as interim GM, understanding he wished to place the workforce to be as dangerous as attainable in 2022-23 along with accumulating as many draft picks as attainable.
He discovered loads of curiosity in Brandon Hagel — and finally Alex DeBrincat and Kirby Dach — however he discovered a stunning dearth of curiosity in Strome. It’s believed the one presents Davidson acquired have been comically unsubstantial, corresponding to sixth- or seventh-round picks.
Even Strome’s second-half surge that season, as he tallied 36 factors in 35 video games between Jan. 4 and April 4 (together with 14 factors in his final 9 video games earlier than the deadline), didn’t drum up demand. He completed with 48 complete factors in 69 video games.
The actual fact he was a pending free agent who would require a $3.6 million qualifying supply certainly deterred suitors. So did his sluggish skating, his lack of ability to shift to the wing and his lack of ability to drive his personal line (since he was productive solely alongside gifted linemates like DeBrincat and Patrick Kane).
After the Hawks didn’t qualify Strome, making him an unrestricted free agent, he sat idly in the marketplace for a day and a half earlier than receiving a single contract supply: one yr at $3.5 million from the Capitals. In a latest story within the Gamers’ Tribune, Strome detailed the method of accepting that provide whereas enjoying golf.
“When the Hawks didn’t qualify me…I used to be stunned, for positive,” Strome wrote. “However I used to be prepared. I knew who I used to be as a participant, as an individual. I wished to go someplace I might present that.”
The Capitals’ gamble has paid off handsomely. The identical traits that different groups seen as weaknesses have made Strome a perfect fit as Alex Ovechkin’s heart.
Strome earned a five-year, $25 million contract in 2023 after breaking out for a career-high 65 factors in his first Capitals season. He eclipsed that mark with 67 factors in 2023-24, then shattered it with 82 factors this season, averaging a full point-per-game and tying for twentieth within the league.
He assisted on 23 of Ovechkin’s 44 objectives this season, together with Ovechkin’s 893rd profession objective April 4 towards the Hawks and his record-breaking 895th two days later towards the Islanders.
Strome is already off to a sizzling begin within the Capitals’ playoff run, as are a number of different ex-Hawks. Colin Blackwell and Phillip Danault have each buried dramatic game-winning objectives for the Stars and Kings, respectively.
Hypothetically, Strome could be a pleasant complementary ahead for Connor Bedard subsequent season, however that’s unrealistic as a result of the Hawks most likely wouldn’t have been horrible sufficient to win the lottery for Bedard had they saved Strome. That’s why the true disappointment — from a Chicago perspective — was not getting something for Strome, reasonably than shifting on from him.
Loads of different groups have extra motive to remorse the missed alternative.
Would the Bruins nonetheless be a playoff workforce if that they had Strome centering David Pastrnak? Would the Rangers’ rivalry window nonetheless be open if that they had Strome centering Artemi Panarin? How completely different would the Flames look if that they had signed Strome as a substitute of Nazem Kadri at double the value?
May Davidson have completed extra to discover a taker for Strome in 2022? Possibly, perhaps not. However this wasn’t only a Hawks mistake. This was a league-wide mistake.
