There have been few bright spots for the Washington Capitals this season. One of them has been Dylan Strome.
Strome was brought in by the Caps after he was not given a qualifying offer by the Chicago Blackhawks. He signed a one-year “prove it” deal and prove it he has. Strome set a new career high in points for a season (58) by scoring the lone tally in Washington’s 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.
“It’s a great team to come into and be able to carve out a role and find an identity,” Strome said. “Lots of real good players here so fortunate to play with good players and get an opportunity to play on the power play. Those are things I will take into next season and look forward to that when it comes.”
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— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 2, 2023
One of those good players Strome has has spent much of the season alongside is Alex Ovechkin. The duo have developed chemistry. Following Sunday’s game, the pair has a 53.95 95 xGF% at five-on-five in just over 500 minutes played together, according to NaturalStatTrick. Add in their most common lineman, Conor Sheary and the number jumps to 55.67 in just over 270 minutes together.
The goal was Strome’s 19th of the year, third most in his career. Strome eclipsed 20 goals in 2018-19 with Arizona and Chicago, the same year he established his career high in points, and set a career high mark of 22 last season.
Capitals head coach Peter Laviolette said Strome has been exactly who they thought they were getting.
“I think those numbers reflect how he’s played,” Laviolette added. “He’s been a top-6 player for us and been effective on the power play. He’s come in and done a nice job building off what he had last year.”
The Caps have already re-signed the 26-year-old to a five year, $25M extension that may prove to be a good piece of business by General Manager Brian McClellan to lock up the No. 3 overall pick in 2015.
