Making a move that was best for him and the Coyotes organization, Arizona sent 2015 first round pick Dylan Strome back to his junior club today.
The 19-year-old spent seven games with the Coyotes and recorded his only point in his NHL debut (Oct. 18 against the Senators). He’s spent most of the season between playing n average of 13:41 a night and being a healthy scratch. Because he didn’t play 10 games, he’s going back to the Erie Oters, the same NHL club that produced this year’s No. 1 overall pick Connor McDavid.
“Dylan has made exceptional progress and continues to make strides to being an elite center in this league,” General Manager John Chayka said in a statement released by the team. “At this point in time we felt it was best for his development to get him back playing in junior, but his future in the NHL is very bright.”
“At this point in time we felt it was best for his development to get him back playing in junior, but his future in the NHL is very bright.”- Arizona GM John Chayka
Strome cannot be sent down to AHL Tucson because he still has junior eligibility per an agreement between the NHL and CHL. He’ll still maintain his entry-level contract.
He’ll be spending his fourth season with the Otters and will likely aid Canada next month in their persuit for a gold medal at the World Junior Championship next month. The most likely scenario in his career path will continue playing for Erie until their season is over and then make the AHL jump to Tucson. Last season, he had 37 goals and 74 assists in 56 regular-season games for Erie.
Strome talked to Arizona Republic last month about what he has left to accomplish in the OHL should he return there. “People say there’s nothing left to do in junior, but I’ve never won a league title. I’ve never won a Memorial Cup,” he said. “Obviously, that doesn’t cross my mind that I want to do that. But at the same time if you did get sent back, you have to look at the positives and the positives are that I’ve never done that before.”
