Four years after Washington brought him in on a one-year deal, Dylan Strome is closing in on a pair of major milestones - and they’re not tied to Alex Ovechkin.
When the 2026-27 season opens, Strome will be just two games short of 600 in the NHL. He’s also 23 assists away from 300 and 58 points away from 500, a reminder of how far he’s come from the uncertain stretch that followed his exit from Chicago.
Strome’s path to this point was anything but secure. The Arizona Coyotes drafted him, then moved him to the Chicago Blackhawks after he played only 48 games over two and a half seasons. He spent more than three years in Chicago before the Blackhawks declined to tender him a contract after the 2021-22 season, sending him into free agency with little time to figure out what came next.
“My agent was telling me you’re just at the mercy of when you get a call. I was just sitting by the phone, waiting.” - Dylan Strome July of 2022
Washington came calling because it needed help down the middle after Nicklas Backstrom’s hip injury didn’t respond the way the club had hoped. The Capitals signed Strome to a one-year, $3.5 million contract, then moved quickly to lock him up again, giving him a five-year, $25 million extension by February 2023.
Since then, Strome has become exactly what the Capitals needed: steady, reliable and productive. Before arriving in Washington, his career high for games in a season was 78, set in 2018-19, the same year he was traded to Chicago.
In four seasons with the Capitals, he has played 81, 82, 82 and 80 games. He’s also cleared 58 points in every season with the team, topping out at 82 points in 2024-25.
That consistency has carried real weight inside the lineup. Strome has built strong chemistry with captain Alexander Ovechkin, earned a reputation as one of the team’s most dependable players and grown into a leadership role in the locker room. After John Carlson and Nic Dowd were traded last March, he stepped up to fill the void and was rewarded with the “A” as an alternate captain.
“He’s sort of morphed into and grown into that role through his experience, through becoming so comfortable in Washington, in our locker room,” Carbery said.
With Alex Tuch and Jordan Kyrou added to the mix, Washington looks deeper and more dangerous. Carbery should be able to spread minutes across four lines, keeping the Capitals fresher and sharper shift to shift. If things break right, Strome could reach those next benchmarks sometime in early spring 2027 while centering a line with Kyrou on the right and Ovi on the left.
For the Capitals, the gamble on Strome has paid off. For Strome, the lonely free-agent summer is long gone, replaced by a career that has found real footing in Washington.
In Other News...
Capitals And Hershey Started Building Something Special With This Title Run
The Hershey Bears latest Calder Cup run was more than a minor league triumph. It was the kind of championship that reminded the Capitals how valuable a strong AHL affiliation can be, as Hershey put together a roster that blended development, depth and veteran presence on its way to a six-game win over Milwaukee. Under coach Bruce Boudreau, the Bears leaned on key contributions from Tomas Fleischmann, Kris Beech and goaltender Frederic Cassivi, who was named playoff MVP.
For Washington, the title carried real meaning because it was built through the partnership between the two organizations. Hershey captured its ninth championship in franchise history and its first since the 1996-97 season, a stretch that made the breakthrough feel especially significant. It was also a clear sign that the Capitals and their top affiliate were beginning to build something with staying power, even if the larger payoff in Washington was still ahead. [Read more 🡒]